{"id":33331,"date":"2016-10-29T07:33:30","date_gmt":"2016-10-29T14:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=33331"},"modified":"2016-10-29T07:33:30","modified_gmt":"2016-10-29T14:33:30","slug":"ultralight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/ultralight\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultralight"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vancouver,
Vancouver, 2015 (photo by Cindy Nguyen)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

One new word I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to integrate into my life is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d reducing weight in my life. Physical weight, emotional weight, and spiritual weight.<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Heaviness is the root of lightness.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – Tao Te Ching\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve dealt with a lot of heaviness in my life.<\/p>\n

Heaviness in terms of traveling with way too much stuff.<\/p>\n

Heaviness in terms of emotional heaviness\u00e2\u20ac\u201d heaviness from family, personal relationships, work, money, and business.<\/p>\n

Heaviness in terms of spirituality \u00e2\u20ac\u201d heaviness of sins, guilt, and blame.<\/p>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1305\"<\/p>\n

Heaviness has weighed me down a lot in life. Heaviness has suffocated me, and prevented me from spreading my wings and flying.<\/p>\n

Everyday, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to shed some weight. Rather than adding things to my life, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to lighten my burden. To get rid of more physical possessions, to get rid of more distractions, to get rid of more negativity.<\/p>\n

That means me trying to remove thoughts of blame, praise, envy, jealousy, impatience, and frustration (with others, and myself).<\/p>\n

That means me trying to reduce the amount of desire I have for money, wealth, power, and influence.<\/p>\n

The benefits of lightness<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1239\"<\/p>\n

Personally, I have found so many benefits in terms of lightness \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in so many areas of my life.<\/p>\n

In photography, lightness has helped me walk more, with less fatigue, which allows more mental energy to make more creative photos.<\/p>\n

In the past, when I lugged around a heavy DSLR, I could barely walk a few miles without becoming exhausted. My camera bag was heavy \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I had too many lenses, bodies, and superfluous equipment.<\/p>\n

Now I try to use the lightest and most compact gear. By aiming for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d equipment \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I have been able to walk longer, with less fatigue, which means more time shooting, more time enjoying my walk, and less stress.<\/p>\n

Emotional lightness<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1084\"<\/p>\n

One thing I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to also do in my life is to integrate lightness into my emotional health. I aim to be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in terms of my heart and feelings.<\/p>\n

For example, a lot of guilt from the past, regrets, have weighed me down. Rather than moving forward and appreciating the present, I would always look back \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and blame myself. I would always think, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What if?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and second-guess myself.<\/p>\n

I would second-guess my decisions\u00e2\u20ac\u201d in terms of what I decided to<\/em> do, and what I decided not<\/em> to do.<\/p>\n

This became emotional baggage that prevented me from growing. From evolving. From becoming the best version of myself.<\/p>\n

Ultimately I realized that this emotional heaviness wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t from others \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it was a cage and weight I put on myself. I had an \u00e2\u20ac\u0153atlas complex\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d putting the weight of the world on my shoulders.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still not completely healed or cured\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I am still trying to remove some of the emotional heaviness in my life, day by day.<\/p>\n

Spiritual lightness<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1071\"<\/p>\n

I feel a lot of my dissatisfaction in life is from not being appreciative or grateful for all the blessings in life. Rather than being grateful for what I have, I always look for more. I look for those who I consider more successful than me, those who have more money than me, more influence, and more followers than me.<\/p>\n

I want to be spiritually \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d by constantly counting my blessings, and being grateful for everything in my life. To be grateful for my loved ones and family, to be grateful for my health (both physical and mental), to be grateful for modern technology, to be grateful for the simple meals I eat, and to be grateful for the (lots of) coffee I drink.<\/p>\n

I want to rid myself of the heaviness of negative thoughts. Of blaming other people. I want to subtract the heaviness of guilt, shame, and sin.<\/p>\n

I want to let my spirit soar. I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do that with any sort of heaviness. I need to be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\"elegance-seoul-2009\"<\/p>\n

You can take the concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d literally or metaphorically.<\/p>\n

To be ultralight physically means to be physically weighed down less by stuff. To own fewer possessions, to own lighter possessions, or to have less clutter in your home.<\/p>\n

To be ultralight metaphorically means to have less emotional and spiritual weight in your mind. To be less encumbered by negative thoughts, and more uplifted by positive thoughts. To have less regret from the past, and more optimism about the future.<\/p>\n

