{"id":66526,"date":"2017-09-28T08:53:36","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T15:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=66526"},"modified":"2017-09-28T08:54:19","modified_gmt":"2017-09-28T15:54:19","slug":"how-to-prosper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/28\/how-to-prosper\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prosper"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Fallen
Fallen red tree branch. Orange County, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Live strong and prosper.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

OPEN SOURCE<\/h2>\n

DOWNLOAD PDF: How to Prosper<\/a><\/p>\n

1. What is prosperity?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Prosper, prosperity, prosperus (Latin for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153doing well\u00e2\u20ac\u009d)<\/p>\n

In ancient Chinese culture, prosperity and good luck are seen as the greatest blessings.<\/p>\n

In modern society, we see \u00e2\u20ac\u0153prosperity\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as mostly financial, and economic. We see prosperity as having lots of money, having lots of objects, and by having lots of power and influence.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My view of prosperity is a bit different\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I see prosperity as more of creative prosperity, or artistic prosperity. I believe in the Ancient Greek notion of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153happiness\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which is called \u00e2\u20ac\u0153eudaimonia\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (human flourishing). I think prosperity is human flourishing\u00e2\u20ac\u201d flourishing as a creative artist, by making lots of pictures, lots of art, and constantly growing, evolving, becoming more powerful, and more self-confident.<\/p>\n

2. What is your ultimate aim in life?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For me, my ultimate aim is creative freedom\u00e2\u20ac\u201d in order to create art, further knowledge, and share that information with others.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Money is only a means<\/em> or a bridge in order to give my life the financial freedom, in order to do that creative work, study, and application.<\/p>\n

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Put in another way, the purpose of my life isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to make as much money as I can before I die. Rather, I just need to earn enough money to pay my rent, my coffee (very expensive), my meat and egg snacks, transportation, and website server bill.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But trust me… modern society, modern media, and modern culture has me fucked up\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I sometimes think (consciously or subconsciously) the purpose of being a human is to make as much money, accumulate as much power, and accumulate as much influence before I die.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But… who is going to care how many commas or zeros I got in the bank before I die, or who will care after I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m dead? Even if I did buy that Blacked Out Maybach before I die… I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t drive it to the underworld of Hades with me. Same thing goes with a Lamborghini\u00e2\u20ac\u201d in fact, it will probably cause<\/em> me to have a premature death.<\/p>\n

3. Prosperity to me.<\/h2>\n
\"NOMAD:
NOMAD: IKKO TANAKA x ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To prosper, I think it comes all to having the right mindset, the right mental tools to view the world, physical strength, and positive energy.<\/p>\n

\"IKKO
IKKO TANAKA x ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, I credit being able to overcome fear with my intense Stoic training (thank you to my teachers Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Epicurus, Diogenes)\u00e2\u20ac\u201d to truly ingest and assimilate their teachings, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve probably read their major works at least five times over.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Akira Kurosawa editing film<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In terms of creatively flourishing, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found a lot of inspiration in ancient poets like Horace. Also, inspiration from more contemporary thinkers like Nietzsche, or Nassim Taleb.<\/p>\n

\"MIFUNE:
MIFUNE: 7 Samurai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To prosper, it is all about changing your own attitude, changing your level of focus, drive, determination, hustle, and inner-strength.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"MIFUNE:
MIFUNE: 7 Samurai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, we cannot change the world, but we can change ourselves.<\/strong> Like a photographer, we can choose to change the lens in which we see the world. For example, when shit in life gets tough, put on a fisheye lens and see the world from a more comical perspective. Or, when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in an argument with your life partner or loved one, put on a wide-angle lens to see the world from their perspective. Or when shit gets tough, be like a racehorse with blinders\u00e2\u20ac\u201d put on a telephoto lens and just stay focused on your own personal finish line (ignoring what others do).<\/p>\n

\"MIFUNE:
MIFUNE: 7 Samurai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prosperity ain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t money. Prosperity is an attitude<\/em> of seeing the world pregnant with opportunity, seeing the joy of living, and by being creatively determined, focused, and productive.<\/p>\n

4. Make great pictures!<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Family at Lucille\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s BBQ.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore, when it comes to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153prosperity\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153happiness\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in life… I suggest you to think in terms of creative prosperity. Does your lifestyle, objects, or tools encourage<\/em> you to make more pictures and art? Or does your life discourage<\/em> you from producing more pictures and art?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I think the German poet and polymath Goethe said it best:<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The causa finalis (final cause, or ultimate purpose) of a human is to make dramatic poetry!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, we can apply this saying by stating:<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The purpose of a human being is to make great pictures!<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As visual artists, we make pictures. Pictures with our camera, pictures by drawing, or any visual representation of the world. We are PHOTO GODS \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we reshape, and rearrange, and reorder the molecules, atoms, and visual building blocks in the world with our camera. As photographers, we are the ultimate children of the lens, playing with making images, and playing by making pictures.<\/p>\n

5. Never doubt yourself.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So friend, this letter is a boost for you. To boost you to higher creative levels, to boost your creative production, and above all\u00e2\u20ac\u201d have unshakeable faith in yourself.<\/p>\n

BE STRONG,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

\n

PHILOSOPHY<\/a><\/h1>\n
\"ERIC
ERIC KIM x RICOH GR II<\/a> x ERIC KIM STRAP<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Philosophy: love of wisdom.<\/p>\n

Philosophy<\/h2>\n