Tag: inspiration

Can Inspiration Be Found or Does it Have to Come to You?

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Heidi Collie (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

The term inspirational is commonly followed by the word person or quote. I think we all have a guilty favorite, and this is mine:

“Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Framed on the wall of my Vancouver house, I stole this piece from my father’s office before moving to boarding school in October 2018 and have kept it with me ever since. 

Despite huge demand for digestible media content in the form of soundbites, quotes and youtube TedTalks, I would argue that it is not productive to follow the term inspiration or inspirational with a noun such as quote. Rather, more deserving of this place is a verb. In other words, a piece may well be inspirational, but what does it inspire you to do? Who does it inspire you to be? For example, I feel inspired to: write; draw; compose; research nutrition; share what I have learned; apply to more jobs.

So what exactly is inspiration? Not to be confused with motivation (which unfortunately Google defines in almost exactly the same way), inspiration is “the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something.” The way I see it, while motivation is the store of energy, inspiration is the store of desire. As public speaker and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett regularly addresses, motivation is most powerful when it is intrinsic or, formed upon one’s core inner values. In contrast, inspiration is strongest in its extrinsic form – emerging from the actions of others and the culture of your community. 

Different as they are, inspiration and motivation share something foundational. James Clear famously wrote, “action creates motivation,” implying that you must first get going, get started, get moving and, over time, your store of energy will build; your motivation will increase. Similarly, inspiration does not come to you where you are.

So how does one find inspiration? The difficult thing is, unlike motivation, you can’t fake it ‘till you make it, but at the same time you must not sit back and hope it just happens to you. Ultimately, inspiration finds you, but only if you give it a chance to. That means breaking free of the life you know, stepping out of your home, work and usual routine. Learn new things, encounter new people and places; expose yourself to culture in every form and one day you’ll wake up and feel that sense of purpose, care for causes greater than yourself and desire to make a difference in some way. Don’t go looking for inspiration, go looking for life, and inspiration will find you. Thus, it seems fitting that as well as the definition we have been running with, inspiration means “the drawing in of breath; inhalation.” So there you go, inspiration is extrinsic, it comes from the world around you but, crucially, you must let it in.

I am no artist. In my own life I favour motivation over inspiration. I am well practiced at willpower, enjoy structure, control, tracking wellness habits like personal training sessions, cycling on Strava, nutrition on My Fitness Pal, books on Audible, and routine on Onrise. Inspiration has always taken second place, sometimes leaving me energized but aimless, wanting to make a difference but unclear in which way. Inherently extrinsic, inspiration isn’t within my control, but I am comforted knowing that when I boldly go out in search of adventure, it reliably finds me. I’ve made my peace with this. In fact, it keeps me going.

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Leave your thoughts for Heidi in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Can Uncreative People Create Art?

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Florence Ng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

In Brene Brown’s Gift of Imperfection, she emphasises creative expression as a key part of living wholeheartedly, and by engaging in creative activities, one begins to let go of comparison to others as a measure of self-worth. But what if you are not a creative person? If creativity is inherent to all human beings, yet you lack the practice and skill to execute creative visions, can you still create art? 

More importantly, does your art have value? 

In the mythos of Vincent Van Gogh’s story, he did not always possess the skills to match his creativity. Instead, his life was dedicated to continuously cultivating these skills to eventually cement a legacy he would never see. Most people, including children, can technically put ideas onto paper by drawing colourful shapes and vague resemblances of common nouns, but whether that can be considered art and what the boundary into artistry may be is a whole different discussion. Indeed, the monetary value of art can feel rather arbitrary to those of us who do not work professionally within the art world. 

For many artists, self-expression can take on many forms, and many place the emphasis on one’s personal growth and journey. Art can have great personal value, especially as a therapeutic way of meditating on and expressing one’s ideas, thoughts, and feelings. It can take on so many forms, from traditional media like paint and sculpture to embodying modes of expression like singing and dancing to modern engines of creativity like social media.

In today’s world, creativity, art, and the skills to create art are in the midst of intense discourse, particularly since the latter half of 2022. With the explosion of interest in artificial intelligence generators, it seems that anybody can “create” art by manifesting creative visions with mere taps on a keyboard. Such “artists” even sell their artwork to people who may understand how it all works. On one side of the discourse, AI art is an inevitable part of the future. On the other side, it is blatant theft. Can AI art be considered creative simply because it looks professionally done? If so, does it have value? 

In my personal point of view, it is difficult to say what the value of art may be in the midst of this fiery and historically significant part of art history. It is harder still to predict the future of art. While I am not a professional artist myself, I cannot help but lament the current state of lawlessness among AI users threatening the livelihood of artists everywhere. I do believe that human beings are inherently creative and that everyone can benefit from a safe place to create. However, I also believe that personal gain should never be at the expense of others.

My advice to people who consider themselves less creative is to try everything. The act of creation is not about perfection—your personal art does not have to be “good” for it to be meaningful or valuable. If drawing is a challenge, perhaps you’ll find more enjoyment out of sewing, baking, or simple methods like paint-pouring. Even taking the time to snap pictures of flowers along the sidewalk can bring about the therapeutic quality of art. 

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Hello! My name is Florence, and I’m an educator, storyteller, traveller, avid board game collector and curious, lifelong learner, among many other things. I’m passionate about human connection and mental well-being, and I love meeting new people! 

Thoughts on Writer’s Block

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Eri Ikezawa (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

That petulant blinking line on an empty document, where each passing moment feels like judgment day, as time elapses with not a single iota of progress—we’ve all experienced it to some degree in our lives: writer’s block. Whether it’s the struggle of writing a university paper or unraveling the knot in our heads to finish the main plot of our creative writing endeavour, in some way or another, we have all combated this frustrating phenomenon. 

As a fan of occasional creative writing, I think it would be unfair to compare myself to a person who makes their livelihood as an author. However, I often unintentionally avoid writing when I am not inspired—a stab at ensuring I keep writer’s block at an arm’s length, giving it a wide berth like the creative pariah that it is. 

It is easy for me to circumvent writer’s block since I know I tend to be most inspired when I am sad—something I am very consciously aware of. I have grown to realize that when I am happy, I usually tend to be too busy thriving and being active to desire focusing on writing and I also usually tend not to be as introspective during those times. And so, for that reason, I feel most inspired and creative when I experience a dip in my life. 

As painful and agonizing as whatever I may be experiencing in real time may be, the artistic side of me finds some sort of beauty in it too. It also becomes something like a physical relic of whatever event is affecting me—in fact, I have a diary dating back to 2007. Even though I feel intensely dissociated from the person I was fifteen years ago, it is magical being able to step into my shoes and view everything the way I did back then. 

And so, I find I experience writer’s block when I try to write poetry when I haven’t recently experienced anything memorable or inspirational. I never directly look for inspiration, but sometimes it’s a certain song, a turn of phrase I read in a book, a scene in a nature documentary, or I just use it as an emotional release during difficult times. 

With all that said, I suppose I simply don’t often experience writer’s block because I usually actively avoid it by not writing unless I literally feel a tingle in my fingers, teasing and taunting me to set the page on fire—all it takes is a spark. 

But if anything, the closest I personally get to experiencing writer’s block is through these blog submissions. I am intensely passionate about the topic of self-help and development and deeply desire to make a difference in people’s lives, but it is a personal challenge for me to be given a broad theme with a specific topic—rather than the personal “freelance” kind of writing I tend to gravitate towards. 

I find that I usually hit a wall after writing for a while so I don’t try to push it, knowing it will be a fruitless endeavour. I usually pick it back up on a different day when my mind has been refreshed; although there is a whole separate challenge in picking it up on a different day, when the engine has been turned off once, to try and reprise the same journey you were on another day. 

But I find it easier to go through the speedbumps and clunky alleyways of stopping once and restarting over the hassle of driving straight through when the mind is tired, and the gas tank is empty. The greatest struggle of this method is ensuring what follows is streamlined and seamless. That is, it shouldn’t look as though an expert seamstress handed over the remaining work to a novice, the uniform lines of the first few threads turning arbitrary and clumsy, sure signs of a rookie.

Despite the fact I don’t always experience this troublesome phenomenon, I still empathize greatly with the struggle of writer’s block. I suppose in some ways I pride myself on my literary skills, having always prioritized my affinity with language and writing as extremely high on my list of strengths. Therefore, when I feel stumped—a relentless fool running into the same, sturdy brick wall for the umpteenth time—it feels like a personal affront to what I inherently believe best characterizes me to some extent. 

While I logically understand that writer’s block doesn’t unequivocally define my literary skills or my abilities as a person, it can occasionally leave me restless and insecure. It feels like an itch I can’t scratch, a sore I can’t relieve, a burn I can’t soothe—it’s constantly thrumming in the back of my head, reminding me that there’s something I need or want to accomplish but that I’m somehow unable to manage. 

Ultimately though, just as the circumstances of writer’s block befalling any author or writer is variable, the solution for it is also dependent on the individual. I don’t think there is one singular way to rectify the problem. If I were to make suggestions that have helped me out in the past, one idea I have is having friends edit your work or contribute their own ideas. Sometimes, it helps to put the work down and immerse yourself in the real world. And on other occasions, you simply must wait until the dry spell passes and rain graces the literary drought. 

But no matter what and no matter how long your writer’s block endures, I want to remind people that it does not define your skill or you as a person—you are still as talented as ever. And the dry spell, as always, will pass.  

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My name is Eri Ikezawa and I have an extended minor in psychology and a major in linguistics. I’m still on the path to quelling questions about myself and the direction I want to head in, but in the meantime, I have always wanted to find a way to help others and contribute to a community dedicated to personal development and self-love.

Could Your Favorite Hobby be Your Side Hustle?

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Natalie Zeifman (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

If you’re a creative person who enjoys making things, there are definitely opportunities to turn your favorite hobby into a side hustle that could help make you a bit more money at the end of the month, or at the very least help cover the cost of what you already love to do.

Online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace are now widely used, and while the majority of listings on these websites are for used items, many people do take advantage of the popularity of these venues to sell their original art.

Local markets for farmers and artists are also becoming a mainstay of many cities and towns. From the weekly market to the larger festival, there is the option to book a table to sell your work. 

Local cafes and home decor stores are also known to display or sell local art, so it doesn’t hurt to approach them with your work as well. 

If writing is more your jam, there are quite a few magazines, journals and newspapers which will pay you for your poems, short stories or articles. It can be competitive and the majority of publications do not financially compensate non-staff writers, but it can still be a great way to get more recognition for your work. Databases such as The Submission Grinder can help writers find the publishers that best fit what they write.

