{"id":72878,"date":"2017-12-12T06:46:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T14:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=72878"},"modified":"2017-12-12T06:46:58","modified_gmt":"2017-12-12T14:46:58","slug":"conquer-your-fears-and-meet-new-peers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/12\/conquer-your-fears-and-meet-new-peers-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Conquer Your Fears and Meet New Peers"},"content":{"rendered":"

To live a more fulfilling life, conquer your fears in life, and meet new peers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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DOWNLOAD PDF: Conquer your fears and meet new peers<\/a><\/p>\n

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1. Conquer your fears<\/h2>\n
\"Abstract.
Abstract. Cindy with hands on face. Red, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think a lot of us can achieve so much more in our lives, if only we didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear so much.<\/p>\n

We fear social stigma. We fear \u00e2\u20ac\u0153failure\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the eyes of others. We fear disappointing ourselves. We fear being true to ourselves, and instead \u00e2\u20ac\u201d listening to what our parents or society wants from us.<\/p>\n

\"Orange
Orange woman abstract. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We fear getting yelled at. We fear going bankrupt. We fear physical pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n

Yet \u00e2\u20ac\u201d if we didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let our fears hold us back \u00e2\u20ac\u201d just imagine … how far could you fly?<\/p>\n

Take more risks in life<\/h3>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy with hand on chin. Red. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, a lot of us get interesting new job opportunities, but we are afraid to take the risk or chance \u00e2\u20ac\u201d being uprooting, moving, or doing something new is scary.<\/p>\n

\"Man
Man in suit. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We fall into the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153status quo bias\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like to change our lives. We like to fall into the same old, the usual, the ordinary. As humans, we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like change.<\/strong> My theory is that in the past, humans have preferred predictability and safety over adventure and excitement. This probably kept us alive longer \u00e2\u20ac\u201d those who took crazy risks, probably died off and exited the gene pool. Those who were more cautious, and were less ambitious, ended up surviving. And thus, our DNA and genes have come from our (more prudent) forefathers.<\/p>\n

What is your worst case scenario?<\/h3>\n
\"Dots.
Dots. Abstract street photograph. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But in today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s day and age \u00e2\u20ac\u201d what do you truly fear?<\/p>\n

Personally, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen my mother go through bankruptcy. It sucked. But to be frank, it wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that<\/em> bad.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

It was difficult for us to find housing or for my mom to open up a bank account or credit card. Yet, we still managed. We were able to rely on our family and friend connections, and we never starved to death.<\/p>\n

This was a good lesson for me, because it taught me:<\/p>\n

\n Even if you go bankrupt, and go broke \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not that bad. You can start over again. You won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t die \u00e2\u20ac\u201d at least in America.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What held me back<\/h3>\n
\"Portrait
Portrait of Cindy at Traveling Coffee. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also for myself in the past, I wanted everyone to like me. This meant, I would be paralyzed from saying anything too controversial or opinionated \u00e2\u20ac\u201d because why? I might hurt the feelings of others or upset others.<\/p>\n

But I realized, to be a true artist is to just own your own opinion, and not be ashamed of your own opinion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Swans.
Swans. Kyoto, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore, I started to not fear what others thought of me. I stopped reading comments, because comments didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really help me \u00e2\u20ac\u201d either people gave me praise, or they hated on me. I became so self-centered, that I only cared about my own opinion about myself. This helped me have less fear, and to be more courageous as an artist.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Kyoto
Kyoto Eric Kim Selfie, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore as an artist, for you to have more confidence in yourself, and your own unique vision \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I suggest you to distance yourself from social media, modern news, modern media, modern trends, as much as possible. Become a Zen artistic sage, stay centered within yourself, and make art.<\/p>\n

2. Meet new peers<\/h2>\n
\"My
My friend John Hall. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I love meeting new people. If I have one skill, it is the art of people.<\/p>\n

I studied sociology in school, because I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always been fascinated in people. I love people. I make small talk with almost anyone I meet, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m interested in the life stories of everyone. If you meet me in real life, you will see that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a pretty charming mofo.<\/p>\n

\"Sketching
Sketching one another in Kyoto Zen Photography Experience, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anyways, the reason I love teaching workshops<\/a> is the chance for me to make new connections and make new friends. I find the most inspiration in other people \u00e2\u20ac\u201d their cultural customs, their ways of seeing the world. Often, their views augment my view of the world. They help me see the world more open-minded. I often get too close minded.<\/p>\n

\"Steph
Steph and Pierre \/\/ RICOH MAFIA, having fun on the streets of Amsterdam at ERIC KIM WORKSHOP, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore there is a balance \u00e2\u20ac\u201d balance the extremes of extreme seclusion (disconnect from email, social media, reading comments) then moments of extreme sociability (preferably in real life).<\/p>\n

\"ERIC
ERIC KIM Amsterdam Street photography workshop group picture, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re interested in street photography<\/a>, it is probably because you are interested in people, society, and the world. Street photography would be very boring without any other human beings.<\/p>\n

\n Therefore, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re interested in Street photography, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re interested and passionate about people.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One thing that concerns me a bit in modern society \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we are slowing losing our ability to socialize. Most people nowadays don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know how to pay attention during a conversation without looking at their phone. To be frank, I used to be addicted to my phone (I think phones are more addictive than crack cocaine)\u00e2\u20ac\u201d so I gave away my phone. My mind has been so much clearer now. I can have conversations without being distracted with any \u00e2\u20ac\u0153phantom rings\u00e2\u20ac\u009d inside my front jean pocket.<\/p>\n

Why are we afraid of strangers?<\/h3>\n
\"Street
Street portrait with -1 2\/3 exposure compensation. To make his face more dramatic and pop from the background. By using minus exposure compensation, the background turns totally black.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also see that most modern people are afraid, suspicious, or unable to make conversation with strangers. Personally I blame the media \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the media has made us more afraid of strangers. Yet, if you go to smaller communities, everyone loves to make small chat with strangers. I love that.<\/p>\n

\"Street
A guy I met in Berkeley, who was an aspiring rapper. 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even when I lived in East Lansing in Michigan, I loved how random strangers would just wave at me and say hello. I try to practice this strategy in big cities now too.<\/p>\n

Push Yourself out of your comfort zone<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To find more joy in life, I recommend you to try these two things:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Address your fears in life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and then ask yourself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is it really that bad?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n
  2. Meet new people: go to random dinner parties, make small talk with strangers, or shoot street photography<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These are two simple things that will help push you outside of your comfort zone, to find more novelty, randomness, and joy in your life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to become more confident, brave, and centered in yourself.<\/p>\n

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

    CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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