What drives you?
This week I wanted to venture into the ideology of our personality traits (or mine) and take a look inside to see what drives us (me). Ultimately to answer the question of whether it’s truly possible to see ourselves in a way which allows us to understand our triggers to keep creating and growing.
For anyone who has taken a look into me as a person will know that depression and humour are two of the biggest public expression I have. They are also two of the three things closest to my being and thus the keys to my drive.
The last thing, as cliche as it is. Is love.
Back in 2015 when I first picked up a camera to start shooting.
For me personally, I have this two-pronged trigger when it comes to being depressed. The first, most common one is lacking exercise, social activity, remaining hydrated, sleeping properly etc. Not looking after myself causes me far more depression than anything else.
The second trigger is that of which I cannot control, just chemicals getting released whenever my body feels like it and throwing me into disarray.
The trade-off, of course. Is that while I may be incredibly unhappy, I’m also the most creative, open-minded and self-critical during these moments. However, I’m also very demotivated and as such have a tendency to get very little done.
2016 after 2 years of progress.
This is where love comes in. The love of people, the process of photography, the editing of the photograph etc that love is what makes me burst with joy, it makes me drive full on towards the sunset of my goals.
Though when I’m happy I seem to be less creative, perhaps less open minded (because I feel more confident in my opinions maybe?) though generally far more productive.
So for me, the lesson I’ve learned over the last 26 years has been that I have “cycles” like we all do. And my pattern seems to be “collect information and come up with ideas when I’m heavily depressed, then execute it and deliver it when I’m happy”.
Learning that cycle/pattern for me has made me capable of creating my art, my visions and allowed me to continue striving forward in the face of some really difficult odds at times.
I understand my cycles, I know when to create and when to publish. Do you know your cycles? Do you feel it important to?
So I’m writing this to you guys to spread the idea of inner reflection with regards to your life. Because ultimately our work, our health, and our photography will flourish/suffer based on where we are in life.
Before you pick up the camera you will have a certain mood or mindset based on whether your boss was a dick, you fell out with your partner, you’re lonely, hungry, in a rush, it’s raining. Whatever.
Understanding what makes you tick and how to repeat it or in my case understand when to create and when to publish, I strongly feel that you will be able to connect with yourself on a deeper level, ultimately opening the avenue to knowing your limits and your triggers.
I think knowing you, and how you work consciously can improve everything from your social skills, open-mindedness, creative periods, ability to laugh, to be driven, to be passionate and execute it.
Even Wilson understands his cycle! Sleep, Eat, Look at you for food, cry at not getting it, for sorry for himself, get ready to sleep. Repeat.
Once you know these, you can become more productive, more creative, learn faster and become better than you ever have before and will continue to do so. Only now you’ll be doing it consciously instead of just drifting through progress.
What do you guys feel? Have you ever done this? Have you ever analyzed yourself like this to become able to know when you should and shouldn’t work?
Perhaps you guys just “feel” it and don’t require to break it down and analyze it. I certainly have to write it down (mentally).
Anyway, wish you guys all the best, and happy shooting!
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