Of course sales aren’t guaranteed so it’s best to do your creative hobbies for the joy of them,  and to start small and see what response you get when attempting to sell your work. 

It’s also good to know that attempting to make money off of your hobbies can come with both benefits and drawbacks. Certainly being financially compensated and recognized for your work can feel amazing, and putting your work out into the public more purposefully can help further your career. Trying to make your creative pursuits more financially lucrative can also help encourage you to increase the quality of your work, and motivate you to produce more. 

On the other hand, it can take away from the joy of a hobby to feel that you have to do it, especially if you feel pressured to do it at a pace that isn’t natural to you. You may feel financially pressured to produce pieces that aren’t as personally meaningful to you. It also takes time, effort and sometimes even extra financial cost to sell your work, on top of producing it.

Some people prefer to keep the ‘work’ out of their hobbies, while others deeply enjoy making their hobbies into another source of income. You may just need to try it to know. 

All that being said, here is a list of hobbies that could bring you both creative joy and a financial boost in the coming new year:

  • Painting. Whether water color, acrylic, or oil paint, on canvas, paper or wall. This art form has so much variety and you can take it up rather inexpensively with dollar store supplies. 
  • Re-painting and decorating old furniture. 
  • Making wooden constructions such as plant stands, tables, fireplace mantles etc. Many hardware stores will cut the wood to your dimensions on request, so all you have to do is hammer the pieces together and decorate as you wish. 
  • Jewelry making. Wire based jewelry is especially easy to work with, but people who wish to advance their skills further can also take up some small scale metal work right in their own kitchen. 
  • Embroidery. Embroidered designs are becoming popular these days and can be hung on the wall. You could also offer custom embroidery of items with a couple’s names, favorite lyrics, pretty designs etc.  
  • Knits and crochet. All kinds of items can be knit or crocheted from socks to purses to hanging plant baskets. 
  • Driftwood and found item creations. Many things are being made with natural found items these days and they are quite popular. There are driftwood sculptures, driftwood and hanging yarn decorations, vases glued with seashells and rocks etc. 
  • “Book nooks” or bookend dioramas. I highly recommend looking these guys up as they are so cute and creative. Book nooks have gained popularity recently. They are basically little mini-world dioramas that take up about a shoebox of space which can be placed on bookshelves. You can paint a shoebox, fill it with fake foliage or clay figures… The sky is the limit. 
  • Sewing fabric creations. If you love to sew, you can make fancy custom clothing or even pillows with fun material.
  • Soap or candle making. While you do need to get some special materials to make these guys, the process itself is relatively easy and they can be fun to customize.
  • Cooking and baking. You can check out BC’s Guideline for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets here. 
  • Writing. Poems, short stories, articles, or even your own book. Join a local writer’s club for support, tips and inspiration. 
  • Photography. Although photography is probably one of the more expensive hobbies a person can pick up, there is potential to make side income in it. If you can develop your skill enough, you can become an event or wedding photographer. You can also find large frames at local thrift shops and sell framed prints. There is potential to offer out the photoshop skills associated with photography as well. 
  • Pottery making. Although clay material does need a kiln oven to set properly, you can often bring your pieces into pottery studios or recreation centers which will fire your pieces for a fee. Make-your-own-ceramic studios can also provide you all the materials you need on site.  
  • Music busking. Although regulations vary by city and you may need to apply for a yearly license, if you’re feeling brave enough to show off your musical skill, it can be a way to both add life to your city and make a little bit of extra income. 
  • Custom clothing design. Using fabric paint or the combination of special transfer paper, an inkjet printer and an iron, you can make custom designs for clothes that are particular to local tastes and culture. 

The beauty that art brings to the world has been valued for thousands of years and it is unlikely to ever go out of style. Have no doubt that there is value in making art a part of life. 

Happy creativity in the new year!

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Leave your thoughts for Natalie in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

The Concept of Creativity and Its Obstacles

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Najmuddin Hossaini, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Everyone agrees that creativity exists, but what creativity is, how it can be understood, and how innovation emerges may be a matter of debate. To better explain, people have definitions of imagination, not an all-encompassing perception. That is because the nature of pluralistic societies requires that we need to recognize the existence of different views on phenomena. Moreover, the norms of a tolerant humane community expect the residents to be flexible and modest toward others in addition to social affairs. Thus, in this brief article, we strive to investigate the inquiry “what is creativity?” as well as review the obstacles to it from perspectives of social and cultural contexts.

Robert E. Franken has written: “Creativity is the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.” According to him, apart from the positive or negative result creativity may bring, it is the process of producing something that is personally or generally favored. To know Kant’s position, Scott Barry Kaufman in online Scientific American wrote: “Kant conceived of artistic genius as an innate capacity to produce works of ‘exemplary originality’ through the free play of the imagination, a process that does not consist in following rules, can neither be learned nor taught and is mysterious even to geniuses themselves.”

In contrast, Nietzsche relates creativity to moral values. He believed that a creative individual is possessing a higher humane value only for being creative. “Creative individuals are the highest human exemplars and humanity should be organized in such a way that promotes and is conducive to their existence, since it is creative individuals that are the ‘improvers of mankind’ and who will construct and direct culture.” (Puszczalowski, Philip, University of Calgary). It looks like Nietzsche believed that master morality comes true by creative persons and through this way, they explore their individual uniqueness. 

Barriers to Creativity 

Generally being purposeless, fearful, resistant to change, not thinking, and unwilling to improve are considered obstacles to creativity, however, we need to see and study some of the complex restrictions to artistry in the context of cultures. For instance, the custom of Sati “chaste wife” was a Hindu practice in which a widow woman sacrifices herself at the funeral of her dead husband. It was a kind of literal suicide that prevented women from any sort of blooming individually and socially for centuries. Another phenomenon that had involved Indian society for hundreds of years was the issue of Caste. This unwelcome situation removed the possibility of any kind of tolerance, consistency, and altruism from the Indians and made that country a land where it was difficult to experience a moral, honorable and humane life. Following many decades or even centuries of scientific, cultural, and even political elites’ efforts, the good is, after India’s independence, the custom of Sati and Caste culture were legally banned and considered morally obscene.

About 44 years ago, a revolution occurred in Iran, which historians have recognized as an Islamic revolution, that is, a religious one. The revolt was led by Ayatollah Rohullah Khomeini; a religious leader who was now considered a political leader as well. One of the first political-religious decrees of Mr. Khomeini required all girls and women to wear hijabs. The scenario did not end there. They passed an Islamic constitution, which said that women were banned from many rights, including running for the presidency, judging, going to sports stadiums, and leaving the country without their husband’s consent. As a result, Iranians, especially women, have been enduring suffocating hardships and spent multiple costs struggling to regain their most basic human rights. Now, Iranians’ protest is not demand-oriented, but change-oriented. In another example, the Taliban in Afghanistan relying on a kind of interpretation of religion has been imposing many restrictions on girls and women so they are systematically removed from all social spheres, including attending schools, and universities, and working in public or private organizations. 

Although many believers, even religious thinkers claim that the actions of Mr. Khomeini and Haibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban have nothing to do with their faith rather they use religion as a tool; nonetheless, looking at religion’s history, its social manifestations, and holy texts; the perception that religion is the factor and facilitator of such behaviors is closer to the on-going reality. From the author’s point of view, in such a situation, not only religion and religious culture itself are obstacles to creativity, but those who deny the negative role of religion in this field are also involved in suppressing originality, and the idea of ​​innovation.

What do we understand? 

When we talk about creativity, we usually think of it as an individual’s idea or art, while the obstacles to creativity are generally social factors. The stronger manner of creativity may be person-centric, visible, or invisible, but its deep connection with culture, religion and social norms always takes it beyond the level of the individual. Besides, in a democratic culture, ingenuity becomes more possible, nevertheless, in closed societies, especially religious, absolutist, discriminative, and misogynist cultures, creativity is limited or even prohibited. If an action other than the predetermined rules is done, it is likely troublesome for the creative person.

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Najmuddin Hossaini holds a master’s in philosophy from the University of Pune, India, and a bachelor’s in journalism and Political Public Relations from Herat University, Afghanistan. He has published many articles on the subjects of human rights, women’s rights, education rights of women, peace talks, the Taliban extremism, violence, and environmental issues.

The Story of My Life

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MacKenzie Chalmers (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Art and creativity are two words that hold a relationship with one another, but can be used individually. Art is visually creating a product that catches the attention of viewers through the design or the messages and emotions felt when observing. Audiences can be attracted to the colours used, the lack of colour, or the composition. Creativity is thought of as using ideas and imagination to form a complete product, solve a problem, create visual work or to help communicate a message to an audience. These two concepts work together when someone is creating a piece of art. Creative ideas are being used to visually produce art for an audience and to communicate a message. 

Art has transformed from being known as paintings in galleries or drawings on paper, to digital dance, musicals or theatre. A dance routine, a song, a play, or a photograph or video are art forms that visually create a message and design to audiences. People produce these types of art in ways to visually tell a story. 

I would always use the terms art and creative to describe myself growing up. I was known as the “art kid” or the “creative kid”. If we were doing a class assignment, I would always be picked to be the artist. My writing pieces would always be read aloud by my teachers to demonstrate the desired way to communicate a message they were looking for. 

Looking deeper, the terms art and creativity mean storytelling and expression for me. They are used to communicate a story to viewers. In my life, I have always used art and my creative thinking to tell a story. 

I am a photographer and videographer and my entire goal when producing new work is to tell a story. I enjoy creating work with the goal to bring forth a message to my audience. A photograph can be pretty, or glamourous. While I incorporate those factors into my photographs, I like to have other focused components. A simple portrait can show the exhaustion someone is facing. A nature shot can demonstrate the conditions of the environment surrounding us. A couple portrait can show the struggles being faced. It is about composition and emotion. I can show the happiness, or sadness felt. Creativity is being used to produce these art pieces and to best determine how to express the messages and stories to be told. 

Additionally, I am a writer. I create fictional stories that are based on real experiences. I base plot lines, and character traits on real life situations, while continuing to add ideas to keep the story interesting. I examine the theme of the story, the messages I want to bring forth within the plot and what I would want people to receive from the story once it was finished. By incorporating my own thoughts and emotions into my writing and into the plot and characters I create, I am sharing pieces of my story or the story I want to tell into my writing. 

Both of these terms are part of my identity. I do some form of art most days and I am using my creativity daily. Whether I am brainstorming for a new project, writing down my experiences and how I can incorporate them into my work, or mapping out locations and themes for a new art project, I am constantly being artistic and being creative. 

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MacKenzie is a digital media enthusiast with interests in various aspects of media. She takes part in novel hunting, photo and video creating, and creative writing.

