Day 4 of 365.
One of the things I love about branding and creative strategy is the ability to take a look at the micro and macro levels of a brand, spot the problems and provide a solution.
No two days or clients are ever alike but I love it.
What most don’t realize is that personal branding is all about relationships. It’s a dance between a newly formed connection or interest that grows into something bigger or dies based on the delivery and experience of what was promised. This connection is even more fickle when it comes to our personal brand and the interpersonal relationships within this space.
But it’s the days when you feel drained that get you. When it seems as if common sense only exists as a mirage in this increasingly weird world.
With everything going on, it can be an often difficult task in finding that perfect moment. The moment when time slows down, when resources are on hand, when there are no interruptions to come our way. So instead of buckling down and working on our goals, we find ourselves procrastinating with the hope of “finding inspiration”.
We hand out excuses like, “I don’t have enough time”, or “I don’t have enough resources”, and my personal favorite, “It’s not ready yet”. Pushing ourselves further away from achieving something worthwhile. Before we know it, we’re asking ourselves why haven’t we done more with our existence? What is stopping me from being all that I can truly be?
How can one create more good when it seems completely pointless? This is the question I love answering the most. Or rather the process I love the most. The process of uncovering ones why and how to leverage it by being curious.
What is Your Why?
We’re at a point in the story of mankind where we have more distractions than ever before.
In the age of abundance of resources, we have little idea what to do with it. So instead of using our time in a constructive manner, we waste it with soaking up the lives of others.
Before you can tap into your flow state consistently, before your able to optimize your schedule or even create a to-do list, you have to understand why you’re doing any of these things. When you have a clear sense of purpose, you’re enabling yourself to focus on what matters the most.
So when obstacles present themselves, you’re more likely to push forward regardless. Life isn’t a sprint but a marathon to be endured, we aren’t racing against each other in this race, but against time itself.
What we choose to occupy our time with matters.
The power of choice
An often overlooked gift is the power of choice. It gives us a vast amount of leverage on the journey onward and upward.
Each day we choose whether we’ll love or if we’ll hate. We choose between being helpful or advancing or selfish intentions. Nothing rarely happens by accident. Whether it was a choice made recently or years ago, the universe has a unique way of bringing things together.
We can run from the voice of curiosity that calls us to be greater or we can embrace the waves of our own lives and move forward. Again, it comes down to the choices we make. In order to move forward and just be, we have to first forgive ourselves on a daily basis. Without this key step everything else is pointless because you can’t make progress carrying dead weight.
This is why it’s important to stay curious. Whether you want to be a better writer, photographer, brand strategist, or just simply a better friend, being curious plays a huge role in how relevant you are in the context of your interpersonal relationships.
Forgiving yourself
Forgiving yourself allows you to come to terms with all the things you may blame yourself for both consciously and unconsciously. What you think of yourself tends to manifest in the level of effort you put out in your work and appears in how we go about treating others.
Just as it is important to feed your body wholesome food, it’s equally important to feed your mind and soul wholesome things as well. As the popular saying goes, “Garbage in, Garbage out”. Forgiveness requires us to think differently and deploy grace not only to ourselves but also to others. Everyone has their own set of dreams, problems and preferences. When we think differently and forgive ourselves, we treat others differently as well.
Forgiveness also allows us to be humble. Without humility and true understanding of who we are. Things will get messy. You’ll lose support you thought you had and most likely will be avoided as if there is a stink about your brand.
Forgive yourself for the past and don’t let it get in the way of who you can be.
Upward!
The journey upwards isn’t easy. And frankly, it shouldn’t be. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Think about anything that you received without much effort. How quickly did it take you to forget? Chances are you can’t even remember half of the things that fit in this category.
The things that challenge our creativity and critical thinking are the things that allow us to grow. The things that grant us the wisdom and understanding needed to truly be great.
Be curious. Be humble. And never stop aiming always upward.
