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Creativity

Is Your Life in a Rut? This Simple Morning Activity Will Change Everything
Creativity

Is Your Life in a Rut? This Simple Morning Activity Will Change Everything

If you’ve ever experienced a creative rut, been stuck with writer’s block, or simply believed you aren’t a creative person, Julia Cameron’s book, “The Artist’s Way,” will change the way you think about the creative process forever.This wildly popular book, which Cameron self-published in 1992 after battling her way out of alcoholism, has transformed the way that much of the general public thinks about creativity. The book went on to be named one of The Top 100 Self Help Books of All Time. RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessThe message? That every single one of us is creative, and that the creative impulse is divinely inspired.In the book, Cameron’s twelve-week course promises to guide the inner artist out of obscurity, repression, and silence with practices and exercises designed to unblock the creative flow.The foundation of the entire course is a simple but profound exercise known as morning pages.What Are Morning Pages?(Photo by OC Gonzalez on Unsplash)Morning pages involve the deceptively simple practice of long-hand, stream of consciousness writing each day, first thing in the morning. In a sense, it’s like a meditation session done through writing. The idea is to start when the mind is fresh and undistracted and simply allow the mental contents to pour out on the page. According to Cameron’s website, “Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand.”In “The Artist’s Way,” Cameron says that morning pages are “the primary tool of creative recovery.”The idea is to purge the mind of all its contents, especially those contents that come from what Cameron calls “The Censor.”RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessThe Censor is the enemy of the creative life, always telling the artist that they’re wrong, stupid, a waste of time, too sensitive, or not enough. Morning pages are a way to hear and let go of the voice of The Censor so it doesn’t impede or interrupt the creative flow. Some even report that morning pages helped them find inspiration, start creative ventures, or find their purpose. Morning Pages vs. Journaling(Photo by Jan Kahánek on Unsplash)Morning pages are slightly different from journaling in several ways, including:They’re entirely stream-of-consciousness.Correcting, revising, and re-reading is off-limits.They must result in three full pages of long-form writing.They should not be shared with anyone.Aside from the above criteria, there’s no wrong way to do them.For instance, journaling often involves a coherent narrative that talks about your day, how you’re feeling, or your thoughts on a particular subject. It’s also usually motivated by the desire to write, while the length of any given entry is usually dictated by how much or how little you want to say.RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessOn the other hand, morning pages won’t necessarily have any narrative at all. They likely won’t have a beginning, middle, or end. They’re simply your stream of consciousness, however disjointed it may be. Morning pages also may not be revised or corrected. If you mess up, change your mind, or spell something wrong, oh well. Simply move on.Finally, morning pages must be three full pages of long-form writing. How to Do Morning Pages(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)The most important rule about morning pages is not to overthink it. “Just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow,” says Cameron’s website. In her book, Cameron lays out the rules for morning pages explicitly:Do morning pages first thing in the morning, before any chores, work, or interactions.Morning pages are non negotiable.Morning pages are for everyone—sculptors, painters, writers, non-writers, moms, lawyers, and retail workers included.Do anything until you have filled three pages.There is no wrong way to do morning pages. Just do them. No one is allowed to read your morning pages (and it’s best if you don’t either—at least for the first eight weeks of practicing). Cameron emphasizes that you really can’t do them wrong. They aren’t meant to be art or even writing. Writing is simply the method, not the product. RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability Awareness“Although occasionally colorful, morning pages are often negative, frequently fragmented, often self-pitying, repetitive, stilted, or babyish, angry or bland—even silly-sounding,” writes Cameron.The point is not to judge what you put down in your morning pages, but to let it be. In doing so, you’ll free your mental and emotional space for something new. “All that angry, whiny, petty stuff that you write down in the morning stands between you and your creativity,” says Cameron. Morning Pages Examples(Tim's IG)Though you’re technically not supposed to share your morning pages with others, there are examples out there.Cameron’s morning pagesIn her book, Cameron provides a brief example of morning pages in which she asks a question of her inner child, “Little Julie” or LJ, and then lets the answer come to her through the pages.LJ: What should I tell them about this inner wisdom?Answer: You should tell them everyone has a direct dial to God. No one needs to go through an operator. Tell them to try this technique with a problem of their own. They will.Tim Feriss’ morning pagesTim Ferris also shares his morning pages examples on his website. The entry reads as follows:SUNDAY, DEC. 28, NEW YORKWoke up at 7:30am, before everyone else. Feels great.It’s a Sunday, so I feel I can take it slow, which is probably the reason it feels great.Why should Monday or Tuesday be any different? There are still people waiting regardless. Let them wait.It’s funny how we work and aim and strive to get to a point where people wait for us, not the other way around. Cue Get Shorty!RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessAnd yet, when we arrive at this vaunted point, the masses of people (often rightly) incessantly knocking on the door, one after another, causes far more stress than when you were a mere peon (sp)! [I was unsure of spelling]Is it because of the 100x more inbound, which decreases a feeling of self-directed free will? A feeling that you’re constantly choosing from someone else’s buffet instead of cooking your own food?Or is it because you feel you must be defensive and protect what you have: time, money, relationships, space, etc.?For someone who’s “won” through a lifetime of offense, of attacking, playing the defensive game conflicts with the core of who they are.[END]Other examples of morning pagesWant to see more? There are lots of images of morning pages shared by people who practice on Google. Morning pages on redditIf you want more advice, reflection, or feedback on morning pages, you may want to check out reddit.There are several subreddits devoted specifically to the practice. For instance, r/getdisciplined has a thread about morning pages, along with r/writing, r/Journaling, and even a dedicated r/artistsWay subreddit. Morning Pages App(Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash)Although morning pages were originally designed to be done by hand, there is a morning pages app. My Morning Pages is a simple, straightforward app that allows you to free-write your morning pages on a simple word processing interface that automatically syncs to a calendar. This way, you can easily track your morning pages and see how many days in a row you’ve completed them. RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessWhile the basic app is free, the pro version uses AI technology to provide insights on past morning pages, like the emotions you may be experiencing based on your word usage.Other popular free-writing apps include 750 Words and Day One App.What to Do When You Hate Morning Pages(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)Have you tried morning pages but found they aren’t for you? According to Cameron, you should just keep trying. Especially at first, morning pages may be a big turn off. RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessThey may give you a sense of impatience and the desire to get on with your day. Or maybe they start to drag and your hand starts to ache before you get anywhere near that final page. Know you’re not alone. This reddit thread offers examples of how different users overcome their morning pages ruts. What to Do With Old Morning Pages(Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash)According to Cameron, just stick them in a folder. Of course there are lots of other creative uses for them, like:use them as kindlingpaper mache with themuse them as wrapping papermake paper airplanes out of themcut or tear them up to make silly nonsense phrasesSome people may also like to store their morning pages for reflection or even to use as material for future creative projects.RELATED: Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet ,with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability AwarenessThe possibilities are pretty limitless.It must be stated that while morning pages may be therapeutic, even life-changing, they aren’t a form of therapy. If you suspect you may have a mental health condition like anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or others, it’s important to get the support you need by speaking with a licensed professional. A Simple Habit for Profound Change(Getty)People from just about every walk of life have reported that morning pages have had a life-changing impact on them. Whether you’re a writer stuck in a rut, an aspiring artist seeking inspiration, or you simply want to become less critical of yourself, morning pages are a simple habit that can create major shifts in your inner world. KEEP READING:Relationship Goals: John Krasinski and Emily Blunt Show Us Love at First Sight Exists

