How to Become a More Optimistic Photographer and Human

In my opinion, I believe it takes more skill and courage to be hopeful, joyful, cheerful and optimistic than pessimistic and nihilistic. Our goal as photographers is to have motivation to shoot until we’re 120 years old. So how does one do this?

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How to Become a More Optimistic Photographer and Human

1. Live more.

Zen Buddhist hand macro

I live for a living (JAY Z).

Position yourself in a way in life in which you’d want to live forever (eternal return concept, via Nietzsche). The gist is:

You have more excitement for the photos you have *yet* photographed, and the sights you have yet seen or experienced more so than the past.

In some ways, it means being a future photographer … more excitement in the future (than the retrospective distorted past). Certainly we still delight in the past and relish the present. But in a weighed average, we still *prefer* our future photos by a significant margin. This way we can still have gratitude for past events and past photos, yet we still are excited for the future!

2. Physiology.

Let us not be fooled … optimism comes from the body. Sleeping 8-12 hours a night, weight lifting, walking outdoors, natural light, intermittent fasting, breaking your fast with delicious fatty red meats, etc.

MASTER MOTIVATION

ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II x Ricoh GR II x RICOH MAFIA Artwear

Seek to supersede yourself and become more:

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