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In general, people are not drawn to perfection in others. People are drawn to shared interests, shared problems, and an individual’s life energy. Humans connect with humans. Hiding one’s humanity and trying to project an image of perfection makes a person vague, slippery, lifeless, and uninteresting.
Robert Glover, No More Mr. Nice Guy: A Proven Plan for Getting What You Want in Love, Sex, and Life (via fyp-psychology)
A little kindness in life never hurt anyone. I’m not telling you to not have boundaries and be stupidly nice and let people step all over you. I’m saying work hard, be kind to others, stand up for yourself/stand your ground and stay humble. You can be aware of your value and be humble, simultaneously. We are all humans - never look down on someone and think that you are better than someone else. We all crave acceptance and love. No matter how talented, rich, successful or educated you believe you are, how you treat people ultimately tells it all.
So... this clearly is the downfall of Youtube.
Yes this is about Youtube, but it really isn’t just about Youtube. It’s really more than just that but right now I will mostly refer to Youtube.
Though I haven’t been around for way too long, I was lucky enough to be around a somewhat good time for Youtube, specifically the “Let’s play” era which was about the time that video games started to blow up more. I remember that each Youtuber played their own games while sometimes playing some of the “popular” games and I would still watch them multiple times because every let’s player had different things to say about it; they had a clear personality and style. Not to say that they don’t have a personality anymore but… like everything, they’ve grown, the passion has shifted as well (it still exists, but it’s not what it used to be) and that’s normal; It’s expected to any kind of artist and creator as they change, Youtube is changing as well. Now that’s not inherently bad, if it weren’t for the factor that is responsible for everything’s downfall: Money.
A common theme that you’ll notice when you ask an old Youtuber as to how they got so popular is that they’ll always tell you that they never expected Youtube to become their job; they just did what they loved and fame eventually came and as more and more people noticed that, Youtube started gaining popularity and it became clear that being a Youtuber is something you can get income from therefore it no longer is something that you do because you enjoy but you do it because it’s your job. And frankly that is fine– Entertainment is not a bad thing and it’s a valid thing to want from your life- to entertain. But the problem is, an entertainer’s job is to mostly appeal to the masses which means that you have to put less from yourself in your content. Back then, reaching a million subscribers was a really big deal because it means a million people were there for you; You did what you enjoyed and people enjoyed that as well.
That’s how vine became popular as well; people uploaded things they found funny or interesting and people liked it. There isn’t anything that was outstanding about vine but we liked it and made it as big of a deal as it was because it had what drew us to Youtube in the first place; it was flowing with personality! Personality was what made Youtube special…and it’s what it is currently trying to get rid of right now. By promoting trends and shoving in the back anything that contains “discourse”, they push their creators to make content that fits consumerism. More videos = More Ads = More Profit. I’m sure there are Youtubers out there that do have personality but the platform intentionally buries them or throws them under the bus.
There is no room for personality or quality because those take time and if that is what you want to make then Youtube won’t support you because unfortunately it doesn’t bring profit. Youtube has fully joined the entertainment industry so unless something “big” happens which will rob them from all their creators, I doubt that we will see change for the positive and that sadly applies to the internet as a whole. We are the generation of the Internet and companies have completely grasped and are taking advantage of it. Even with us as blogs, we prioritize what is “important” or “trendy” right now because that’s what gets the most attention. Personality rarely exists on an environment with big mass and when it does it gets little to no attention that we either don’t see it or it disappears.
Junk can sell. It’s sad it really is but that is the nature of consumption. That doesn’t mean that everything is hopeless however; because personality and quality matters- it’s what brought me and you and those creators here. On youtube, on tumblr, on the art/video game/writing community, on the Internet. If it wasn’t valuable then none of us would be here.
If you are a content creator, I know money and fame is tempting I really do… But don’t you miss that feeling you got from watching that youtuber or playing that video game or engaging with a community up till 3 am? It felt personal because it was and it exists within you. That raw passion you have when profit isn’t involved; I mean yes, success is something everyone wants and that’s not bad… but when your passion is completely controlled by your desire for profit and success then your content is bound to lose it’s passion and will soon be forgotten. So create things using your passion! Make a video on that topic nobody talks about, write or draw that AU you had on your mind, create that game idea you had even if it’s not a trendy topic. People will truly care and will love it and hold it dear to them because of it’s personality and success will come. Just stay away from consumerism environments.
The new year of creators is on it’s way. Maybe what we need is a clean environment again but please don’t let kids grow up around the junk that is Jake and Logan Paul. Use the passion that you have like the one the creators when you were younger had and create; We need that passion back. So I’m begging you, pursue that passion with everything you have.
tl;dr: The internet is being used by the entertainment industry and the only was to save quality content is if we separate them from it. We are in need of original/quality content now more than ever so stop going with the flow of popularity and start making things YOU want to make like the people who you admire did before you. Some people will hold em dear just as you did with the creators that you grew up with. Be The Change We Need.
