This fatigue is for real. I've been overly-critical over some of my recent drafts which are taking more than 30-35 hours to prepare, which explains why I have not posted for the past 4-5 days. Maybe that's a good thing for Steemit because I'm feeling that the quality has skyrocketed since the day I joined about 6 weeks ago. I felt like I needed to step-up my game.
Or am I being too hard on myself? It's not like I have nothing to write. In fact, I have an entire universe of stuff to write about!
I've spoken to a few Steemians since regarding this annoying problem that I'm facing. The general answer: go do something else! So I went away for about two days. I did not fully disconnect myself from Steemit lol, but I just avoided writing and stressing myself out.
Now that I'm thoroughly refreshed, why not start writing about the valuable insights that I've gained from resting, right? So here we go!
The Sky Is The Greatest Healer
I'm a creature of the night, but there's no denying that being under sun is highly therapeutic. It can sometimes feel extremely claustrophobic facing our monitors and mobile device all day long. Looking at my Android, sometimes I feel like my mind is being imprisoned.. trapped within the confines of its 5 inch touchscreen.
Since when have I become so.. cyberpunk? Everything that I deal with is now electronic, and within my hand's reach. Yesterday, I drove up a hill and just spread myself on the grassbed like da Vinci's anatomical figure. So refreshing looking at the night sky. A breath of fresh air.
There Is No Perfection, Only Preference
My journalist cousin reminded me something about content creation - there's no such thing as perfection, only preference. This is absolutely true. Think about our concept of beauty. There really is no such thing as beauty! Beauty is imposed by society. Different cultures, different preferences. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If someone reads me his poem or takes me to a play that in the end fails to please my taste, then he can adduce Batteux or Lessing, or even older and more famous critics of taste, and adduce all the rules they established as proofs that his poem is beautiful. I will stop my ears, listen to no reasons and arguments, and would rather believe that those rules of the critics are false than allow that my judgment should be determined by means of a priori grounds of proof, since it is supposed to be a judgment of taste and not of the understanding of reason.
-- From Kant's 1790 Critique of the Power of Aesthetic Judgment
The best that one can do is to put more effort into substance, and don't put too much time into style. I understand this too much being a musician. It's just that having a good crowd over in Steemit makes me feel like I want to deliver on all fronts. But alas, mental agony over style is just not worth it. I rather have fun.
It's OKAY to leave things unfinished
I realise that the culture of finishing up everything is pretty pervasive in electronic culture. Everything is being gamified. I'm a game completionist myself, always chasing after digital highs with fake dopamine stimulation. Gaddamn achievement unlocks.
Thinking about it, it's actually not all that fun. If the article that you took 3-hours to write ended up being sucky.. just decide if you want to publish it or leave it archived. Don't spend too much time trying to finish it. It's okay not to finish things. There are more important things to do.. like living in the moment. Carpe diem.
If it's something important, just try to finish it when you're not so stressed up.
I'm not in any way, promoting people to do stuff half-heartedly
I believe the best way to progress in life is through moderate work. Sure, hardwork may be the way to get to the peak faster.. but remember that our morale is finite. Mess your brain up and you'll lose permission to carry on. I'm sure we've seen this too many times happening to great artists. Extreme burnout and permanent disillusionment.
I think what's more important is to stay happy and healthy. All the best in your Steemit adventures :)
Stay tuned, I think I have some pretty good stuff comin' up soon!