Transcending Procrastination: How to Overcome Procrastination Once and For All
Career Growth

Transcending Procrastination: How to Overcome Procrastination Once and For All

Every one of us has procrastination habits - we’re human, after all. It’s normal to occasionally put things off and complete tasks tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student engaging in some academic procrastination, someone working from home ignoring household chores, or a CEO ignoring their own self imposed deadlines. We all do it. But problems arise when the ‘putting off’ becomes habitual and takes over our lives. Ultimately, this kind of active procrastination has negative consequences, poking at us in the back of our minds and preventing us from enjoying our free time as well as from achieving more personal growth. According to the American Psychological Association, habitual or lifestyle procrastinators represent about 20% of the population. If this includes you, your goals and responsibilities chronically take a backseat to more short-term gratification. In turn, this can send you down a spiral of negative self-talk, which compromises all further effort to break through the habits that are holding you back. Here’s the thing about procrastination: by the time you’re calling it by its name, it has probably already become somewhat of a habit, and breaking the behaviors that lock us into this time-sucking pattern can be quite challenging. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. If you want to beat procrastination and truly commit to tackling this form of addiction, your relationship with doing things on time will improve. By extension, so will your enjoyment of life in general! What is procrastination?What does it mean to procrastinate? When it comes to landing on a definition of procrastination, it helps not to beat around the bush. To engage in procrastination behavior means to have trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should do, need to do, or would like to do.Rather than working on something important, effort-intensive, time-sensitive, or even downright urgent, you find yourself deeply engaged in something else altogether. Maybe instead of writing a paper or having a tough conversation, you’re suddenly cleaning your house. Ironically, you may have needed to clean for ages, but had been killing time on social media. And that right there is the crux of the matter: killing time. If we kill it, we have none left for those so-called urgent tasks! The key, instead, is to manage our time well so that we have ample time left for other things—things we may not even have planned for. That, friends, is quality of life, and truly being able to enjoy living in the present moment. Overcoming procrastination: identifying mythsAlthough the meaning of procrastination is pretty clear, defining what procrastination is not is just as helpful in understanding our reasons for doing it. Let us dispel a few of the more common (yet persistent) misconceptions about procrastination, shall we?Myth 1: Procrastination is lazinessFrom the outside looking in, procrastination can look a bit like laziness. But there’s a significant distinction to be made between laziness and procrastination. While procrastinators might put off doing things, sometimes until the last minute, or even spend their time staring into the great void, don’t be so quick to judge this behavior as lazy. Lazy people do little or nothing and are not bothered by this lack of action. On the contrary, procrastinators really want to do something but can’t seem to kickstart the process. While laziness is passive and even apathetic, active procrastinators are active and willing—even if you’re choosing to do something other what you need to do, you are doing something. Regardless of what others may think, start by eliminating the negative feelings and thinking of yourself not as lazy. Instead, practice some semblance of self forgiveness and be more accurate: you’re a procrastinator, that’s all! Words matter. The first step on the road to better self control is a better understanding of the root of your behaviors. It’s how we begin to set about fixing them. Myth 2: procrastination is relaxationAnother common misconception about procrastination is that it’s a form of relaxation—or, put another way, relaxing is a form of procrastination. Either way, this is problematic and simply untrue. Instinctively, we all know what relaxing feels like: it renews your energy stores, leaving you feeling less tired and more capable of tackling the tasks of life. In many ways, procrastination is the exact opposite. That muted (yet nonetheless present) awareness of what you should be focusing on, coupled with the often low-level yet continual anxiety at the back of your mind can really drain your energy. Plus, unsurprisingly, it’s a vicious circle: the less energized you feel, the more vulnerable you become to stress or even depression, which, in turn, increases the likelihood that you’ll keep right on procrastinating. In a nutshell, successfully getting things done is what enables us to actually relax. Procrastinating does not accomplish this.Myth 3: You work best under pressureThis is a very common refrain—if you haven’t made this bold claim yourself, chances are you’ve heard someone else say it. The narrative at play here is that leaving things to the last minute is actually more productive, as the rush involved in making it happen without time on your side is just the kickstart you need to do a bang up job. Yet in spite of persistent notions that pressure can facilitate productivity, studies show the opposite to be true. What time-pressure facilitates is more akin to stress, guilt, and ineptitude. If you identify as a person who does, in fact, work best under pressure, you might be an exception to the rule, but the more likely explanation is that the habit of completing work last-minute may be producing a ‘high,’ or a sort of euphoria at having prevailed against all odds. After all, we humans do appreciate our dramatic flair. Why do we procrastinate?