Category: Discussions/Essays

A famous (or rather, infamous) motto from one of the most powerful and influential companies of the modern world is to “move fast and break things.” This says a lot about the kind of culture we have learned to embrace. The near-cultish acceptance of such a belief system simply is incompatible with the make up of our species and the planet’s ecosystem. What is says, in the name of progress and wealth creation, is that we should throw away all traditions and culture — namely, destroying much of the hard-earned knowledge and meaningfulness that took many centuries for mankind to develop. It also disrespects the way of nature and its limited resources, of the way of life of indigenous peoples, of religion and of humanity as a whole. Not only is this incredibly toxic and immoral, it’s downright dangerous. This is how we have end up with so much monoculture, now commonly applied to to everything from agriculture to the arts. It’s why we have a plethora of disposable and garbage products polluting our world today.

Furthermore, it also doesn’t take long, once such beliefs are firmly adapted, for most things to lose their diversity and uniqueness; everything begins to look the same, sound the same, taste the same, and feel the same. We don’t have to look very hard to see this is true. Just think of the packaged food at our grocery stores; is this what we call real food? Or what about the endless reboots/remakes of movies and tv shows; is this the limit of our creativity? And because all this is designed to operate at breakneck speed and, aided by the power of propaganda, humanity doesn’t get the chance to question, contemplate or possibly reject this way of living. This is the powerful financialized machine we are contending with. This horrifyling imposition has all been thrust upon us without say or approval. And worst of all it disregards consequences. Biological warfare, nuclear weapons, neoliberalism (financial deregulation), social media and now Artificial Intelligence; the common man never asked for any of these things.

“It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism.” — Mark Fisher, Writer

A reversal.

Because this is so unhealthy on so many levels, I prefer to adopt the exact opposite motto: “Move slowly and make things.” Why does this work? Well, for one it’s simple so it’s easy to remember. And two, it’s innately human. What has stood the test of time is that things that take time to make tend to provide the greatest value and meaning. This is true whether applied to the individual or to society as a whole. Think of that teacher or relative who generously assisted your becoming, lending you her tireless love and support. Think of all the wonderful scientific inventions and amazing artistic masterpieces that have enlivened our world like the contribution of AC electric power by Nikolai Tesla (who never profitted from it) or the magnificent sculpture of David by Michelangelo (which continues to inspire beauty and wonder to any viewer who stands before it). These great things were not rushed forward but took deep contemplation and years of dedicated passion to make happen.

Applying it on a personal level.

First, stop rushing. Stop aiming to get here or there to achieve any particular thing by some sort of pre-determined time line. It doesn’t work (and it’ll make you sick and miserable). Yes, this maybe how corporations works and how quick wealth might be generated but it doesn’t last. Many people don’t realize that only about 10% of the stock market’s original S&P 500 companies since WWII are still in existence today. That’s not much time, not even a generation. Our lives are shorter than you can imagine. Do you want to spend all of your life — your limited time and energy — on things only to serve a temporary utility? Much of what we do already, just to survive, is often both repetitively shallow and futile. Of the few conscious hours that we might call our own, we must be reminded that they are very precious.

O Me! O life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
— Walt Whitman, Poet

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” — Thomas Paine, Revolutionary & Philosopher

Perhaps in this time and age much of what we do feels rather pointless.

If we continue to think transactionally, our efforts don’t seem to measure up to the material consequences of our efforts. The rich get richer, the poor get even less than they have already. Modern comforts and technology aside, the increased productivity of the masses of people worldwide have not coincided with a better or more meaningful life. Time is shorter, more is expected, and burdens have become more plentiful.

Even for us artists, working commercially or independently, can feel so much of this financial, physical and psychological toll that it often wipes us of our creative energy. None have been spared. None can escape the demands that commerce and technology places on us under the guise of freedom and abundance. Add the inevitable arrival of A.I. displacement, one must cede to the question “why work hard?” Unfortunately, this misses the point.

“Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it.” — Line from the movie Braveheart

Follow your heart.

We know that if we chase the quick solution, we fail in the long run. If we play the mental game of the powerful, we lose. Every single time. No one goes into a rigged casino expecting to win. Hence, the common man must find a different approach. And I don’t mean escape (through entertainment, religion, or nihilism). None of that works. Why? Because we must live with the now. And the nowness of life is only tolerable when we embrace its nature, which entails foregoing the self — an unselfing. By doing so, we leave the game. We mentally don’t participate. We may work to feed ourselves or our loved ones, but we don’t do it to follow any conditioned dreams or aspirations. We don’t run after the imaginary. We follow the vibes from within.

“Hurrying and delaying are alike ways of trying to resist the present.”
― Alan Watts, Philosopher

Don’t chase but don’t delay.

Since quick success is often short success — achieved requiring little effort or sacrifice — it leaves very little impact on us. And it is the impact that matters. In fact, it makes all the difference. Mistakes, failure and dissappointment shake us, they knock us off of our feet. It’s why they are so fundamental for our understanding of not only our craft but of ourselves. When we mess up, we feel pain. But as much as getting knocked down is necessary, we musn’t let it stall us. We must do. Paralysis by analysis is a very real killer of aspirations, even if that aspiration is peace. Instead, activate your innovativeness and resourcefulness because effort matters, and so does time and persistence. It takes a long time and a series of serious failures to make us ready to learn. This has always been the point of schooling, learning how to learn. Discovery — seeing the world as it really is and learning about ourselves — may be the very point of our existence.

Finally, remember that duty is joy, as along as it serves your authentic self. Don’t do that which is against every bone in your body. Because if you do that, it’ll keep score and you’ll get sick. I’ve been there and I can almost guarantee that is exactly what’s in store for you should you betray your true self. This is something that also takes time to learn.

“The way to creativity is to dig deeper off the path of least resistance.” — David Eagleman, Scientist

We’re constantly told in a commercialized world that getting what you want is the dream, that that treasure will bring you happiness. That’s the path of least resistance, doing what you’re told. But anyone who’s been on this planet long enough realizes very quickly that all that ever leads to is disappointment (if not a bucket load of debt). When you get you older, you’ll be more precise and more particular as to where you want to spend your energy (and your resources). You’ll begin to see what really jives with you. It doesn’t mean it’ll be easy but it’ll be worth it, including every bit of the struggle and difficulty that comes with it. I’ve recently gotten back into doing calisthenics after decades away from it and I’m struggling like hell. But it’s fun. And, like with my art, I know it’s a good day when you actually look forward to your challenges ahead.

” All eternity is in the moment.” — Mary Oliver, Poet

So, don’t worry about the future, don’t worry about A.I. Such things are beyond our control. As artists, we know that we don’t outsource, we insource. We draw from our internal aspirations and uniqueness. We are driven by passion. That is what we do daily, bring out our best. Excellence, afterall, is not a state of arrival but a way of daily living.