Don’t be an entertainer. Be a creator.
Best advice I’ve received so far
the time you take being jealous of other people’s success is the time you could be using to build your own
you’re never going to “feel like it”
doing and practicing now is better than waiting for the perfect moment
eliminate people with toxic habits from your life
you are in control. Everything you’ve done up to this moment led you here. Therefore, your future is determined by what you do now.
everything is as it should be and only later in life you can connect the dots.
self discipline will give you freedom. consistency will give you results
everything is temporary. You should find freedom in this concept
the rich stay rich acting poor and the poor stay poor acting rich
being healthy means finding a balance between the good and the bad
the people that outranked you have outworked you.
you can’t be grateful and negative at the same time.
Meditate on these statements. They are so very powerful! Xxx
Four rules for a disciplined life
(Credit to reddit user ryans01).
No zero days. ‘What’s a zero day? A zero day is when you don’t do a single fucking thing towards whatever dream or goal or want or whatever that you got going on. No more zeros. I’m not saying you gotta bust an essay out everyday, that’s not the point. The point I’m trying to make is that you have to make yourself, promise yourself, that the new SYSTEM you live in is a NON-ZERO system. Didn’t do anything all fucking day and it’s 11:58 PM? Write one sentence. One pushup. Read one page of that chapter. One. Because one is non zero.’
Be grateful to the three yous. ‘There’s the past you, the present you, and the future you. If you wanna love someone and have someone love you back, you gotta learn to love yourself, and the 3 you’s are the key. Be GRATEFUL to the past you for the positive things you’ve done. And do favours for the future you like you would for your best bro.’
Forgive yourself. ‘Maybe you got all the know-how, money, ability, strength and talent to do whatever is you wanna do. But lets say you still didn’t do it. Now you’re giving yourself shit for not doing what you need to, to be who you want to. Heads up champion, being disappointed in yourself causes you to be less productive. Tried your best to have a nonzero day yesterday and it failed? So what. I forgive you, previous self. I forgive you. But today? Today is a nonzero masterpiece to the best of my ability for future self. This one’s for you, future homes. Forgiveness man, use it. I forgive you. Say it out loud.’
Exercise and books. ‘Pretty standard advice but when you exercise daily you actually get smarter. When you exercise you get high from endorphins (thanks body). When you exercise you clear your mind. When you exercise you are doing your future self a huge favour. Exercise is a leg on a three legged stool. Feel me? As for books, almost every fucking thing we’ve all ever thought of, or felt, or gone through, or wanted, or wanted to know how to do, or whatever, has been figured out by someone else. Get some books.’
Determination is the only thing that will get you where you want to be. Motivation will not, as it is temporary, people will not, as they do not have the same mind as you. You must be determined. If you can picture the life you want to lead, you have every capability of making it a reality, don’t let small things get in your way. Use the people around you as guidance and use motivation on those tough days, but remember, your determination will carry you through.
Determination by Amy Kennedy
22/02/17
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(via satiricalwords)
Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with the insatiable desire to learn. To know astronomy and geography and language and architecture; to recognize each constellation, planet, and star; to speak and understand all languages, be able to decipher ancient Greek and Latin text; to grow my understanding of how the human body works; study the differences and similarities of each religion; recognize the use for each herb and seed and sapling.
I want to better myself, not for fame or recognition or power. I just want to understand.
I always love to hear Brewster say this to me. The first couple of times I worked at the Roost, I was a fool and didn’t use a guide. So, as expected, I fucked up everyone’s order. I was expecting him to say something like “You can do better” or “Try harder next time”, but all he said was “Please continue to do your best…”, and that really stuck with me. I think that’s what most of Animal Crossing is about. Not condemning you for your mistakes, but being happy you at least tried.
Animal Crossing isn’t about doing the best. It’s about doing your best.
IF WE WANT THE REWARDS OF BEING LOVED WE MUST SUBMIT TO THE MORTIFYING ORDEAL OF BEING KNOWN!!!!
Note to self
Stop thinking: “I’m not talented enough to execute this concept.” Start thinking: “I’m going to be a stronger artist when I’ve finished this piece.”
Every time you put yourself out there, despite the possibility of rejection, you validate your courage and willingness to take risks. Embrace rejection as a form of empowerment. Your journey is one of hope, not self-shame.
i think the funniest and realist thing i’ve realized lately is how troubling idealization can be. every person is just… a person. the very people you want to impress or be apart of are just people. even if they seem wildly intimidating because of the way they look or because of their reputation, every one is just a person. human. as embarrassing, as remorseful and they are going through stages of growth just like you are. we only see what we want to see and then drown ourselves further in our own depression and we don’t have to.
“Just be fucking honest about how you feel about people while you’re alive.”
— John Mayer