(Paula Winkler / Getty)So if it works against us, why do people procrastinate? Procrastination is driven by a range of thoughts and actions, but at its root, we delay tasks because we don’t think we’ll enjoy them, and we want to avoid unhappiness. Or we worry we won’t do them well. Or we’re intimidated by the perceived complexity of a task (i.e., filing taxes or planting a garden). Or because we’re distracted and exhausted (because, life). Or all of the above and more! Let’s break these reasons down in more detail, shall we?Time inconsistencyBehavioral economists refer to a phenomenon known as “time inconsistency” to help explain why procrastination often sucks us in despite our best intentions. Put simply, time inconsistency is our tendency to value immediate rewards over future ones. In this way, your present self and your future self often are often in contradiction or even conflict with one another. While your future self wants to be financially stable, your present self wants to enjoy your earnings because life is too short. While your future self wants to be healthy well into old age, your present self would rather binge Netflix than exercise. The thing is, the consequences of procrastination are often years away, making them seem less than ‘real.’Indecision…or paralysisIn this day and age, we are generally not at a loss for options: our modern society worships individual choice and free will, for better or worse. Although the basic underlying tenet here is that the more options we have, the happier we’ll be, people today are not happier than their predecessors.Although having an abundance of choices at our fingertips has undeniably made life easier in many ways, with more decision-making freedom comes more confusion about what should and shouldn’t be a priority; what’s essential or urgent and what’s not; and sometimes even what’s right versus what’s wrong. With this modern-day confusion comes a hefty dose of disempowerment. Actually choosing somewhere to start can feel overwhelming or even paralyzing. If we want to cultivate more positive habits, it becomes necessary, under these circumstances, to better clarify our values and personal goals.Losing touch with the value of timeThe hustle bustle of modern life can also make it easy to lose perspective and forget we are all finite, mortal beings with a limited time on this earth. In other words, time (rather than money) is our most valuable asset. While there are often ways of making or borrowing more money, time that has passed can never be retrieved. Why not let the old adage “life is short” (YOLO) inspire more careful time management rather than overwhelmed procrastination which only serves to quite literally “kill time”?Self-deceptionProcrastination can also involve a degree of self-deception. On some level, most procrastinators are aware of the fact that they’re procrastinating, as well as the consequences. But changing one’s habits actually requires an even loftier effort than completing the task at hand, so chronic procrastinators often convince themselves of certain convenient truths. For instance, you might tell yourself you work best under pressure, or that it’s a bad time to quit smoking given all the stress you’re currently dealing with. But in reality, starting will always be the first step, and there will never be a ‘perfect time.’PerfectionismContrary to dominant associations with laziness, procrastinators are often hyper perfectionists who find it less psychologically daunting to keep procrastinating than to actually tackle a job and risk not doing it perfectly. If this sounds like you, you may find yourself so worried about the perceptions and judgements of others that you instead opt to opt out. Here’s the problem: putting your dreams and goals on an indefinite hiatus because of what other people may or may not think is simply no way to do justice to your full potential.DisorganizationFinally, some of us procrastinate because we’re very disorganized, and we find the idea of getting organized excessively overwhelming. Being organized does not come naturally to everyone—this is why people hire secretaries or assistants, after all. Being disorganized can place an even bigger disconnect between you and the task at hand, since “getting organized” will always be the step that needs to be taken before you embark on the task. This can lead to procrastination around “getting organized,” while the original task (i.e., starting your own business), gets pushed further and further into some imagined future.Underlying mental health issuesFor some, procrastination is more than a frustrating habit; it can signal a serious underlying mental health issue such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, or depression. While an underlying issue may be at the root of your procrastination, it goes both ways: your procrastination may also be fueling any mental health issues you have or even triggering new ones. Anxiety is a prime example. While anxiety may be causing you to procrastinate, your procrastination will almost certainly fuel anxiety. If you suffer from chronic or debilitating procrastination, one of the above conditions could be the culprit, and it may be time to seek the advice of a trained professional.Reasons to overcome procrastinationBy now it’s probably pretty obvious that procrastinating can have ill-effects on your overall life trajectory and your sense of momentum. Here are a few concrete reasons to resist the persistent pull of procrastination:It’s getting in the way of your goals and dreamsProcrastination is one of the main obstacles preventing you from getting out of bed, making choices that will further your goals, and ultimately living the life you’ve always dreamed of. Why not do all you can to burn brightly and live in such a way that’s aligned with your best, truest self? It’s better to regret something you did than something you didn’t doRecent studies have shown that more people regret the things they haven't done than the things they have. Not to mention, the regret and guilt we feel as a result of missed opportunities tends to stay with us much longer than negative emotions resulting from something we actually did.It takes an emotional, physical, and practical tollProcrastinators habitually get lower grades at school, produce lower-quality work at their jobs, and can also suffer from insomnia or a compromised immune system. Chronic procrastination can also compromise our relationships with others—both personal and professional. If your procrastination is triggering depression (or vice versa), there’s never any shame in seeking out a good therapist! How to stop procrastinating(Simon Winnall / Getty)Let’s face it: the world as we know it is highly conducive to procrastination. This just means that learning how to transcend procrastination is one of the most important skills we can acquire. If you know you’re happier during those rare periods of productivity and motivation, consider taking the following steps to establish productivity as more of a force at work in your life.Step 1: Acknowledge your procrastination habitsThere are many reasons we put off doing things until later. If you've briefly delayed an important task for an undeniably good reason (i.e., health