Discovering Your Creative Outlet

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Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

The cool thing about creative outlets is that you can have multiple. Neato speedo, right? Psychedelic, don’t you think? Yes and yes!

I’ll start by saying that I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler so that one’s a hard pass for me. Although, abstract art counts as a creative outlet so I can toot my horn a tad. That was a joke because I’m mediocre at best.

But, writing on the other hand – I’m convinced I was born with a pair of poetic pants on since writing for me feels so effortless. I admit that I get writer’s block but that’s okay! Ever heard of brain farts? Thought flatulence? Mind cramps? Whichever way you word it – I occasionally experience those and that’s also okay!

Do you know how I discovered my passion for written expression? I was in middle school and I was going through some not so nice times; I was at that age and in that stage where the pressure to fit in was undeniably and noticeably forced on by my peers. I wasn’t pretty enough, I wasn’t skinny enough, I wasn’t good enough, I was too weird and different, etc. So, of course all this negativity and the discouraging words/actions towards me caused me to feel pain and anger…even confusion…and that’s where ‘word vomit’ came to life in my world. It was the thoughts, feelings, emotions, experiences, and everything in between that led me to write because I was deeply hurt. I don’t think I ever looked back since then because written expression is so beautiful and diverse, and writing is in my blood. 

Some individuals were blessed as multi-talented species and I’ve always been so curious to know their story…where and how it all started. Like, did they just wake up one day and decide that they’re going to be wizards and witches and make everything work in their favour? Or did it happen like me where it was a ‘work in progress’ type of story that became a ‘wow factor’ solely based on expressing the way they felt whether it was through lyrics, a sketch, a culinary creation, a sewing surprise, etc.

I feel that a creative outlet is not something people do ‘by the book’. Like, these are things that people enjoy doing whether there is a feeling behind it or they do it just because they’re talented. They say that if you’re doing something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, which is true. But, if you’re earning money for it then it simply means it’s a dream that became a reality. Magical, right? 

It’s important to note that in order for you to excel in what you do, it’s much easier if you have the drive in you and the motivation because sometimes we’re just not in the mood to be creative since taking a nap sounds like a better plan or watching funny YouTube videos sounds like your cup of tea in that moment. But remember, that is absolutely okay because literally everybody is entitled to nap time. Actually, nap time could also be considered your creative outlet because, oddly enough, a lot of good ideas for a writing prompt come from dreams that you have or simply because you’re in such a relaxed state that the creativity just flows like a river. 

I don’t know, I feel like that resonates very well with me. Do you feel connected to that at all? I feel like many people have an ‘Aha’ moment when they’re dreaming or as soon as they’ve woken up…it’s pretty nifty!

Do you know what else? Your creative outlet doesn’t have to ‘be a thing’. It doesn’t have to be something that others are already doing and it doesn’t have to conform to societal norms because at the end of the day, you’re making a choice and that choice should be one that you’re ecstatic about!

Your creative outlet can be discovered in the most unconventional, most unorthodox way or it can be brought to light in your typical day-to-day environment yet your new found outlet could motivate others to go on their own creative journey…maybe it’ll even become a worldwide trend. Who knows what goes in the year 2023.

Have you ever had a conversation with yourself about your strengths, weaknesses, your hopes, your dreams, and everything that comes before or after that? I have, on several occasions! Self-reflection is an important part of life and an unapologetic practice to keep yourself mentally engaged in life’s tricks and traps, because sometimes life puts you on ‘standby mode’ while your brain tries to figure everything out. If and when you take the time to self-reflect, you will learn an incredible amount of things about yourself that oftentimes lead to creative expression in some form or another.

I say this because these conversations can get deep and sometimes difficult but it’s such a cool moment when you’re able to allow yourself to feel all these things that eventually turn into a craft, your extracurricular activity, your safety blanket when life is playing games with you, your side hustle when things get crazy with finances, or even your real rescue when your mind is tired beyond mending or when your soul is just too sore.

Your creative outlet may have just become your best friend and they committed a crime by killing your loneliness.

 

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Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create. 

Achieving Creativity

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Faizah Latif (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will ever be to know and understand.” – Albert Einstein 

Art and creativity hold a different meaning for each individual. I truly believe that anyone at any age is able to hone into their creative side at any point in their lives. Creativity is the ability to create items that inspire and inform others in aesthetically pleasing ways. 

Growing up, I did not think that I was an artistic person and thought that I would not be able to become one. However, I learned that you are able to train yourself and adapt easily to accepting your artistic side. We all have it in us; it is just a matter of exploration, and it may feel unnatural at first but just like anything, it will take time and practice to enrich our creative side. Art has a lot to do with developing important skills such as emotional intelligence, confidence, resilience, identity and belonging, and problem-solving skills. Creativity allows us to express our feelings, boosts our self confidence, and makes us happier. With art, one is better able to process their emotions and have a better understanding of their surroundings. As I became older and more self-aware, I realized that I became better at self-reflection and being able to better process my thoughts and feelings. This is an important skill to possess. 

There are many forms of art and creativity to choose from, such as painting, dance, music, architecture, cinema, and literature to name a few. In embracing our creative side, we are able to learn a lot about ourselves and our environment. Sometimes, our day to day lives can become mundane and we can feel like we are in a rut. Allowing ourselves to embrace art and creativity can mean that we are using our imagination and entering a carefree, child-like state where we can release stress. With embracing creativity, we are able to shake things up and get out of our comfort zones. We can even surprise ourselves by learning something new and changing our perspective. 

Mental health and wellbeing are enhanced through pursuing artistic activities. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology published a study which demonstrates that when individuals embrace arts and creative pursuits, there is a boost in positive emotions, thus increasing an individual’s overall happiness. Drexel University conducted a study showing that activities such as colouring or doodling enhances the brain’s pleasure pathways. Individuals were happier, and more confident about their art even if they were considered non-artists. This encouraged individuals to continue pursuing creative projects. Have you ever seen those adult colouring books? These were created for adults to de-stress from their day to day lives. Looks like colouring books are not just for children after all! 

The best part about engaging in creativity is that you get to take part in self-expression. You have the ability to fully listen to your inner self and tap into something you really enjoy. You are also able to challenge yourself by taking risks, thus enhancing your confidence. One of the ways that I practice creativity in my own life is self-expression through blogging with Low Entropy. As a volunteer blog writer, I release my emotions into creative writing, and it is a healthy outlet for me. Trying different activities and seeing what works and what doesn’t is our way of learning about our identity.

To be creative is to be bold because along the way, we are sure to make mistakes. We are not following a logical path, rather we are creating our own journey which encourages risk-taking and growth. We are the authors of our own stories. The most important tool to art and creativity is to have fun with the process. It can be hard to let go of control, however if we allow ourselves even just a little bit of time each week for a creative activity, it will allow us to become more productive in our other activities. I hope that after reading this blog post you are inspired to either continue pursuing your artistic pursuits or will challenge yourself to try out a new artistic activity to learn more about yourself. Remember, the sky is the limit!

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Faizah is an aspiring social worker, currently in the process of completing her Master in Social Work (MSW) degree. She enjoys self development and advocating for important causes in the community. Writing is one of Faizah’s passions, and she is honoured to share her writing on the Low Entropy platform in the hopes of providing inspiration.

Can “Uncreative” People Create Art?

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Elizaveta Garifullina (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

What is creativity? The ability to draw, sing and compose poetry? Does everyone have creativity, or is it some kind of exceptional talent? Can people become creative?

Well, from my perspective, creativity is not something we have or do not have. There are no creative people and non-creative people. Creativity arises within us. Absolutely everyone has it, but it does not belong to us, and not everyone can unlock it. Therefore, I believe that absolutely everyone can create art. You just need to try and reveal it from within yourself.

 

In this article, I want to talk about how to unlock creativity.

 

  1. Observe. The next time you go out for groceries or just for a walk, try to remain as an observer. Observe what unusual people you meet on the way or how beautiful nature is. There are an infinite number of ideas around us, but we don’t notice them. Watch art, go to museums, watch people’s creativity on the Internet, and listen to songs. Just try to observe and write down everything you remember in the evening. Write what exciting things you saw and why you liked them.

 

  1. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. If at school, you were the person who was afraid to make a minor blemish, then you would have to work a little on this point. Create, do not limit yourself to a fictional framework. Turn off your logic and analytical mind. Be like kids who enjoy the process. Art cannot be wrong. There are no mistakes in it; that’s what art is for. You can’t make a mistake here. This is a safe space.

 

  1. Practice. Spend time with a canvas, a piece of paper, a laptop, or musical instruments. Don’t give it up and make sure to practice, it will bring you great benefits later. Not everything works out at once, so art also needs practice.

 

  1. Meditate. This does not have to be done in an extreme way. Just try to close your eyes and watch your thoughts, gradually getting rid of them. If it is difficult for you to do it alone, then find meditations on YouTube for your desire and mood; there are a vast number of them there. Also, you can turn on the sound of Tibetan bowls. If you are already familiar with deep meditation, then you can start removing old and unnecessary programs from your mind. And so, just try to find these ten minutes of harmony, so you will improve the connection with your inner state, which contributes to creativity. After meditation, take your notebook, canvas, or musical instrument in this calm state and express what is trying to come out. It will be a pure stream.

 

  1. Get rid of labels and the past. If you did it somehow last time, it does not mean you need to try the same method now. Do not rely on your experience, judge by intuition. Try new things, and creativity will definitely find a place in your life. Try to avoid repeating the previous or someone else’s success. This is a huge mistake. Get rid of the past.

 

  1. Another exciting way to find a connection with creativity is to close your eyes, turn on any music and start dancing. Don’t try to remember any movements. Trust yourself completely; no one sees you. Do everything the way your body feels. Move as the body demands.

 

  1. Enjoy the process of creating something. In order to enjoy, you first have to understand why you are doing this at all. Maybe you want to use the skill of creativity in your work or career, become a “creative” person, or help people with this. Understand your reason and start enjoying the process itself without trying to ask hundreds of questions: “Will I understand that this is creativity?”, “When will I become creative?”, “How long will creativity last?”

 

—

 

Leave your thoughts for Elizaveta in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

The Flow Of Creativity

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Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

This article is about how I feel about certain moments in my life that have hindered my creativity and how I can start to open myself up to different types of inspiration.

There is this age old saying in the writing community that advises us “to write what we know” and for the past 22 years of my life I have followed that advice blindly to the point where it has become sort of a golden rule for me when I am attempting to start a new piece but unfortunately it is also the reason why I feel so limited in my creativity. Although, I believe there is nothing wrong with pulling inspiration from your own life, I think if you do it too much it can become redundant and this is a word not often associated with creativity. Thus, I have learned that this particular well can run dry if you are constantly reimagining your own stories because you are only relaying your own particular experiences. By doing that you can isolate your readers when actually all I ever wanted to do as an author was to put myself into someone else’s shoes by using my imagination so I can see how they live and as a result expand my empathy. 