How to become \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n

If you want less stress, physical pain, or mental pain \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I recommend a prescription of lightness into your life. Here are some things I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve tried and done, which have worked for me:<\/p>\n

1. Subtract one thing a day<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-suits-color-kodak-portra-400-14\"<\/p>\n

Rather than trying to figure what to add to my life, I always try to figure out what to subtract from my life.<\/p>\n

This can mean subtracting negative influences, parasites (physical or metaphorical), distracting applications, distracting websites, or negative emotions.<\/p>\n

I always try to push myself \u00e2\u20ac\u201d because when I reach a point where I think I have subtracted enough, there is always a little more I can subtract. And that is what pushes me to be creative, to innovate, and to be ultralight.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be afraid of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153what if?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-suits-color-kodak-portra-400-2\"<\/p>\n

One of the hardest things of subtracting things from my life is the fear of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153what if?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d What if I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m traveling\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and I need this thing to help me out? What if I subtract this negative person from my life, and they end up hurting me? What if I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m taking photos, and what if I need that lens or camera body?<\/p>\n

I say don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear \u00e2\u20ac\u0153what if\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather, think of having less<\/em> as an opportunity to be more creative.<\/p>\n

By having less, we are forced to make the best of what we have.<\/p>\n

For a long time, I was dependent on reading books on a Kindle. Then I tried to get rid of it. I started to read on my phone. Then I tried to spend less time on my phone, so now I read more books on my laptop. And now, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to spend less time reading books, and more time coming up with ideas, and more time writing.<\/p>\n

When it comes to photography, by having less gear \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we need to make the best of the gear we already have. This forces us to be more creative with our compositions, framing, and shooting. Rather than relying on a zoom lens, we might need to use \u00e2\u20ac\u0153foot zoom\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. Rather than using a wider-lens, we might be forced to just take a step back, or focus on a certain detail in a photograph.<\/p>\n

When it comes to life, by having less money \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we need to learn how to be more economical with the little money we have. Or if we have a little home, we learn how to be more economical with our space, and more efficient. We stay lean, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have anything that is superfluous or wasteful.<\/p>\n

So don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of having a lack of something as a downside. Rather, see it as a benefit.<\/p>\n

3. Bigger is not \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-suits-color-kodak-portra-400-3\"<\/p>\n

Often things which are bigger, heavier, and bulkier are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

We think a bigger home is better\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because we have more room.<\/p>\n

We think a bigger car is better\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because it is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153safer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and has more room to put in more stuff, and transport more people.<\/p>\n

Things which are bigger, heavier, and bulkier often have many downsides.<\/p>\n

Things which are bigger and heavier tend to break down more. Bigger and heavier animals tend to go extinct easier than smaller organisms. Things which are bigger and heavier tend to be more expensive to maintain.<\/p>\n

Therefore we need to shift our perceptions \u00e2\u20ac\u201d bigger is not better. Bigger is often more complex, more complicated, and more stressful.<\/p>\n

For example, bigger cameras tend to have more functions, more megapixels, better image quality, and better handling. They also tend to be heavier (because they are full of so many components). But the heaviness tends to be a disadvantage\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you enjoy the shooting process less (because of the weight), and you can travel less (you feel more fatigue with the weight).<\/p>\n

The problem is also psychologically \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we equate weight with quality. The heavier the gold bar is, the more it is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153worth.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d We do this with cameras\u00e2\u20ac\u201d an ultralight camera seems cheap, plastic, and disposable. Heavier cameras seem more sturdy, have better quality, and therefore we value them more.<\/p>\n

You were born to fly<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-hanoi-color-0000752\"<\/p>\n

For a month, just do an experiment\u00e2\u20ac\u201d try out this \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lifestyle in terms of your day-to-day-living, in terms of your photography, and your travels. See if it works for you, and by reducing heaviness in your life\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can add more physical, emotional, and spiritual lightness to your life.<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re less weighed down in life, will you be able to spread your wings, and soar higher?<\/p>\n

Keep it ultralight,
\nEric<\/p>\n

Learn more:\u00c2\u00a0Philosophy ><\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear friend, One new word I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to integrate into my life is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ultralight\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d reducing weight in my life. Physical weight, emotional weight, and spiritual weight. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Heaviness is the root of lightness.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – \u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33119,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-33331","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}