concerns, or an unexpected increase in your workload), then you might not actually be procrastinating. But if you’re delaying action on an ongoing basis, or avoiding addressing something that urgently needs addressing, then what you’re doing is procrastinating and needs to be identified as such. A few more signs you’re procrastinating:You keep very busy doing low-priority tasks that don’t leave you with any real sense of accomplishment.Some items are permanent fixtures on your to-do list, in spite of their importance.You spend significant periods of time ruminating over what decision to make—without arriving at any decision.You begin an urgent task only to distract yourself with making a snack or checking social media.You often find yourself waiting for the right moment or the right energy to get something done.Step 2: Understand the reasons behind your procrastinationOnce you’ve identified procrastination as the problem, the next step is understanding the reasons behind it. Have a look at the section entitled “Why do we procrastinate?” above to gain a clearer understanding of your own personal reasons.You may be procrastinating for any of the following reasons:You’re avoiding a task because you find it boring or annoying.You’re disorganized and you don’t know how to get organized.You're organized, but still feel overwhelmed by a given task.You have doubts about your skill or expertise and are worried about doing it poorly.You’re afraid of success because you see it as a door to more challenging or tedious tasks—never-ending tasks!You just can't decide what to do, or how exactly to do it.Step 3: Create your very own anti-procrastination strategyProcrastination is deeply habit-forming, but like even the hardiest of habits, it can be broken. While you may not be able to stop procrastinating on the spot, the following anti-procrastination strategies can help you to stop succumbing to the short-term temptations of procrastination and give yourself the best possible chance of success!Step 4: Stop being so hard on yourselfIf you have a long, sordid history of procrastination, and you regularly beat yourself up about it, stop. Forgiving yourself can actually go a long way toward tempering any negative self-talk, thus reducing the likelihood that you’ll keep on procrastinating. Pay attention to the things you say to yourself, and the judgements you make. Rather than using phrases like “need to" or “have to,” which can strip you of your sense of agency and be quite disempowering, try saying, “I choose to,” to take more ownership over your work and your goals, and help you feel more in control. Remember: words are never just words—there is a thought to back every one, and in turn, every thought has weight.Step 5: Create a detailed timeline, complete with deadlinesStart by writing down the tasks you need to complete, and specify a timeframe for doing each of them. This will help you to proactively tackle your work. But—because having just one deadline can be a bit like an invitation to procrastinate (we get the impression we have more time than we do and keep putting things off), go one further and break your project down into steps.Include every step that will need to be taken to complete said project, no matter how small. You might break the steps down into monthly, weekly, and daily task lists. Then, create an overarching timeline with multiple deadlines for every task—be it big or small. This way, you have a clear understanding of what needs to get done, and by when. This, in turn, creates a needed sense of urgency to act—and to follow through. Here are more tips on setting effective deadlines.Step 6: Promise yourself a reward…or a giftIf it helps to provide yourself with palpable incentives, you might consider rewarding yourself when you complete a difficult task without delay. Whether it’s a mocha with whipped cream on top, or permission to put your feet up and watch a movie, having a self-reward system in place can be very effective. This will also serve as a regular reminder that finishing things is a highly pleasant experience! While we’re on the topic of rewards, how about a straight-up gift? Consider giving yourself the gift of unbridled productivity with one of these 16 motivational gifts.Step 7: Ask someone to hold you accountableHaving someone to hold you accountable can make all the difference in the world. This is especially true, given that we, as humans, care what other people think—for better or worse. So go ahead and ask a friend, family member, coworker, or partner to check up on you now and again. Think of it as positive peer pressure! After all, this is the fundamental idea behind many self-help groups.Step 8: Act as you goActing as you go means tackling tasks as they arise, rather than letting them build up over days, weeks, or even months. If there are tasks that you find particularly unpleasant but which can be done relatively quickly, aim to get them out of the way early in the day, so that you have the remainder of the day to focus on work you find more meaningful, or at least more pleasant. William H McRaven, a former navy SEAL who served for 34 years has shared the one simple lesson that sticks with him, even to this day: if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. The idea here is that just by virtue of making your bed, you have already accomplished your first task of the day successfully. The sense of pride this instills can actually encourage you to complete your next task—and the one after that. It’s a positive chain reaction.Step 9: Cut out distractionsIt should go without saying, but it remains difficult nonetheless: turn off your email and social media while you are doing more focused work so as to cut down on distractions and interruptions. This will help you to get down to the task at hand far more quickly—and before you know it, you’ll actually have finished a task that you thought would take a lot longer. Pleasant surprises await you when you cultivate the self-discipline to compartmentalize this way! If need be, reward yourself with a Facebook or Instagram break once you’ve finished your most pressing tasks!The bottom lineBottom line: while it’s true that procrastination can be highly addictive and is typically rooted in more deeply ingrained behaviors and outlooks, where there’s a will, transcending procrastination is entirely doable! If you do the necessary work to identify the problem, understand why you’re procrastinating to begin with, and then create a robust action plan to help you break on through to the other side, it’s only a matter of time before you begin to notice positive results at play in your life. You got this!