Looking back on all my previous work I notice that the moments I most often pull inspiration from are the tragic ones. I feel that writing is a therapeutic way to sort through all of the difficult emotions that come from harsh experiences so my pain has been at the epicenter of all my creative writing since the beginning. It has gotten to the point where I can’t even recall many happy times in my life because I never took the time to appreciate them and write them down on the page. It is clear to me when you are bombarded with too much trauma all at once it can become ingrained in your brain and taint your outlook. Life can be hard in that sense but I also know that sadness isn’t the only emotion we are able to feel. It wasn’t until someone brought to my attention that all my writing is rooted in devastation that I realized I had built a wall around my heart and shut myself off from any positivity. 

Many great writers in the history of time have sought enlightenment in the darkness and created many poignant masterpieces. Those like Sylvia Plath or Edgar Allan Poe for example. And as such I tried to emulate them because I had felt a kinship with their stories. I thought that the saddest people made the best authors because they were able to bring out so many big emotions from their readers but I know now that writing from a happy perspective can also make just as big of an impact and it’s the type of thing we need more of in this chaotic world. Therefore, my familiarity with suffering does not make me a good writer and yet I have allowed it to become an integral part of who I am and how I see things. I can no longer allow that to be the case because our existence on this planet is a very long time so I must embrace every aspect of it and all the feelings that are threaded into each second including joy. It may be an emotion that I have lost connection with but I will reunite with it again and when I do my walls will come crashing down and my creativity will flow freely and endlessly. 

 

—

 

My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I am an aspiring writer learning from my experiences and writing about them through this blog where I have been able to think about a variety of topics. My greatest hope is to break the stigma against mental health and raise awareness for the disabled community. 

Creating Inspiration

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Isabella Wen (she/her), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Finding inspiration is a big part of our lives and what it means to be human. Without inspiration, what would we live for? It motivates us to aim for greater things. It gives us passion. Whether you draw, paint, write, compose, dance, design or code, creation brings a type of wonder to our lives. That spark in someone’s eye, a drive that refuses to be ignored, a new perspective of the world we live in.

Becoming inspired isn’t always easy though- sometimes it smacks you straight in the face (kind of hard to miss), but most of the time it takes a little more digging than that. 

Some days you could be staring at the ceiling and a spark of creativity will ignite. A sudden surge of motivation, you’re ready to create the vision that suddenly popped into your head. 

Some days, or personally, I’d say most days, all you see is the ceiling. Not always do we feel this spontaneous emotion, and that’s okay. But if you’ve been lacking inspiration for a long time, that can be difficult and often leaves you feeling stuck.

Here comes the big question.

Can we create inspiration ourselves? Or must we always wait for it to hit us?

The truth is- many of us fail to indulge in our own creativity because we don’t feel like it. I remember the many times I had the opportunity to create but pushed it aside because I felt stuck.

If you’re having trouble finding inspiration, there are some things you can do to try and create it. Who knows, you might find something worthwhile.

 

Here are my 5 tips to create inspiration.

  1. Take Risks

The best way to find inspiration is to take that leap of faith and try something new. Even the smallest risks can have big outcomes. Try making a new recipe tonight, volunteering, or even watching a movie you’ve never seen before.

  1. Change in scenery

Sometimes we lack inspiration because we’ve been doing the same thing day after day for so long that we need something fresh. Try travelling to a local beach, park, or even an old place from your childhood.

  1. Find purpose in everyday things

A contrast to tip 2, keep things the same. There’s beauty in everything we do, and sometimes we forget to appreciate that. Try doing whatever you normally do in a day, but practice awareness. Especially in routines, or things you consider a usual occurrence.

  1. Take a walk down memory lane

Remember times in the past that inspired you. Go through some old photos, or just reflect on how far you’ve come. Maybe you’ll be reminded of a person, event, or a song that sparked something in you.

  1. Exchange experiences with other people

Share stories with other people. Whether it be a family member, friend, coworker, or maybe even a stranger, people inspire each other all the time. I can guarantee that you’ll learn something new from every interaction.

No matter how you find or create your inspiration, it will never hand you success without hardship. When you’re given a seed, it doesn’t blossom in a day. Depending on the type of soil you use, the amount of water, your plant will differ from another person’s. Even if it came from the same seed.

Inspiration is an idea and the motivation to create. However, the way you interpret your inspiration may be different from other people. Ultimately, it’s your job to nurture it and grow it.

—

 

Isabella Wen is a high school student who uses writing as both an outlet and a way to contribute to a community. She hopes to influence and inspire others through Low Entropy’s platform.

Various Ways to Find Inspiration

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Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Inspiration occurs when someone sees or hears something that triggers new ideas or motivates them to act. The process of inspiration refers to the process of arousing an individual to feel a certain way or desire to act in a particular manner. There is often an association between this concept and creative endeavors, but it can occur in a variety of circumstances. In the workplace, for instance, inspiration can influence individuals to change their behavior or aid them in generating new ideas. Although individuals can inspire others, that inspiration usually originates from within. There may be something that a person sees or hears that resonates with their values, feelings, or desires and encourages them to act.

The power of inspiration lies in the combination of imagination and motivation. You may find inspiration through another person’s words or actions, through images that you have seen, or even by just sitting and thinking in a place that is conducive to peaceful thinking. The feeling of inspiration is always accompanied by an element of personal purpose.

According to my experience, I find inspiration in two different ways. I find it by spending time alone in silence, reflecting on my life, practicing meditation, or participating in any activity that allows me to get quiet and listen to my heart. It is during those moments that I am most connected to what is most important to me, which inspires new ways of thinking, being, and acting for me. In this way, I can set out a plan for the day or even for the whole month or year ahead.

By understanding that inspiration comes from within, we cease to seek inspiration from external sources. The ability to recognize the source of our inspiration is essential to our growth, as when we are fully aware that our inspiration originates from within, we are not subject to the changing tides of people and things around us.

Where can we find inspiration?

  1. Walking in Nature

People can be inspired by nature since it reflects our natural environment. By spending more time in nature, we can experience feelings of awe and astonishment. Time is no longer a constraint, and we can take things as they come. There are also lessons to be learned from nature.

  1. Talking to People

When we need inspiration, we may find it helpful to talk to people we know and trust about what they do. We can benefit from expressing our thoughts if there is a struggle or challenge we are experiencing, or if we are contemplating a new direction. We may also be inspired to produce ideas we had not thought of before because of this. The involvement of other individuals can provide us with a sense of generative accountability as we move forward.

  1. Exercise

Research has shown that individuals who feel healthy and happy are more likely to experience inspiration than those who feel anxious or stressed. Physical exercise has been proven to promote physical and mental well-being, and in addition to providing a space to clear your mind and process your thoughts, physical activity can also stimulate the creative process.

  1. Looking at the Big Picture

The big picture allows us to see how our actions contribute to a larger whole. It is possible to find inspiration and meaning in something greater than us, and this can also give us the feeling of being rooted.

  1. Change

Positive change can inspire a person in so many ways. The process of change allows us to discover new things, improve as individuals, and spur us on to better things. Embrace change and learn to enjoy the daily journey that it brings. By doing so, you can become your own inspirational story and uplift yourself at the same time.

  1. Family

A loving, supportive family can serve as a source of inspiration regularly. It is often necessary to undertake tedious tasks in life, but when you are sure they will make the people you love happy or comfortable, it is easier to take on those tasks.

  1. Kindness

The act of kindness is an easily accessible source of inspiration. Practicing kindness without a sense of expectation can be the key to success.

  1. Mediation

The practice of meditation opens your mind to new ideas. Mindfulness practice improves attention and makes it easier to recognize the novelty and usefulness of new ideas. Mediation promotes courage and resilience in the face of skepticism and setbacks, which is critical because failures and setbacks are inherent to the innovation process.

  1. Listening to Music

Music is a pure and unadulterated source of inspiration and has the power to influence our emotions, thoughts, and ideas as well as our creativity. Listening to music has the greatest effect on people. Paying attention to the composition and listening carefully can inspire people and heal their bodies at the same time. Besides stimulating the mind, inspiring music also stimulates the intellect.

  1. Drawing and Painting

Drawing and painting can distract and calm us. By disengaging from the outside world, we make room for creativity, and we allow ourselves the opportunity to be inspired.

 

Inspiration can be found everywhere. Some individuals find inspiration in nature, or other people in their lives, such as their friends and family.

– 

Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

What Are You So Afraid Of?

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Emily Iorio (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

For as long as I can remember, I have been a worrier. My brittle fingernails always picked down to the length of throbbing pain and the brittle ends of my hair indicative of my nervous tics. Not always concerned with the most rational fears, I worried more about the possibility of obscure situations that could manifest into catastrophic, life-altering circumstances. My worst nightmare as a child was one of my brother, Michael, dying. This dream occurred only once, and though decades have passed since that night, I can still remember the nightmare in striking detail. The basement of our three-bedroom bungalow was flooded with towering flames, inching closer and closer to the door that led upstairs to safety. Trapped in the blaze of that unfinished vault, Michael pounded on the door, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pry it open. These were my childhood fears: losing a sibling, a parent or even my own life to some terrifying catastrophe — always wishing I could have done something more to save myself or someone else. 

 

Flash forward to the winter of 2019 when we lost Michael after a short battle with a relentless bout of cancer — my mom, recently diagnosed with ALS and my stepfather, unknowingly harbouring the early stages of cancer himself. I found myself in the exact situation I’ve always dreaded: losing my family while being forced to bear witness, useless in salvaging anything. When your greatest fears come to devastating fruition, what are you to make of life in general? If the worst-case scenario has always been the most common outcome, how can you expect anything different? Just as dark clouds seem to foreshadow incessant Vancouver rain, illness in my life began to foreshadow death, and the challenges I faced as a young adult encouraged me to anticipate failure. To put it simply, optimism has been difficult to come by in the years following the loss of my family (despite how well I forge my bubbly demeanour) and trauma has thrown a real wrench in my decision-making process. 

 

Speaking from my own personal experience, my trauma has encouraged two opposing schools of thought at the crossroads of lofty decisions. On one end of the spectrum, my trauma forces me to meticulously approach situations with caution, but perhaps too much caution (anxiety, if you will). Now that all these years of caretaking have passed, how will I ensure that I make enough money to catch up to my peers? Perhaps I should move back to Ontario to spend more time with my family and friends before they all inevitably die too? I wrestle with these thoughts, these anxieties, almost constantly. They are the fear response to unknown situations — situations that could very well end up beautiful and gratifying if I were to give them a chance.

