{"id":78091,"date":"2018-02-08T15:01:19","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T23:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=78091"},"modified":"2018-02-08T15:01:55","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T23:01:55","slug":"how-to-be-optimistic-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/08\/how-to-be-optimistic-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be Optimistic in Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

How can we live without optimism? Optimism is the elixir of life!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is optimism?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Optimism: The mind-state that today will be a great day, and tomorrow will be an (even greater) day.<\/p>\n

But is optimism a trait that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re born with, or something that can be cultivated?<\/p>\n

\n

The rational optimist<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

My theory: We can teach ourselves to be optimistic.<\/p>\n

Ideas:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. When shit hits the fan, think logically how you can transform that downside into a positive. For example, you lost your job, and you fear economic ruin. But realize that you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t realistically starve to death\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can probably reach out to family, friends, and relatives. And the positive of losing a job: you have the unique opportunity to pursue something new, and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re no longer trapped with your (crappy) boss. <\/li>\n
  2. Logical optimism in technology: The internet, Amazon prime, Google, smartphones offer us so much power. Almost unlimited potential and power. We can start our own business from home, we essentially have unlimited online cloud storage for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153free\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Photos, Flickr). Technology gives us more freedom and flexibility in life (we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to sign long-term leases, we can use Airbnb). We can survive without a car (use Uber\/public transportation). We can learn anything via YouTube or a simple Google search. Technology and globalization has made all products (clothing, cameras, phones, tablets, laptops, tools) ridiculously cheap. At this point we can afford all the basics of everyday living, with very little money. <\/li>\n
  3. Affordability of food: Assuming you eat nothing but eggs and chicken, food is very cheap. Even if you did suffer economic downfall, you will not starve to death. You could also probably get food stamps, and get free food from the food bank. <\/li>\n
  4. Difficulties in life awaken the giant within us: Difficulty is what stirs us to innovate, create new and revolutionary ideas, and allows us to push our own human ingenuity. A life with too much comfort is the road to waste (Roman saying). <\/li>\n
  5. Optimism in medical technology: We no longer have to fear dying of most basic diseases and health outbreaks. Most of the major diseases have been eradicated by scientists and doctors. Even if you suffer a catastrophic accident that requires surgery, most hospitals will still operate on you. You might be given a massive debt bill afterwards, but you will still be alive. And most countries allow for bankruptcy, which will allow you not to become indentured to your debt for the rest of your life. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Optimism in art<\/h2>\n
    \"Tokyo
    Tokyo urban landscape, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Many of us don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a lot of freedom when it comes to our jobs, or our economics (money, debt, etc). However assuming we have a laptop, a phone, or a tablet \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we can create unlimited digital art (all for free!)<\/p>\n

    No matter what our situation is in life we can always be optimistic towards the future of the art we are going to make.<\/p>\n

    \"Looking
    Looking up. Tokyo urban landscape, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    With free apps, you can make your own music, make your own films, make your own photos, make your own paintings, drawings, and upload and share it for free (Facebook, Youtube, Instagram). You can blog and share your ideas for free via WordPress or Medium.<\/p>\n

    To me, a good way to find more joy in life is to look forward to waking up in the morning, and thinking to yourself:<\/p>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What kind of art am I going to make today?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \n

    Create like a child<\/h2>\n
    \"Red
    Red selfie. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    To stay optimistic in your art, approach making art like a child.<\/p>\n

    Let us get rid of the silly notions of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bad\u00e2\u20ac\u009d art. A child never judges their artwork as good or bad, simply boring or fun.<\/p>\n

    \"Frog
    Frog garbage can. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    We are all born artists, yet we lose our faith in ourselves as we get older. When we get older, snobby art critics, overly critical teachers, and modern society tells us that only a select few can be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Artists\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

    I believe that everyone who makes art (makes photos, makes pictures, makes paintings, dances, sings, etc) is an artist.<\/p>\n

    \"Umbrella
    Umbrella Dutch angle composition. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Once you realize that you are (already) an artist, doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that give you infinite optimism towards the future of your evolution as an artist?<\/p>\n

    \n

    Personal evolution<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Another thing I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m optimistic about: knowing that you are constantly evolving (yes, even right now).<\/p>\n

    Evolution isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a process that happens over thousands of years. It happens every moment. Except, it is very hard to see the changes because the tempo is so slow.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    This is why I like this concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153personal evolution\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can evolve at every moment, in any domain.<\/p>\n

    You can evolve by teaching yourself new things, by having new experiences, and by changing your thinking. You can evolve by making new forms of art, by remixing old things and making them new, or by arranging things.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    This is why I am anti-genre in art. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t put any limits on yourself. Make photos, make paintings, make sculptures, and make any form of visual art which delights you. Shoot \u00e2\u20ac\u201d even experiment with interpretive dance if that is your thing.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Be artistic in the present moment<\/h2>\n
    \"Editing
    Editing photos on iPad and Lightroom CC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of making art as some grand thing that you must do when you have several hours of free time.<\/p>\n

    Make art right now. Even if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re stuck at work, spend some time dreaming up of new artistic ideas, and just jot down your ideas on a piece of paper or write it in your phone.<\/p>\n

    Be subversive. If your passion is writing, send emails to yourself with your own poetry or blog post ideas.<\/p>\n

    \"Blue
    Blue clock. London, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re done with work but still stuck at the office, use that time to study art (wikiart.org). Or use your 15 minute office breaks as a chance to walk around the block, and make photos on your camera or phone.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Pessimism is a waste of time and energy<\/h2>\n

    \"Flash<\/p>\n

    Regardless of our situation in life, we all have the power to retrain our mind to be optimistic.<\/p>\n

    The opposite of optimism is pessimism \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the dejected feeling that no matter how hard we try, we cannot be happy or change the circumstances of our life.<\/p>\n

    \"Black
    Black glove street photograph. London, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    But if we think about it rationally \u00e2\u20ac\u201d why waste your time, energy, and mental thinking being negative and pessimistic? Pessimism is like mental flagellation \u00e2\u20ac\u201d whipping yourself to feel more pain, rather than trying to figure out positive solutions.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Make something everyday<\/h2>\n
    \"Annette
    Annette and Cindy on escalator. London, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    My top solution to being more optimistic in life is to just make a new thing everyday.<\/p>\n

    Work on a new poem, a new musical track (Garage band), or make new photos. If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the opportunity to go out and shoot photos or paint, use your time at home to create a slideshow of your old photos (iMovie), or perhaps as an opportunity for you to design your own photography book digitally (iBooks Author, Adobe Indesign).<\/p>\n

    \"Selfie
    Selfie and yellow truck. London, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n