Jason Statham's Humble Beginnings Prove Anything Is Possible
Career Growth

Jason Statham's Humble Beginnings Prove Anything Is Possible

Tough guy Englishman Jason Statham is actually somewhat misunderstood. Jason Statham has built an entire career out of playing rough, rugged, bullheaded characters, from Frank Martin in the Transporter trilogy to Deckard Shaw in the Fast & Furious movies to Lee Christmas in The Expendables franchise. No matter the movie, you can always expect Jason to emanate a wild, aggressive, and macho energy. That’s precisely why his fans adore him. In fact, he’s been the uncompromising hardman for so long that people forget that a charming human being exists behind the steely gaze. The typecasting doesn’t take away from the fact that Jason’s beginnings were as humble and human as anyone else. While he does share a few traits with some of his mighty characters, we should also remember he is his own man and shouldn’t be defined exclusively by his body of work. Here’s what we can take away from Jason Statham’s journey:Jason Statham grew up “selling watches” on street corners and had been a competitive swimmerJason was born on July 26, 1967, to Eileen Yates and Barry Statham in Derbyshire, England. His mother danced professionally, and his father worked mainly as a street seller, peddling everything from jewelry to perfume to knock-off watches. Barry’s varied career also included stints as a house painter, coal miner, and the occasional singer. Having grown up working-class, Jason followed in his dad’s footsteps. Hawking a mishmash of off-brand items to busy pedestrians is no easy job, but Jason took it in stride and used the opportunity to develop excellent salesman skills. “He smiles wide and winks often and periodically announces, “My name is Billy, not silly,” to comic effect,” read a New York Times profile of the actor. Jason also leaned into his father’s musical background as a child and had been the drummer in their family band, with his brother as the guitarist and their dad as the lead singer. Though he dabbled in music occasionally, his true passion lied in the waters. Statham swam for his local grammar school team and demonstrated such a talent in competitive diving that he snagged himself a spot on Britain’s National Swimming Squad. He trained with the team for twelve years and was even chosen to be a part of the Great Britain contingent in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. He finished 12th in the World Championships in springboard diving. Jason said in an interview that his time as a competitive diver taught him “discipline, focus” and generally kept him out of trouble. I get motivated by the sheer fact that I don’t want to go back to the f—king street corners and start selling watches again [...] I like the job. I like what I’m doing. So if that goes away, it means I’m not motivated—I’m not working hard.Jason Statham to Men's HealthStatham achieved superstardom without having taken a single “acting lesson” in his lifeThough he excelled in competitive diving and had taken it seriously as a young man in his twenties, Jason realized that amateur sports didn’t come with a stable enough income to support him for the long haul. He went back to the streets as a vendor, “selling perfume and jewelry, and other goods that were supposedly expensive.” The father-of-one said that his time as a hawker off Oxford street sparked a love of performance. Statham's charming antics drew the attention of shoppers. For this reason, they were more likely to purchase items off his stall. One of his funny acts caught the eye of passerby Guy Ritchie, who became so entranced with Jason’s personality that he cast him in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as no one else but a street hawker. (Photo by Daniel Smith/Getty Images)The rest, as we know, is history. Jason Statham was in his early thirties when he did his first movie — a departure from the majority of working actors who dip into the scene in their late teens or early twenties. But that didn’t discourage him from embracing the new opportunities knocking on the door. He jumped into the business and took it upon himself to make a name as an action star. Jason said that he dreamed of being a stuntman as a kid; becoming a dashing, daring actor was just icing on top. I’m aware of what I can and can’t do. I don’t see myself as a character actor that spends months and months figuring out what to do. I’ve never had an acting lesson in my life. I don’t know whether that’s a good or bad thing.Jason Statham to Men’s JournalOff-camera, he’s surprisingly “fun and charismatic and energetic”Just because someone prefers a certain kind of role consistently through their career doesn’t mean that it reflects their real-life personality. Most people assume Jason Statham to be the gruff, surly, hyper-masculine figure when the cameras aren’t rolling, but his partner confirmed that he most certainly is not. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the actor’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of his child, said that when they went on their first date in 2010, she had assumed that he would be as rough and tumble as his on-screen persona. Suffice to say; she was delighted to see him turn on the charm and offer up his romantic, fun side. I remember calling my friend the next day and just being like, 'Wow, he’s so unexpectedly not who I thought he’d be. He’s so grounded and humble, he’s really fun and charismatic and energetic.' Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to ElleShe also added that the humbleness in him hasn’t faded. Statham knows the “value of a pound” and is aware of how fortunate he is to be doing what he does. He spent the majority of his life scrambling to make ends meet; he worked as a painter-decorator, sold jewelry to busy shoppers in the heart of London, kept the peace as a bouncer of many nightclubs, even oiled up as a backup dancer for music videos — the actor knows what it’s like to truly work for a livelihood. Rosie hopes that his “groundedness” is instilled in their son as well. Your time will come as long as you maintain drive(Denise Truscello/WireImage)You never know when your big break is knocking on the door. You have to be patient and maintain the drive, knowing that the opportunities will present themselves at their own pace. And once they do, it’s up to you to take the wheel and jump. Jason Statham didn’t expect to be one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, so he kept working away at his day job and didn’t stop until something better came along. It’s never too late to pursue your interests, and it's never too late to manifest your dreams. Everyone’s lives move to a different rhythm, so you can’t compare yourself to others. All you can do is have a little faith and show a lot of ambition from time to time — your calling will reveal itself to you before you know it.

He Was Conned And Enslaved - Now He's Debt-Free And Has A Modeling Career
Creativity

He Was Conned And Enslaved - Now He's Debt-Free And Has A Modeling Career

One man's life seemed beyond hopeless until an old friend, some fabulous photos and open hearts turned things around in an unforgettable fashion. A hard knock life Yury Vetlugin of Ufa, Russia was left in front of an orphanage as a newborn. Later, he was diagnosed with a psychological disability that impaired his judgement, leading him down a dark path."he’s like a big child. But he’s a lot like us too. He has both positive and negative traits, with the only negative being that fraudsters can manipulate him"- Yuri Fillipov, childhood friendWith impaired judgement, Yury was taken for a ride when he mistook some shady characters for friends. They duped him into signing loans under his name for purchase of a house. Unable to pay back the loans, Yury was penniless.The financial con was just the beginning. In in a frightening turn, the same fraudsters forcibly took Yury to the house, located in a remote village, and enslaved him as an unpaid houseworker. To make matters worse, they routinely beat him and fed him scraps.One night, after narrowly surviving an axe attack from them, Yuri fled and found his way home.Reunited with an old friendAt home, Yury ran into childhood friend — and fashion photographer — Roman Fillipov.After hearing of his upsetting ordeal and deciding to take some snaps of his photogenic friend toiling as a yard-keeper, Fillipov got an idea."I thought to myself: ‘He is so handsome — why don’t I film him like I always do?’ So I did"- Roman Fillipov to UTV televisionHe told Yury's story through photographs and shared it online to raise money for Vetlugin, who "could be on a real GQ cover if only he had a little more luck in life.”There's beauty in every lifeThe GQ'esque photoshoot — showing Yury toiling the yards and alone at home — blew up the internet and donations poured in. In a matter of days, they raised mored than double the requested amount.Debt-free, Yury is still pinching himself. "I did not expect this to happen"- Yury VetluginFor photographer Fillipov, the story proves that friendships are more precious than gold. For Vetlugin, the moral of the story is that behind unthinkable suffering lies a beautiful story. As for Vetlugin's modelling career? Stay tuned. “I was already invited to do a shoot for a glasses commercial, but we will see what happens after that.”For news stories, use this:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