 

On the other end of the spectrum, I’m met with a familiar “Life is too short” philosophy: life is too short to deny myself of everything I have ever wanted. This is the inspiration response that allows me to daydream about an endearing future. It is what motivated me to leave a secure job that I wasn’t truly passionate about so that I could pursue further education. It is what fuels my love for travel and my desire to visit home so often, to be with the people I love. 

 

Strangely enough, these two opposing rhetorics can sometimes motivate the same outcomes. Even if this is the case, it is a matter of choosing to listen to the inspiration response over the fear — a selective hearing for the optimistic perspective. It is finding the strength within yourself to trust in the universe, or perhaps to trust in other people, that you won’t always end up getting hurt, despite what has happened in your past. It’s choosing to visit home, not because you’re afraid that your friends and family will die or forget you, but because their presence in your life makes everything more colourful. It’s choosing the career you are passionate about, despite the learning curve ahead, because you know how wonderfully you’ll flourish if you are satisfied with your work. 

 

When I think about what I want out of life, I think about honouring my future self — the ardent and aspirational woman who will inevitably die, just like her family did, but who chose to honour her fascinations rather than her fears. Sure, ominous clouds foreshadow rain, but they can also foreshadow the growth and prosperity of a crop, the flourishing rivers that end a devastating drought. And that optimism, that feeling of being inspired by the beauty of what life could be, is what I continue to try to appreciate. When I’m ready for it, when you’re ready for it, inspiration will be waiting.

 

—

Leave your thoughts for Emily in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Ordinary Everydays

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Cecilia Watt (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

It’s easy to find hope and inspiration in big things, isn’t it? This year, Canada watched snowboarder Max Parrot win gold and bronze at the Olympics, and while that was inspiring in itself, the inspiration was increased tenfold by the fact that he accomplished this only a few years after being diagnosed with cancer. Big moments of inspiration like this are wonderful and necessary for the human spirit, but they often make our own lives feel small, ordinary and lacking. Add in the listlessness that came with the pandemic and you can’t help but ask yourself, “What could be so inspiring about my normal, everyday life?” I think that you can find hope in the goodness in the world and the inspiration to be a part of it as a part of an “ordinary” everyday life. If the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that the chance to live ordinary things is the most extraordinary chance we’re given.

 

In 2020, I graduated university during the first wave of the pandemic. There was no ceremony at school, so my friends and I made our own before we had to separate in March. With paper diplomas, graduation music played on YouTube, dresses, heels and four years’ worth of tears, we went our separate ways, not knowing when we’d see each other again. I had lost my dad three months before, and would lose my grandma to COVID-19 one month after the day of our goodbye ceremony. The grief of my loved ones, my former life and who I used to be consumed me, and after months of numbness, I decided to be consumed by something else: a job at a domestic violence shelter.

 

In the year I worked there I found inspiration from people living everyday lives, in spite of experiencing the worst the world had to offer. I laughed — really laughed — with the women I met, so hard that it hurt my stomach. They teased me when I (allegedly) couldn’t whisk an egg properly in the kitchen. We celebrated every holiday together, and we celebrated not having the energy to participate in holidays together too. I helped a client beat a level of Fishdom every day when I had a minute, and another client taught me about Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (who knew he and Mark Wahlberg were one and the same?). One taught me about diamond art, and another gave me her colouring pages when she was done with them, as a gift. They brought me back to life simply by allowing me to be a part of their ordinary lives. Of course, there were many moments of pain and hopelessness. Those moments reinforced to me how lucky we were to live the good ones together.

 

I went sledding with the children of the shelter one snowy day, and I can safely say that it was one of the best days of all our lives. These kids had lived through the unspeakable, and all of us staff who went with them were weighed down by that knowledge and our own lives. But that day? That day, they just got to be kids — and so did we. We crashed in the snow, flew off our sleds and raced each other, and not a single one of us wanted to leave. Another ordinary day, another extraordinary moment.

 

I’ve been told by family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances that the way I handled my grief was an inspiration to them. I’m still not sure how I feel about that: all I did was my best, and it usually felt like my worst. The reason I could do my best is because of the peace and hope I found in the daily things that we’re taught aren’t noteworthy.

 

In the fall of 2021 I moved to Vancouver, reuniting with three of those friends with whom I had “graduated” on their rickety, student house staircase. I decided it was time to leave my hometown and try something new, before going back into the grad school fray the following year. Cue immediate existential crisis. I wasn’t in school, and was now unemployed in a new city, taking a break from the social service work that had made me feel so useful. It left me in that strange limbo of grief where you feel like people think you should be doing better than you actually are. For the first time in years, my life was only made of little things, with no big, earth-shattering ones in sight. I felt useless and so deeply ordinary, like a secondary character in my own life. Then, I found my new favourite café. I made very poorly designed clay mugs with my roommates at an art studio. I found a therapist I really connected with and kept in touch with my friends. I kept falling more in love with the best person I’ve ever met, every day. We made paper snowflakes to decorate for Christmas and watched The Bachelorette every week. I continued to contribute to the lives of others and my own, and I remembered that the pause we take between words is just as important as what we’re saying.

 

We will forever need those big moments of hope and inspiration. What I want you to know is that those big moments are always tied together by ordinary everydays, the same ones that you and I live. Max Parrot’s medal is made even more golden by all the little moments of hope that I’m sure he found in his ordinary days, the ones that gave him the strength to deliver that same hope back to us. So go about your ordinary day in any way that brings you peace, and remember how special that is. After all, isn’t finding a moment of peace in a world so loud and blinding the most extraordinary thing of all?

 

—

 

Cecilia Watt is a recent university graduate taking a few years off before grad school to focus on all the little joys in life, such as chai lattes, good books and listening to music while going for walks. 

From Another Street

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Julia Magsombol (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Please note that this article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation.

 

I was 10 when I first became afraid of the conversation around death. I had known all along what it meant when someone you loved died, but not the idea of losing them. It was a sunny afternoon in Manila, and the only thing that made the weather somewhat balanced was the breezy air that plunged into our sweat. I was on the patio with my grandmother and our house cleaner.

 

The town where I came from was small, so gossip was like dust, it was everywhere. Gossip and conversations could be heard from here to there. It didn’t matter where you were. You’d just hear things. 

 

“Oh Cely, you wouldn’t believe what I just heard!” our house cleaner muttered. 

 

“What is it, Muray?” 

 

“A man killed himself in his house just last week!” 

 

“Jesus Christ! Where is he from?” 

 

“I don’t know, but he’s from another street!” 

 

“Tsk, tsk!” 

 

“His fiancé left him for another man. I guess he couldn’t take it anymore!” 

 

“What a poor man. God bless him.” 

 

“He hanged himself just under the loft bed! I guess he wanted to die fast.” 

 

“That is brutal! Did anyone come to check up on him?” 

 

“No one. His body was decaying when people recovered it. His family is not in Manila, and he was all alone for years — well, aside from his ex-fiancé.” 

 

“Poor man. What a lonely death. No wonder he killed himself.” 

 

The conversation goes on and on. It terrifies me to hear such a thing. 

 

I never understood what the guy was feeling, but for a second, I thought he could’ve just gone far away and travelled to different countries to feel better about the break-up. As I got older, I realized that even if he had escaped the place he was in, he’d still have been miserable. At that moment, he had lost the love of his life, and perhaps himself — and how could he move on from that situation? He’d be dead either way. 

 

But his ending might have been a little different if he had someone besides his fiancé. If someone would have been there during his darkest times, he might not have killed himself. I can’t really know what ending he would’ve had. Well, truthfully, we all die at the end, that’s all of our endings.

 

But I know things could’ve been better if someone had knocked on his door and asked how he was — if someone had eaten with him and talked to him. 

 

It could’ve been better if he had the chance to realize that he wanted to live longer, maybe for himself. It could’ve been better if he’d had someone. At least, there would have been a greater chance that he would live longer and die peacefully. 

 

What’s tiresome in this world is how we build walls within ourselves instead of a bridge when we are drowning in our darkest times. We build walls around ourselves and we don’t let anyone enter. And others don’t want to reach out because of the walls that they have built as well. We end up being alone and hurting during our difficult moments. 

 

And so I’ve finally grasped it: we don’t need a lot of things to hold on to during our difficulties. We just need someone. 

 

I never knew the name of the man, nor what he looked like. I don’t even remember what street he was living on or what address he had. All I remember is that he was a man from another street who killed himself. 

 

The next morning, everybody went on with their everyday lives. Gossip kept flowing. It seemed like the guy from another street never even existed. 

 

—

 

Julia Magsombol is currently a journalism student from Edmonton, Canada, who desires to bring hope to people through her writing. When not writing or reading, you can catch her sewing clothes, painting nature and drinking instant coffee.

Building Optimism from Negative Experiences

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Sasna Nawran, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

As human beings, we face numerous challenges and negative experiences in our day-to-day lives such as relationship struggles, loss of a loved one, financial crises, and many more. We go through a range of emotions. At times when everything goes wrong, we lose hope and we tend to view our life as a failure. Yeah, it’s normal to experience these negative thoughts and emotions during hard times but prolonged negativity can be harmful. It can inhibit us from reaching our goals and it can hinder our happiness. Therefore, it is important to know how to be optimistic while we go through bad phases in our lives.

What does it mean to be optimistic?

Most of the time we misunderstand what optimism is. We think optimism is ignoring our emotions or the negative situation and focusing only on the good things in life. But it’s not that. It is simply the attitude of hope and positivity. It is accepting the bad situation we are in and hoping for the best in the future. Research shows that optimism can affect our physical and mental wellbeing along with our everyday activities. By learning to cope with negative experiences effectively and by practicing optimism, we can transform our lives.

Here are some tips that I find useful to keep me optimistic while going through negative experiences.

  • Acknowledge and accept the situation.

When you are in a bad situation it’s normal to experience negative emotions. Acknowledge your feelings rather than ignore them to convince yourself that you are fine. Instead, give yourself a pep talk. You may have faced numerous obstacles in the past that you have now overcome. So believe that this is another one of those challenges that you can face and it will pass like all the others. No situation is permanent.

If the bad experience you are facing is due to a wrong choice or a mistake that you have made, then do not be too harsh and judgmental of yourself. If you have made a mistake, make peace with it, forgive yourself and try to avoid doing it in the future. Remind yourself, everyone makes mistakes and it is how we learn.

You can also talk about your feelings honestly with a close friend or write them in a journal. Even involving yourself in a physical activity that you like such as running, yoga, or simply a walk outside while enjoying the cool breeze will help you to eliminate the negativity and make you feel better.

