I am reading a book now – it’s called, ”Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon. I found out about this book from a YouTuber, Ali Abdaal who has a very lucrative and active YouTube presence all the while holding down a full-time job as an M.D. He was talked about how he was really inspired by the book ”Show Your Work” to share his thoughts and ideas with the world.
He said it’s a book for people who suck at marketing, so I picked it up – it’s been quite helpful so far. Austin Kleon dubs his book as an operating manual ”for people who hate the very idea of self-promotion.” Yay me.
One of the central ideas in the book include thinking about the creative process as not located merely within yourself, but situated within the ’scenius’ or the larger community you find yourself in. I think there’s alot of truth in this.
I recently reconnected with a cousin from Vancouver, and told him how I know I have all things to do, but find it hard to do. Sometimes I find myself emotionally paralyzed, lying in bed. It could be due to the fact that I’m ending a relationship of 10 years and that I’m still working through major emotional, physical, and psychological trauma that I’ve sustained in this relationship.
However, all that withstanding, there’re still things I need to do to move forward, tasks to complete and all of life to live. I told him that an essential part of how I find myself inspired to get things done is through talking to people. One thing he said really stuck with me, ”you need to have more of those connections with people then.”
I have to admit, I have rather enjoyed and protected my solitude, but as an extrovert, I think connecting with people is an essential part of how I find inspiration and purpose in life. It’s abit like a mental floss. Talking, connecting and communicating with people helps me to floss my mind mentally and think clearly so I can move forward in the direction and path that I know lies ahead of me.
Unfortunately, few people seem willing to engage with me at a level that I feel happy about. Most people enjoy talking about their cute kitties and puppies and where they are going to go for their next holiday. I mean, I have no problems talking about these subjects, it’s kinda fun. But still there’s so much more to be done in life than to discuss where your next Dim Sum meal is or which Alaskan cruise is best, and so, that’s where I end up feeling a little starved for good mental floss sessions.
Anyways, getting back to the main point: sharing my work.
I am having a ”comeback” concert this Saturday, 9th October at 9pm (SGT/UTC +8). The last concert I had was years ago, in 2014, when I released my debut ”Home” Album .
Between now and then, I lived in a world where my reality was regularly denied and invalidated, and as a result I was not able to fully embrace my true identity as a person who is unconditionally loved and held by the Heavenly Father. Today, I stand before you as a child of God who is deeply engaged in the dance of life.
As it says in Psalm 42:7, ”Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”
I watched Terminator 2 with my father when I was 11 years old and it moved me deeply. I was really struck by the relationships between all the characters in the movie and how each of them experienced deep transformation: Sarah Conner transforms from an institutionalized mental health patient to a protector of her son and inadvertent savior of the world from apocalypse; John Conner from someone with no direction and purpose to the leader of humanity’s fight against machines and finally The Terminator (Arnie) from a cyborg with no empathy to a being that could understand the necessity of tears and human connection, and who could reflect that in his relationship with John.
What inspires you to live deeply, honestly and courageously?
What is it that makes you tick?
MeowMeowProject “I’ll Be Back” Concert. 9th October, 9pm SGT. :