5 Simple Steps to Supercharge Your Creativity
Creativity

5 Simple Steps to Supercharge Your Creativity

In our world of contradiction, tension, struggle, and confusion, staying inspired and coming up with new ideas can be extremely difficult—maddening even. Though it's a special concern for those of us who must be creative for a living, but also for anyone who wants to leave their creative imprint on this world. Whether you're a writer, designer, dancer, chef, musician, comedian, or amateur mime, finding and maintaining inspiration can feel about as easy as trying not to blink or swallow while someone boldly points and laughs.Here are some ways you might consider jolting yourself from the humdrum downward spiral of panic, dread, or downright apathy that can sometimes arise when your creative juices are running low!5 steps to improving your creativity:1. PracticeCounter-intuitive though it may seem, when it comes to the concept of being creative, practice makes for (close to) perfect. Creativity is actually a skill you have hone. The act of creating entices your mind to, well, create more often. Fact: even the most fabulously creative trailblazers have to spend way more energy working at being creative than gliding along on their natural talents. Challenge yourself to put in the time and effort it takes to create every day, in whatever way works for you. Every morning or night, for an hour, or two, or whatever you’ve got to give.2. DaydreamSome of us like to continually flog ourselves for not living up to our own hyper-critical standards. But have you ever had a superior whose very presence made you less competent at what you were doing, out of sheer nervousness? Be kind and compassionate with yourself, and above all, have faith in your abilities! Show yourself you mean it by allowing yourself the time you need to zone out. Daydreaming has actually been shown to lead to creative problem-solving. When your mind is free to roam, it can access memory, emotion, and valuable stored knowledge. Should you come up with any ideas while zoning out, jot them down. A few ways to daydream with panache: walking, running, taking a bath, or going crazy on a giant trampoline.3. Switch your surroundingsHave you ever tried a new and unusual workspace, like your car? It can do wonders to feel like you’re going somewhere new rather than sitting still (although do be sure the car is parked). If you usually work in a library, try a busy cafe. You might spend a sunny day working in a charming park. In addition to switching it up, your main workspace should be a place you like spending time— where the only thing you do is create. Whether in a work or home office, make it comfortable, choose the right colors, and if clutter agitates you, keep it clutter-free.4. Reach outWhile creative people often feel they are playing a profoundly solo sport, the fact is that anti-social tendencies have their limit. Others who have undergone similar creative struggles and come out on the other side intact understand just how hard it can be. Don’t undervalue the personal connections you make as a source of real learning. If you’re not part of a community of creative thinkers, email people that inspire you and ask them out for coffee. You might be surprised by how many people would be happy to give an hour to a budding creative.5. Don’t be afraid to take risksCreating remarkable and compelling ideas others can connect with can only be achieved with some measure of confidence. It can be scary to stray wildly from what those who’ve come before you have deemed suitable, but sometimes being reckless is the only way your mind knows how to feel inspired, and if that’s the case, by all means, go with it and quit trying to fit into someone else’s preconceived notions. The late genius musician Prince is the perfect example. He broke musical industry norms, gender norms, and lifestyle norms, challenging virtually every “expert” that crossed his path. And he became a worldwide sensation, in large part because of his risk-taking.Do what you have to do to stay true, don’t doubt yourself, and the rest should fall into place!