  • Practice mindfulness

While going through a negative experience, it is natural that you overthink and imagine the worst scenarios that could happen in the future. Practicing mindfulness will help you avoid this. Mindfulness is being in the present moment rather than overthinking about the future. 

I found a useful technique to practice mindfulness. It is W.I.N. which stands for What is Important Now? When you have a negative experience and start to obsess about the uncertain future, ask yourself “What is important right now?” and bring your thoughts back to the present. Determine what is most essential to you at this time and in these circumstances. Make it your primary goal for the day. Practice this technique every day and eventually, your thoughts will be focused on the present.

  • Practice gratitude

No matter how bad the situation you are in, there will always be positive things that we don’t notice as we are focused on the negativity only. Try to think of three positive things at a time. Ask yourself, “What good things happened today?” It could be simple things like having a good meal or completing a simple task that you have planned. When you do this daily you start to notice, appreciate and be grateful for the good things around you. This will build positivity and eventually you will see a huge change in your life. This is a technique that has helped me immensely in  becoming an optimist.

  • Determine the things that are out of your control

You are not in control of everything. Some situations are beyond your authority. For example, during this pandemic some of you may have lost your jobs or some of your plans may not  have gone as expected, but the pandemic is something that is out of our control. Remember you have the option of either allowing these unfavorable situations to pull you down or embracing them and rising above them. 

We all prefer to face positive experiences and avoid negative ones. But a world without challenges or hardships is unrealistic. Therefore, learning to cope with the negative experiences effectively is the best possible way to lead a happier and healthier life.

 

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Leave your thoughts for Sasna in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Inspiration and Impact

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Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Globally, the current pandemic affects everyone. There is a great deal of stress associated with the changes and uncertainty caused by this crisis. It has been shown that stress negatively impacts health. The consequences of stress can be minimized by providing encouragement, social support and care. Many of the damaging effects of stress are more likely to occur when there are no safety nets, partners, family members or friends who can offer a listening ear or help. There are many helpful and creative ways to enable remote care, provide additional support, establish contact and launch other heart-warming initiatives aimed at supporting each other during this time. It has been inspiring to observe the creativity unleashed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

By sharing your innovative ideas about ways to inspire and help others, you can have a greater impact on your community and country. It is one of the ways in which you can contribute to a better future for everyone.

 

Humans are naturally drawn to inspiration. In fact, inspiration is one of the primary stimuli for creativity. Having a positive attitude helps us be our best despite negative circumstances. The question is, how does one inspire others?

 

Listed below are ten suggestions to get you started:

  • Showing Care 

You can ask them questions. Show genuine interest in the people around you. Showing your genuine concern for others will make you an inspiration.

  • Being Sincere

No one will be inspired if you appear insincere or fake. You must believe what you are saying and adhere to your view of life. To show that this matters to you, it is essential to make it matter to you.

  • Encouraging Others

Everyone experiences hard times from time to time. This is a great opportunity to inspire and motivate a person to see the best in him or her and in their situation.

  • Showing Enthusiasm

If you wish to inspire others, you must be willing to express your passion. Simply by expressing publicly that you are enthusiastic and passionate about a subject, you can gain a tremendous amount of influence. Expressions of passion can be contagious, as they arouse curiosity in those around you. People will wonder why you are so passionate about what you are passionate about. Some will naturally take the time to understand what it is about the topic that interests you.

  • Seeing the Best in People

Seeing the best in people is one of the most effective ways to inspire them towards improvement. It motivates them to reach their dreams and goals. To inspire others, you should emphasize their positive qualities rather than their negative ones. You will find that inspiration will flow easily if you focus on these qualities wherever you interact with them.

  • Active Listening

By actively listening to others, you show them that they are important and that their ideas are worth considering. Eye contact is important when someone shares their problems with you. Ask follow-up questions to show them you care about what they are experiencing and want to understand their viewpoint as well as you can. 

  • Helping People Heal

Stand by them and help them build a better future, rather than judging them based on their past. By positively impacting the lives of others, you are also positively impacting your own. You can make someone happier or reduce their suffering if you focus on others’ needs. We all appreciate the gift of unexpected assistance and those who can provide it.

          

  • Trusting People

The key to inspiring others is to trust in their ability to learn, adapt, and grow. Everyone makes mistakes at some point in their lives. To inspire them to do better, we need to trust them to learn from their experiences.

  • Giving Hope to Others

The most important aspect of inspiring others is hope. It is imperative to give them hope. It is crucial for them to believe that there is a goal, a reward at the end of the tunnel, for the challenges they will face.

  •  Being a Good Communicator

You must be able to communicate effectively to motivate and inspire others. You should be aware of your voice and how you speak. The words you speak can have a profound impact on the way in which someone feels about themselves.

 

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

New Dreams, New Me

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Olivia Callari (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

It was September 2021 and I was getting ready for another day at work. Summer was ending, and I was at a three-lane crossroads with myself. I had just taken a semester off from university, abandoned my five-year career goal of becoming a real estate agent and was mourning the end of a three-year relationship. I remember getting up that morning feeling more sluggish than usual, with an overwhelming feeling of anxiety and a racing mind that could lead a NASCAR race. It was the first day I admitted to myself that I had absolutely no sense of direction, the first day where I questioned my purpose on this earth. I never believed when people said that life can change in the blink of an eye, until it did. It wasn’t the type of change that was visible, which can be equally overwhelming, but the kind of change that makes you look at everything you built and question whether you really want it. 

 

When I was younger, I was a performer. I sang, I danced, I acted, I created art and music. My dream was to become a famous actor and prove to myself that what I was performing would make a successful career one day. I always knew there was more out there for me than a conventional profession, one that was more easily attainable than pursuing an artistic career with a lot of success. The hopes and dreams that I had when I was a kid had left me once I reached high school, the crowds I was surrounding myself with did not believe that the life I had wanted for myself was “realistic,” and it was a very judgemental environment. I quickly conformed to their standards and settled on the idea that I would be a top-selling real estate agent, and that was all for me. Of course, this career path is far from settling, but it never felt truly fulfilling for me. Years and years of conditioning my reality to fit that goal also brought so much time where I was not in tune with my creativity, nor with the dream I had as a child. I lost my passion for the arts, and I lost my ability to let life happen for me instead of to me. 

 

Since that September moment only a mere six months ago, I transformed into someone I never thought I would be. I did not think it was possible, until it was, and then everything outside and inside me turned. The epiphany of that morning sparked a need for change, and then some. My entire inner world was asking me to follow a path I had not chosen, as it was reappearing with a lot of appeal. I decided to fall back into the arts and deemed it a risk, but I had nothing to lose. I applied to acting schools and began monologuing in my free time. I became consumed by creativity and looked at the things around me, and with each day, I allowed the things that didn’t serve my new purpose to dissipate. My hopes and dreams had changed within such a short amount of time, and with that change I was starting to feel totally different. I was learning a lot more about myself and what I wanted, and the people around me couldn’t understand why I was different all of a sudden. There was so much that was new to me that I couldn’t possibly continue to carry all of the old ways of doing things, which shocked others and myself. 

 

In this moment, I sit here, writing about how the change of my hopes and dreams brought a change in myself, and think about the person I once was. I do not know her, I can only remember what she was like, but she is no longer me. Of course I mourned her, but I know that she helped me get to where I am today. Change is constant, it’s only obvious when you are called to it. The need to fulfil a new purpose meant altering what didn’t fit it. 

 

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Olivia is a film and television certificate student at NYU Tisch and a recent graduate from Dawson College in cinema and communications. Having grown up in Montreal, Quebec, Olivia has surrounded herself with different cultures and means of creative expression, with hopes to one day incorporate it into her film and television work. Through writing and other forms of artistic expression, Olivia has a natural desire to help others overcome their inhibitions and reach their fullest potential.

The Tapestry Has Meaning on Both Sides

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Kiranjeet Kaur (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

We have excellent intentions when we inspire someone, but the real question is whether we are doing it correctly. What if the individual isn’t ready yet, but will be in the future? It is human nature to want to see results immediately, and this can cause us to get quite anxious. Let me tell you about a time when someone inspired me and it took me 20 years to act on that inspiration. That individual who kept urging me never gave up, and I am grateful for that.

 

I met a wonderful woman in my university chemistry class when I was 20 years old, and she recognized something in me and encouraged me to become a psychologist. I thanked her for the compliment, but I was focused on becoming a registered nurse and earning a degree. She kept nudging me, saying that this was the ideal path for me, since she admired how good of a listener I was and how insightful I was from my own and other people’s experiences.

 

I used to think about what she said now and then, especially when I failed several of my program’s classes, but I couldn’t bring myself to do anything about it, since I was terrified. My parents were certain that I should only pursue a career as an RN because they wanted me to be able to make money immediately after graduation and have a recession-proof job.

 

In my third year, I pulled out of the program and became sad, believing that I had failed my parents and myself. I felt my life was finished, since I wasn’t following society’s prescribed path. I had time to get back on track, but my parents couldn’t handle the disappointment and chose to make life-changing decisions for me.

 

When I relocated to another province, my friend used to send me books and letters to stay in touch with me. I’d read a few pages before putting the book down, feeling motivated and ready to check into universities in my area to enroll in a psychology program, but something always seemed to get in the way, and at the time, it was me putting my family first.

 

I’ve finally begun pursuing my passion by taking part-time classes, which I’m truly enjoying. I value the age and experience I bring to the table, and I have had time to process the emotions I have experienced. I picture this as a lovely tapestry: the front of the tapestry is a gorgeous woven masterpiece, but when you flip it over, you can see how untidy it is, with various threads scattered about, knots tied everywhere, exposing the raw materials used. Yes, it took me time to chase my dreams, but just like the back of the tapestry, I enjoyed the road I took to get there.

 

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Kiranjeet Kaur is a married mother of two teenagers. She was born in Castlegar, British Columbia, raised in Alberta and spent most of her life in British Columbia. She has attended Mount Royal University, the University of Calgary and Bow Valley College, and enjoys reading, cooking and taking walks in the woods.

In the Details

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Bethany Howell (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

I can get into mental states that do not allow me any joy, as though my brain has vacuumed out the beauty of the world. I spent a good portion of my life seeking out cures for this feeling. Medications and therapies help the baseline, but I still find myself struggling to truly enjoy the world around me — to feel inspired. I have tried meditation and plenty of self-help books, but it all seems to be to little avail. There are so many solutions labeled “To Help Inspire and Change Your Life!,” yet in my experience, none truly work on anything longer than short-term. Finding inspiration in everyday life is difficult if you don’t know what to look for, and it is clear that many try to capitalize on this fact.

