I recently had the wonderful opportunity to explore a good friend and colleague’s work-in-progress that really got me thinking of change… or more specifically, self-change. Being a writer, I’m truly a professional at procrastinating while constantly beating myself up for being unproductive. This, I don’t think is healthy and I want to change, to become the sort of writer who writes 9-5, producing thousands of important words each day.
…but do I really?
Media, modernity and money
Our society labels writers like me as being not very successful because we do not have a decent enough income or a bibliography as long as my arm to prove otherwise. I look to writers who I respect and (social) media portrays them as perfect writing machines—churning out book after book that are beautifully and thoughtfully written, giving me an intense FOMO. And modernity, with all its technology and tools insist that I can become more efficient and effective at what I do.
These pressures however do not support change. They perpetuate the problems that are in the system (in this case, of being a writer) of always being poor, insecure and ineffective.
Let nature (DNA) kick in
We weren’t always built like this though. In fact, our nature is of change. Our DNA—a dynamic and adaptable molecule—ensures that we constantly change and adapt as we grow. This is socially accepted in children—as we see them physically grow, we also expect growth in all other forms, mental, social, emotional, and more. However, this becomes shunned upon when we become adults. We even tamper with the changes, trying to hide any signs of aging.
This need—as humans of the 21st century—to control nature, our environment, ourselves, has been preventing us from allowing the change that is necessary to flourish. When our nature is to keep moving and adapting, we’ve shackled ourselves to stereotype roles through socio-economical functions that we’ve created. We made a hamster wheel, got on it and can’t find a way off.
Embrace and enjoy diversity
In Rén: The Ancient Chinese Art of Finding Peace and Fulfilment, Confucius encouraged exploration through art and culture as a way of learning. This practice, is our modern way of feeding our DNA necessary information… knowledge. And it is through this learning that we are able to holistically come to change, meaningfully and gradually.
Nature isn’t naturally segregated as science teaches us. Biology speaks to chemistry, speaks to physics, and more, all within nature. I cannot separate my mind from my sight, or my thoughts from my emotions and movements. Thus, the best way to feed my whole being is through diversity of experiences—no one thing is enough.
Butterflies
I see ‘successful’ writers to be like butterflies. They’re beautiful, seemingly carefree, always productive. Perhaps I do want to be a butterfly, but I’ve been going at it all wrong. My struggle was to become a caterpillar first, thinking it is the ‘correct route’—constantly looking up to the butterflies and wondering how much leaves do I have to munch on before I’m allowed to make my cocoon and metamorphosize.
No, this isn’t right. What change I need is a different way of being. I need to watch the bees, explore the flowers, let the wind sweep me up—learn a different language, read more, go with the flow… for I am already a butterfly.
This is wonderful, Yen! A beautiful reflective piece on whether or not we enjoy our journeys in life. Thank you for sharing!
Love this piece Yen and it could not have landed at a better time. Thank you beautiful butterfly.