Why You Should Harness the Therapeutic Power of Creative Writing
Creativity

Why You Should Harness the Therapeutic Power of Creative Writing

It is sometimes impossible to be objective about our feelings when we are in the thick of experiencing them. By putting them down on paper, we are turning our feelings into something tangible, something physical, and that can make accepting them or understanding them so much more manageable.Writing is a powerful tool because it allows you to open up a dialogue with yourself, without straying into the realms of anxiety or obsessiveness. Many professionals recommend journaling as a self-improvement exercise, and there is certainly a lot of merit to that proposition. Journaling is a deeply personal journey that helps us explore and dissect our feelings and emotions.After journaling, the next step toward self-improvement should be dipping your toes into the sometimes intimidating world of creative writing. Many people dismiss the idea of writing poetry or fiction because it might be too challenging, or ‘not their thing,’ or a waste of time, but in order to unlock the true therapeutic potential of writing, you should start exploring mediums like poetry or fiction.Creative writing can help enrich our relationship with the people and world around us. Of course, there is a huge difference between writing for self-improvement and therapy, and writing creatively to produce a work of art. Even a novice writer can reap the benefits of poetry - simply by exercising your mind in an unfamiliar way, or by approaching ideas and problems from a totally new angle. And if you hate your poem, feel free to burn it! Nobody ever has to see it.In many ways, the blank page is like your first trip to see a therapist.It is right there, in front of you, waiting to absorb all of your inner thoughts and concerns, both positive and negative. The blank page will never judge you or try to fix you. It will never impose its own beliefs or opinions on you. Plus, it won’t charge you 100$ for an hour-long session.Putting your thoughts and problems onto the page allows you to explore them from a different angle. We all know the difficult sensation of helplessness that appears when, no matter how much we think about a problem, we can’t seem to move any closer to a solution.The blank page, and whatever you fill with it, is a manifestation of your self. By writing, you are empowering yourself to explore every corner of your mind, perhaps even things that might be challenging to think about under normal circumstances. Writing can help you deal with difficult or traumatic events, or perhaps help you find new or hidden meanings in events that previously seemed unimportant to you.In essence, writing is an easy way to think about your problems and issues, while remaining totally in control of them, which is important since lack of control can be difficult for many people to grapple with. You are the one deciding what makes its way onto the page, how relevant or illuminating those words might be, and whether anyone else will ever get to see then. Reclaiming control over your thoughts by writing them down is an extremely rewarding experience! Literature and poetry can really help us understand many common social problems and anxieties that might be impacting us. By practicing writing, you might find that you have a new and more profound appreciation for novels and poetry. Remember, if you have felt or thought something, then somebody else has probably already written about it! There is an almost unlimited wealth of books and articles circulating in the world, just waiting to be explored.There is also something to be said for the social aspect of sharing and workshopping your writing. For some, the idea of sharing creative writing might seem ridiculous and scary. However, amazingly authentic bonds can be created between people who are willing to share their own writing and engage with the work of others. These experiences can be similar to group therapy, where important and complicated issues might be discussed, or alternatively, they can be great opportunities to learn how to better take and give criticism, and to work with people from different walks of life. In most cities, there are open writing circles that are happy to accept new members.Journaling and creative writing are both valuable tools, and one is not better or more useful than the other.In fact, a combination of the two is probably ideal. For example, a journal can be used to empty out a deluge of ideas onto the page. Stream-of-consciousness writing is a very powerful tool because it allows you to break down those mental walls that may have been put up in your mind to block out difficult thoughts. In that sense, journaling is very therapeutic in its own right.That stream-of-consciousness can then be further explored, and transformed, with practice, into beautiful lines of poetry or fiction. This process of transformation will allow you to see your thoughts and visions in a spectacular new light, and can be one of the most healing, inspiring, and peaceful experiences we can possibly hope to have.

5 Surprising Benefits of Learning to Draw
Creativity

5 Surprising Benefits of Learning to Draw

You might think of drawing as an artistic endeavor pursued by a select few who chase dreams of artistic greatness, but it’s actually much more than that. Anyone can draw, especially if they start with a simple training program like this Fundamentals of Drawing Bundle -- available in our store for $39, which is 94% off the cover price.And once you get started, you’ll reap all kinds of amazing personal benefits from this hobby. Benefits like...Improved MemoryAccording to several pretty comprehensive studies, drawing has a large impact on your short and long term memory capacity. In fact, it’s even better than writing, because it requires “seamless integration of semantic, visual, and motor aspects of a memory trace.” So if you struggle to remember the location of your keys or who the actor from that thing is, drawing might be a good way to get in better mental shape.Better CoordinationWhether you’re moving your pencil in long, slow strokes across the page or doing small, meticulous shading, the act of drawing is always improving the dexterity, mobility, and fine-motor skills in your hands. On top of that are all the ancillary tasks associated with drawing, like molding your soft erasers and tearing paper, which also improves your eye-hand coordination and other basic skills that help you in everyday tasks.It should go without saying that these benefits are even more important for children. Developing these skills in young minds helps raise their physical ceiling for these skills in later life.Communication SkillsBecause there are no words in drawing, sketching regularly forces you to think up new ways to communicate. Any artist will grow to more thoroughly understand facial expressions, body language, and the simple emotional impact of colors and shapes. The way this impacts communication skills are obvious: since you’ll be more in tune with what facial expressions mean when you draw them, you’ll be more likely to notice them in other people during conversations.Improved Problem SolvingDoodling, an inherent part of the artistic process, probably helps with your problem-solving skills. The act of putting lines on paper and allowing your brain to free-associate with color and change like that helps you imagine different solutions and perceive your life from different perspectives. All this can help spur the “A-Ha!” moments that allow us to perceive the solutions to life’s most perplexing problems.Stress ReliefDoodling, or drawing, stimulates blood flow to the front of the brain. Meaning that doodlers relax, forget their problems, and get all the low blood pressure associated with peace and wellbeing. One study found that 75% of people engaged in creating art found that they were more relaxed and peaceful than those who weren’t -- and best of all, it didn’t even matter if they were any good!If these benefits sound exciting to you, then there’s no reason not to grab your pencil, a scrap of paper and -- if you’re feeling particularly ambitious -- this Fundamentals of Drawing Bundle from the Goalcast store, on sale for just $39. Who knows, this could be the start of your new favorite pastime.