 

A few years back, I tried something new. Instead of roaming around the Health and Wellness section of my local library, praying for a miracle, I decided to reflect on the past — what helped me when I was at my best. As a child, I was easily amazed, simple walks in nature were enough to keep me entertained. My parents would find me paying attention to the little details of life, stunned by the happiness I would find there. I used to discover the magic in life — what we are all searching for — so easily. 

 

I thought for many years that my ability to be inspired by such small things as frogs and clouds shaped like dinosaurs was something that I left in childhood. I thought this ability was, in itself, immature and inaccessible when my age grew past single digits. Yet, having no other options available to me, I decided to try to seek that magic once more.

 

I began carrying a camera with me as I completed my usual daily chores. It was a Nikon, almost a decade out-of-date at the time, that my parents had decided to lend me in my late teens. I kept it with me for months on end, collecting pictures of the pigeons downtown, the smiling faces of my friends between classes and the boats in the harbor atop the glistening, snow-covered ice. I sometimes look back at these photos and marvel at just how quickly I was able to pick up the little magics in life again. 

 

I still bring my camera along for adventures some days when I am especially not doing well — a much newer edition with such luxuries as automatic focusing — but I no longer require it to find inspiration in day-to-day life. This does not mean that all of my problems have been “fixed.” I still have days where I have trouble forcing myself out of bed. However, in times like these, I like to turn to the small things. I can always find something wondrous hiding in the mundane if I truly look. I harvest my happiness riding the bus for a long trip, listening to ballads and staring out the window as though I am in a music video. The delicate shades of the chlorophyll in a leaf never fail to help me stop the buildup of negative thoughts. 

 

I find my inspiration in the things everyone else overlooks. Maybe it is because they are never appreciated that I am able to truly be in awe of them. Who else would spend five minutes of her day admiring the tiny footprints left by a squirrel looking for his hidden winter stash? The trail the squirrel has left shows a pattern that — as I analyze it — appears to embody his thought process, leading from the tree, to the stump, back to the tree. I can tell that he knew exactly where to look this time, as there is a tiny hand-dug and nut-shaped hole beside the stump. It is moments like this that make me appreciate not just the small thing I am inspecting, but also the world around me as a whole. No, my problems are not all fixed by this one squirrel’s trail, but a portion of the weight of life has been lifted.

 

Life does not instantly heal itself when you look for inspiration in the mundane, but I truly believe that finding inspiration, however small, does help the healing process. I am, in no way, completely happy in my mindset, but I am doing better and that is what matters.

 

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My name is Bethany Howell and I am a third-year university student majoring in psychology and minoring in family and child studies. I have a passion for writing and mental health, and my ultimate goal since age 13 has been to make a difference in the world through helping others, which is how I ended up here at Low Entropy!

My Four Anchors

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Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

On the 29th of June 2020 I made a promise, and it was that I was going to live for my family, if not for myself. It was a conscious decision that I made entirely on my own when I hit rock bottom for the 30th time. I thought that I would use them as a beacon to drive me forward when hope in myself was scarce. I understand that saying my family is a replacement for hope is kind of cheesy, but in my case it is the truth. As such, there are four people in my life who keep me anchored to the ground in times when I want to fly away. 

 

The first is my mom. She is the one who gave me life, after all. She is the reason I understand the concept of unconditional love, because she has watched her own flesh and blood fall into the lowest form of despair countless times and she has stuck by me, even at possible detriment to her own well-being. My mind can’t begin to process what it must be like for a mother to watch the child she brought into this world, through no fault of her own, want to disappear off the face of it just because her little girl doesn’t believe she is worth it. I want to take this moment to thank my mother for her unwavering strength and her support, as I haven’t made it easy for her. I also want to thank her for taking me to countless physiotherapy and counseling appointments and staying by my side during the hospital stays. But most of all, I want to thank you for seeing me and doing everything you can to understand my mental health in the times when your hugs couldn’t comfort me. 

 

The second is my father, who sadly lost his battle to cancer in 2014, and like my mother, was a big believer in staying strong amidst a whole lot of obstacles. There was a saying he used to repeat to me when I would get insecure about my handicap: “Left side, strong side.” This basically meant that I was strong enough to overcome anything life could throw my way. Naturally, I can become upset thinking about the important milestones he missed and will continue to miss, but on the other hand, it is because my father lived his life to the fullest despite being taken from us way before his time that I have to attempt to live for him. I can’t say for sure that I will live as honestly and courageously as he did because I am not my father, however I can honor his memory by being who I am and spending time with the loved ones he left behind.

 

The third is my twin sister, because she is my laughter in the silence. She is always there to cheer me up when I feel low, and I know no matter what happens I can always count on her. She was the one who stopped taking a test and chased after me when I left school crying my eyes out. Even in the times when we are apart, all I have to do is call or text her and she will be there, whether it’s in person or not. We may go through our own challenges in life, but I know she loves me and she knows I love her, because I’m a weirdo and tell her all the time. All I could ever ask of her is to never change, because she is exactly what I need; I couldn’t ask for a better version of me. 

 

The last is my brother, and to me he is the embodiment of the drive you can have when you put your heart into something. The way he strives for goals and results is inspiring! We may not agree on everything, but I know deep down he has my best interests at heart, so thank you for pushing me harder when I push back.

 

To sum it up, I wouldn’t be here without my family, and I don’t know how I could ever begin to repay them, but hopefully this is a start.

 

P.S. To Buddy, my fluffy puppy, I didn’t forget about you. Thank you for never leaving me alone for a second and showering me with love! 

 

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My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I am an English major and aspiring author hoping to bring more positive awareness to disabilities and mental health.

In the Stars

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Jihu Lee (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Over the course of my life so far, I have turned to art to seek out light that could penetrate the darkness that has trapped me. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by art and creativity growing up. Writing has always been fulfilling for me, and is a refreshing outlet for my thoughts and creative expression. My little sister and I both play instruments, so music has been a significant part of our lives as well. Almost two years ago, I discovered my ability to draw people from photos of them. Even though I don’t draw as often nowadays, I know I can pick up a pencil and paper anytime and draw a sketch of anyone I wish. 

 

My sister discovered her own talents for crocheting and cooking. She can watch tutorials online and replicate them flawlessly. During the pandemic, we cooked and baked a variety of meals and desserts together, from couscous to cinnamon muffins. We made cheesecake three times, none even close to perfection (the second time, my sister forgot to add sugar to the filling), but our time spent baking together on its own makes the experience worthwhile. 

 

In addition to partaking directly in forms of art, I take inspiration from artists, both proximate and on the other side of the world. In November 2020, my sister and I heard BTS’s ‘Dynamite’ in the car and were drawn to the upbeat, vibrant energy of the song. Already we have come a long way from novice K-pop fans to supporting multiple artist groups, each with their own styles and concepts. We grew up speaking Korean with our parents at home, so watching and listening to K-pop content and music while understanding the language strikes a pleasant chord in me. Even though we don’t know any idols personally, the music and comfort they bring with their mere existence explain why millions of people around the world love them the way they do. 

 

Stereotypically, idol groups are said to cater to the demographic of teenage girls. This conception in society harms not only teenage girls, who get mocked for their genuine support of these artists, but fans who are outside of the demographic in question as well. K-pop artists like BTS explore a wide range of topics in their music, including mental health, societal issues and generational pressures. In doing so, they break the barriers of age, gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, and appeal indiscriminately to audiences around the world. 

 

Something about the way millions of people are making Korean music more mainstream in their lives within a largely Western-centric society should indicate that the condescending stereotype of a boy band doesn’t really hold. 

 

Channeling your creativity and inspiration to escape your surroundings and reality is not unproductive. It is essential for most people. While others may find it more efficient to grind for prolonged periods of time, some may need to relieve the pressure before continuing on. I encourage you to keep your imagination alive as a reminder that you’re human after all. 

 

Never be ashamed of finding yourself returning to art if it gives meaning in your life. Keep holding onto whatever inspires your inner creativity, and it does not have to be limited to quintessential activities like drawing, painting or making music. Your love for art isn’t trivial just because you might not turn it into something “practical” that will earn you money. Creativity shouldn’t become a “guilty” pleasure just because society might not let you capitalize on it. 

 

By exploring what you love, you could very well be inspiring those around you to go after what they’re passionate about as well. If someone tells you a certain pastime or an artist has had an unforgettable impact on their life, believe them. In this hectic world where we often lose ourselves, the last thing we should do is put others down for loving something that makes them happy. For me personally, becoming interested in K-pop has helped me reconnect with my heritage, something I suppressed for most of my life because I felt so othered by the mere fact that I could speak Korean. But that is entirely another story of its own. The bottom line is that art in itself is a lifeline, so don’t be afraid to enlighten yourself and fuel your imagination!

 

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My name is Jihu, and I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah! I have been with Low Entropy since May 2021. Some of the things I love are reading, writing, listening to music, playing with my dogs and spending time with my sister! 

Leading: The Way

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Great leaders are born and made. How? Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Emma Norton explains.

 

What does it take to be a good leader? Some people are naturals, even born with it. They have a level of strength and integrity that is inherent. 

Alternatively, some leaders evolve through experience. They rise above situations designed to pin them down. A compelling leader refuses to settle and brings their team members along with them for evolutionary growth. The blend of these two aspects provides a leader with the prime positioning for excellence. 

 

What, then, makes a bad leader? A few global politicos could come to mind, or perhaps an egomaniac boss from your (hopefully) past. Such individuals have misconstrued the role or archetype of a leader. When someone in a position of power takes advantage of their role and forgets the inherent truth that we are all equal and helping each other strive toward change, it not only dims their light, but affects those who, sometimes in a blind trust, follow them. This is what provides a leader with power: it’s not necessarily just from their job title, but from everyday interpersonal interactions. In these contexts, the stronger person will always be able to take charge. In that strength, we must remember the keyword of integrity, which some leaders are missing. They use their positions to fuel their insecurities rather than choose humility.

 

Take the analogy of an athlete-turned-coach. As an athlete, you play a sport for however many years. You learn, you cultivate your talents and you hone your skill set. What would position you as a good coach (a leader) is knowing the sport itself from many angles. You have an innate ability to educate and support an athlete without letting your egocentric needs get in the way, as you are fulfilled and own your position of power. You understand the concept of paying it forward. You take your ability to impact others as a form of responsibility. What makes a great coach is the ability to help their athlete thrive by supporting and pushing them toward success — the same with a leader in any scenario. There is no sense of a threat; there is a strategy toward collective empowerment.

 

At some point in all of our lives, we are considered leaders. Whether it’s as a parent, older sibling or within a professional setting, everyone will face a situation where they can opt to lead with inspired action. A good and empowered leader openly works on themselves and inspires others to do the same. They remain compassionate, yet driven. They create a feeling of safety for those who follow them, and they respect their position of power. 

