How full is your creation jar?

A simple experiment that will help you shift your mindset from consumer to creator.

Hello there beautiful people! My name is Ash Lamb, and this is The Visual Growth Letter. An illustrated newsletter about life and creativity.

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The alarm blares:

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"Beep, beeep, beeeep."

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Even though you still feel groggy, you summon enough energy to reach for your phone on the night table.

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A bright flash of blue light greets you as soon as you turn it on. Despite the discomfort in your eyes, your brain nudges you to open your favorite media app, seeking a quick hit of dopamine from a video, article, newsletter, or podcast.

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Before you know it, an entire hour has slipped away. Though you're not particularly thrilled about your passive morning routine, you must get on with your day.

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Sound familiar?

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Many people I know, including myself, kickstart their day in a similar fashion, and that's why I'm writing about it.

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Essentially, you're starting your day with the mindset of a consumer, not a creator.

By subjecting your brain to a barrage of information you don't control, you risk beginning your day on the wrong foot. Instead, consider utilizing that same hour to create, write, or journal before plunging into your daily routine. This way, even on a challenging day, you'll go to bed knowing you've contributed something valuable to yourself or the world.

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One helpful yet simple experiment I've incorporated into my life is the "consumption vs. creation jar experiment."

Whenever I consume significant content, I jot down a note on a post-it and drop it into one jar. Conversely, every time I create something noteworthy, it goes into a different jar.

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At week's end, I compare both jars and engage in some much-needed introspection. I assess how beneficial that consumed content has been to me and whether I've taken any actionable steps based on it.

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If the content was purely for entertainment, I evaluate its engagement, humor, or inspiration. Then, I review my creations for the week and honestly decide if the balance between consumption and creation was appropriate.

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This exercise, which you only need to do every once in a while, can help you become truly aware of how you allocate your time—a crucial first step if you're considering a change in the realm of creativity.

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The day I realized I was watching ten coding tutorials every day, only to practice coding for ten minutes, I understood the need for a shift in balance. I then committed to code for two hours and reserved just ten minutes for learning something new through videos.

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Often, we go on a "learning" spree because we fear taking action. We yearn to appear knowledgeable to the world without getting our hands dirty.

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People may be impressed by your dedication to research, but in reality, you're likely deceiving yourself. Learning just in time is a superior approach to creativity than learning just in case.

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Moreover, you might discover that your interest in a particular field diminishes once you take action—a common occurrence.

However, there's an essential caveat: Consumption is a crucial component of the creative process.

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As humans, we require external stimuli to produce superior work and find inspiration.

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Everything is, in essence, a remix of a remix.

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That's exactly why it’s so important to filter the type of content you consume daily. This will significantly enhance the quality of your output.

Think of it like this: if you have a water tank connected to your shower and you pour dirt into it while bathing, you'll emerge dirtier than when you began.

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The same principle applies to your content consumption. If you exclusively indulge in generic live-action Netflix shows, your imagination and creativity will suffer compared to if you watched a documentary about Leonardo da Vinci's journals.

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Thank you so much for reading!

I truly appreciate your readership and support. Without you, this project wouldn't be the same. :)

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Feel free to reply to this email, and I'll respond!

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Great love and respect,

Ash Lambㅤ

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visualgrowth.com