3 Lessons from The War of Art on Following Your Creative Dream
Creativity

3 Lessons from The War of Art on Following Your Creative Dream

Since being published in 2002, Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art (not to be confused with Sun Tzu’s The Art of War) has become a must-read guide for creatives navigating the challenges of living a creative life. Screenwriters, illustrators, filmmakers, novelists, actors and actresses, and all others who live and follow their creative dream have found immense value in Pressfield’s succinct little book. Being no stranger to challenge himself, Pressfield was a writer for seventeen years before being paid a dime for his work, and ten more years before his first novel was published (The Legend of Bagger Vance, which was eventually made into a major motion picture starring Will Smith and Matt Damon). Life has its own unique set of challenges. However, you know as an artist that living creatively brings to light an entirely unique and oftentimes more potent set of challenges one must work through if you hope to follow your dream and making a living doing what you love. Art often brings us face-to-face with our own lack of self-worth and related internal challenges in the form of self-doubt, overthinking, humiliation, and most notably, fear. And it’s with overcoming these challenges in mind (what Pressfield calls “resistance”) and living your creative dream that Pressfield wrote The War of Art. Turning pro is a mindset. If we are struggling with fear, self-sabotage, procrastination, self-doubt, etc., the problem is, we're thinking like amateurs. – Steven Pressfield Here are three lessons from The War of Art on following your creative dream. 1. You are your own worst enemy Any act that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower. Any of these will elicit Resistance. The first, and one of the most important, lessons that Pressfield discusses in The War of Art is that you are the enemy. This echoes something you may already be familiar with: the negative self-talk. The truth is, we are the adversary of our creative dream. It’s we who doubt ourselves, demean our worth, criticize our dream, and attempt to sabotage our own success. Time and time again, it’s you who you’re going to have to face if you hope to realize your creative vision and live the life of your dreams. Simply knowing this is powerful, however, in that it properly motivates you to pay attention to what’s going on within you. Notice what you’re telling yourself, how you’re self-sabotaging, and when you’re purposely distracting yourself due to a deep-seated self-doubt and you can begin to rewrite this dialogue into something more empowering and resilient. 2. Adopt a “pro mentality” To the amateur, the game is his avocation. To the pro it’s his vocation. The amateur is a weekend warrior. The professional is there seven days a week. Pressfield takes a lot of time clarifying the difference between an amateur and a pro mentality, and for good reason. Many of us, while we may be professionals or have aspirations to become one, treat ourselves like amateurs or hobbyists. We don’t carry ourselves, treat our craft, or work like we’re a professional. So nothing ever comes of our efforts. The truth is that for you to make something amazing of your creative vision, you need to be unwaveringly dedicated to your cause and take your work seriously. The good news is that this is mostly a perspective shift, or at least doing so creates most of the change. By thinking and treating yourself like a pro, you start to act more like one: dedicating yourself to the daily work of your craft, seeing your work through to completion, and willingly accepting payment (a mental hurdle many artists face). 3. Connect with your greater purpose If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don’t do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet. A powerful way to overcome the resistance that you face on the path to realizing your dream is to connect with your greater purpose. If you’re not following what you believe you were meant to do, Pressfield says, you’re wasting a very special gift. So, what do you believe you were meant to do and what would happen if you didn’t pursue your destiny? Don’t let fear and the challenges of pursuing your creative dream get in the way of realizing your potential.

Feeling Stuck? Here Are 3 Simple Habits Steve Jobs Used to Supercharge Creativity
Creativity

Feeling Stuck? Here Are 3 Simple Habits Steve Jobs Used to Supercharge Creativity

Some days your brain might as well have an "out of order" sign. You feel about as creative as a bad pun, and no amount of coffee seems to make a shred of difference.It's infinitely frustrating and can happen to the best of us. But that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do about it. There are actually a few workarounds to help you overcome the dreaded mental block. We could go back in history and cite hundreds of creative process examples, like Igor Stravinsky who stood on his head or the poet Friedrich Schiller who stored rotten apples in his desk. But for now, we'll focus on a more modern icon: Steve Jobs.Steve Jobs was an admirably creative individual who seemed to have a surprising answer for every question. However, even he had his moments of zero inspiration. Here are a few of his habits you can borrow to stir your own creativity.1. Think while you walkIt's no secret that exercise is great for keeping your mind in shape as well as your body. Plenty of successful entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Oprah mention running or yoga as an essential part of their daily routine.Steve Jobs would often tap into the power of a leisurely walk to clear his head or spark an "aha" moment. He'd even conduct "walking meetings" where he'd go out for a stroll with a group of people while brainstorming new products.According to Stanford research, walking can increase creative output by an impressive 60%. So next time you're in a mental rut, try stepping outside for 10-15 minutes or just walk around the office to spur your own inventive ideas.2. MeditateMeditation is a lot harder than it sounds, but there's a reason the most successful people in the world rely on this peaceful practice to keep their lives in order.Jobs was very open about his love for meditation. It all started in the '70s, when he dropped out of college and traveled to India. There he immersed himself in a spiritual quest for higher learning and harnessing the power of meditation. He told the author of his biography,"If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes things worse, but when it does, there's room to hear more subtle things — that's when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more."Jobs' practice of meditation encouraged his most creative thinking along with a strong sense of empathy which inspired the design of his most famous Apple products. It takes time, but meditation can change your life for the better. As Jobs says, "It's a discipline; you have to practice it."3. Pursue a different interestThis one sounds more like a distraction than a method for inspiration, but Steve Jobs insisted that "creativity is just connecting things".Jobs was famous for taking seemingly unrelated courses throughout his lifetime. He once enrolled in a calligraphy course just because "it interested him." While it didn't make sense to anyone (probably not even to him at the time), he revealed years later in his Stanford commencement speech that the course was responsible for the Macintosh’s beautiful typography.The concept behind this practice is you can't think outside the box if you never leave the box. Step out of the routine and allow yourself to discover new things. Study businesses that are different to your own. Read a book that interests you even if it has nothing to do with your current problem. You never know how one sentence can spark an idea of your own.You have to believe that the dots will somehow connect in your future.-- Steve Jobs

Mark Cuban and Elon Musk Agree This Is The One Skill AI Will Never Replace
Creativity

Mark Cuban and Elon Musk Agree This Is The One Skill AI Will Never Replace

Automation is a big part of the work force right now, and it’s just going to become more of an issue – and lead to more job elimination – in the next decade. But are workers in the U.S. ready for this impending shift? Maybe not, says billionaire investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Cuban said he worries that many jobs people consider to be safe simply won’t exist in a few years due to automation, and being able to think creatively will be key to survival. Why AI will never replace creative and free-thinking “I personally think there’s going to be a greater demand in 10 years for liberal arts majors than there were for programming,” Cuban tells Bloomberg. That’s because while automation will be great at data, it can’t do creative or free thinking, and that’s where creativity will come in. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk agrees that being innovative and creative is essential, in fact Musk asks that his employees use the first principles method to foster problem-solving and innovation. Musk mentioned this strategy in a 2012 interview with the tech-focused video series Foundation, as well as at a 2013 TED conference. "When you want to do something new, you have to apply the physics approach," the billionaire explained. "Physics is really figuring out how to discover new things that are counter intuitive." Creativity and innovation have been at the forefront of inventions, discoveries, and breakthroughs in all industries forever, it makes sense this will be how people, and their careers continue to prosper and times and trends change.