 

Whether leadership is, for you, a goal that stems from a desire to obtain a certain status or something at which you have a natural aptitude, there are challenges with assuming a leadership identity. Impostor syndrome can sink in, or the responsibility, at times, can be daunting, especially if leadership is not what you signed up for in the first place. Uncertainty is what causes this stress. It is invaluable to remember to breathe. If you are creating a chain reaction with your choices, make sure they are good ones. An effective leader takes the time to breathe and review everything thoroughly. They do not act in haste, but rather as best they can through the lens of compassion.

 

If you are in a leadership position and feel uncomfortable, remember that all you have to do is live with integrity and honesty. Those who follow you will find that inspiration for themselves. We can only be human, but the mastery of what we project outward is where true leaders are born. A leader puts out constant reminders to treat others how they would like to be treated. And as a leader, we have to pull others up to our level, not allow trivial and pointed things to drag us down. We may not be able to change others’ perceptions, but when we lead with integrity and set our best example, that should be our sole responsibility and concern. 

What makes a great leader in your eyes? Share your thoughts with us on any of our social media platforms, or join our community to engage with the vibrant leaders who make Low Entropy happen!

Coming Out

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Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Justin Singh presents a primer on coming out, with resources to help us understand this important milestone in the lives of many LGBTQ2+ individuals.

 

‘Coming out’ marks a shift in the lives of many people in the LGBTQ2+ community. It’s the moment in time when a member in the community shares their true gender identity or sexuality with a world where cis heterosexuality is commonly viewed as the norm. Coming out is by no means an easy task. With it can come potential hardships that can range from minor to extremely severe. 

 

Why do people come out? Here are a few reasons:

 

  • They feel the life they are living is a lie, and they want to stop keeping secrets from the ones they love
  • They want to express themselves freely
  • They are ready to go public with their dating life and/or include their partners in their everyday lives
  • They want people to stop discriminating against them, and be more vocal about the injustices towards the LGBTQ2+ community
  • They want to inspire future generations of the community, and one day make being a part of the LGBTQ2+ community more widely accepted

 

There could also be many reasons why people decide to delay or avoid coming out altogether:

 

  • Fear of rejection from their loved ones
  • They are young and dependent on their family, and they are unsure of whether they will have the same sense of stability after coming out
  • They live in a country were the lives of the LGBTQ2+ community are threatened due to the laws of the country
  • They are not sure of their true identity just yet
  • They are simply not ready to come out

 

If you are thinking of coming out and unsure how to go about it, there are many resources you can find online that can help you on your journey to self-discovery. Here are just a few of many:

 

The Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/resources/coming-out

This page has pamphlets available for download to assist on coming out within your personal and professional life.

 

GLSEN: https://www.glsen.org/activity/coming-out-resource-lgbtq-students

A resource dedicated to teenagers and students who are just exploring their sexuality and feel like they’re ready to take the steps to come out.

 

The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Coming-Out-Handbook.pdf

An organization that began as a hotline for crisis intervention and suicide prevention for those in the LGBTQ2+ community. They provide resources that can help any young LGBTQ2+ individual through the most confusing and difficult aspects of their life.

 

It doesn’t end there though. When you’re thinking of coming out, you could also reach out to people you already know in the LGBTQ2+ community for advice, or reach out to someone online. The internet allows for anonymity, which keeps you safe from being accidentally outed. There is also the possibility of starting your coming out journey with a trusted family member, friend or loved one, whether they are a part of the community or not.

 

Being an LGBTQ2+ ally is also an important role. You can be a support figure in the lives of those who are going through many twists and turns behind the scenes of coming out that you may not be aware of. When supporting someone who is attempting to come out, never out them yourself, to absolutely anyone. It’s important that the person coming out does so on their own terms. If you are an ally, ensure that you are there for support, guidance when specifically asked for, and most importantly, use your platform to amplify their voice!

 

In addition to those in our lives, it’s possible to find inspiration in books, television, and movies. LGBTQ2+ characters have been marginalized in mainstream media for many decades. Nowadays, stories of LGBTQ2+ experiences are finally getting the limelight they deserve. Here’s a short list of stories from different mediums that you can check out that explore coming out:

 

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson: A story about two transgender teens who meet and navigate their coming out together, in difficult social circumstances.

 

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: The story of Simon Spier, whose emails with another closeted gay classmate are used to blackmail him, forcing him to come out. This novel was made into a film adaptation called Love, Simon (2019).

 

Boy Erased (2018): A film about a boy who is outed as gay to his parents and forced to survive gay conversion therapy.

 

The Prom (2016): A musical about a group of washed-up Broadway stars who travel to Indiana to help a lesbian student who is banned from bringing her closeted girlfriend to the prom. The Prom was turned into a Netflix film, released in late 2020.

 

Despite the many resources available, coming out is ultimately a personal decision. Take time to research and think about when it’s time and what the right decision is for you.

 

If you’re comfortable sharing your story about coming out with a supportive, positive community, we’d love to hear it! Check out one of our Low Entropy meetings, or speak your truth in a comment below.

Can We Be the Leaders of Our Lives?

Posted on by andrew

A Youth Empowering Youth meeting recap

“Youth Empowering Youth is a program that aims to inspire young people to become leaders in the future. The core of this program is to provide a safe environment for a younger generation in which the participants can feel secure and confident to share their feelings and thoughts. Each session’s final goal is to be a catalyst to encourage youth to explore their talents in a meaningful approach.”

How can we become leaders? How can we be a positive role model for others? Is leadership something that we are born with, or is it an attitude that we can learn? Are leaders the kind of people that change problems to challenges? Can we keep improving in skills that we lacked if we keep moving and working hard? These questions were discussed in the last session of the Youth Empowering Youth (YEY) program. 

Participants were together for the last summer YEY meeting on Zoom recently. Each participant had the opportunity to express their ideas and feelings towards the past weeks of learning. The graduation meeting included two fantastic guest speakers who were open to sharing their life and leadership experience, which created a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

The meeting started with a brief review of the topics of the previous session. For instance, they discussed how to change a problem into a challenge, and perspective. One facilitator gave an example of how, for a mechanic, a broken car is a challenge, but for another person it could be a problem. Also, participants recalled the growth formula, and one of the participants shared her point of view on it. She said that, “When someone starts doing something, that person will become better if they just keep trying and trying.”

Afterwards, one of the facilitators introduced the last session’s topic with just a simple question: “Why do you want to be a leader?” That’s a challenging question to answer, even for adults. However, these young participants were prepared to answer this. Some participants said they wanted to be a good role model and inspire people to be better. Another participant expressed her intention of being a leader because she wanted to share her ideas and ambitions. One other participant said that she didn’t want to be in the shadows anymore, and some participants agreed with this statement. It is interesting to see that even people as young as 12 to 18 years old can clearly express why they want to become the leaders of their lives.

The meeting ran smoothly, the facilitators asked questions, and members answered with eagerness. One question that excelled in the forum was about the qualities of a good leader. An interesting fact that came out was that most of the participants shared the same view on the required qualities to be a good leader.

They believed good leaders were:

  • Confident in their ability to lead the journey
  • Willing to listen to other people’s opinion and ideas
  • Willing to help people
  • Willing to step out of their comfort zone
  • Confident in their judgment skills
  • Easy to approach
  • Confident, responsible and accountable

What was surprising was that none of the participants believed they could be leaders, because they associated leaders with high management positions. However, through this conversation, the facilitators explained that being a leader is more than a job or position. It is about enduring life, working hard and helping others, because in a way, we are all leaders.  Leadership is a way to live, to express oneself and to take the initiative to do something good.

Participants were surprised by this revelation, and the facilitator asked again if they felt like a leader. 

Some of the participants had changed their minds.

Before presenting the first guest speaker, the facilitators asked which one of the previous sessions had been the most helpful for building learning qualities. One participant said that session five, about failure, was mind-blowing because she had always feared failure. She believed that a good leader would never fail, but after that session, she understood that failure is part of growing. It’s impossible to be always on the right path. Sometimes failure is part of the process. 

Another participant talked about session two, which was about how your attitude influences your outlook in life. Each person is the architect of their own thoughts. Each person manages their way of sensing life events and staying positive. At the end of this part of the meeting, most participants felt that they identified with this session.

After the leadership discussion, the facilitators announced the first guest speaker Jay DeMerit, a retired professional football player. He was the captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps, and he now dedicates his time to give motivational talks to young people.

Jay came to the meeting with a clear objective to give a meaningful speech about his life journey. He talked about his path to becoming a professional football player. He talked about the struggles he overcame to reach his dreams and the hard work he did to achieve it. One phrase that defined his entire presentation was “dream big, think small.” 

Jay explained that we must dream big, and to achieve this, we must work in small steps. Jay’s goal was to empower the participants to do their best. He gave fantastic advice to follow.

  • Find a mentor or a person to look up to. If you admire someone, look at how they behave and how hard they work, and try to be better.
  • Take step one at the time. Each small accomplishment toward your dream must be celebrated.
  • Get out of your comfort zone.
  • Micromanage your goals, ask questions, communicate with others and don’t be afraid to fail, because after each failure, you can find an opportunity to grow.
  • Believe in yourself.

The second guest speaker was Brittney Grabill, a Canadian film producer and actress living in Los Angeles, working as a casting associate. She shared a little about her work experiences as an actress and how leadership has been part of her life. Brittney talked about being a leader since she was a little girl. She said that she was the kind of person who enjoyed creating plans and playing sports. Her first dream was to be an athlete, but she had to go through a medical procedure that changed the way she looked at life when she was younger.

Some of the stories that she also shared were about her following her dreams of acting because she enjoyed working in her family business. One piece of advice that she gave to the participants was to explore different paths. We might have one or more identity crises in life. Sometimes, we can feel attracted to two or three paths simultaneously. She encouraged the audience to have the courage to explore, since shifting and adaptation are part of life.

Brittney shared how she maintains a positive mind even in the most stressful times. She said that she would write small gratitude notes each day, and she encouraged each participant to practice this. She said that humans don’t tend to be positive thinkers, so it’s important to list down what we’re grateful for from time to time. These lists are reassuring during difficult times.

Jay and Brittney were refreshing speakers full of anecdotes and life experiences who provided new views about applying mindful daily leadership skills.

To wrap up the session, the participants shared how they felt before and after the  YEY program:

Congratulations to the participants for being part of this fantastic program, and congratulations to the facilitators for sharing their time and experience with each YEY program member..c

 

Author: Catherine A Pulgar E.

Edited by: Karissa deGuzman