Is it for YOU or the Machine?
Have you noticed how our brains are nearing exhaustion these days? The constant bombardment of graphics, memes, short and long posts, videos, and audio has led us to a point where the fantasy concept of smell-o-vision seems closer than ever. We find ourselves glued to our phones, consuming vast amounts of information yet retaining almost nothing. This trend is not just concerning but also a cause for reflection, as it’s eroding our personal creativity and individuality.
When Facebook changed its algorithm to show us what it thought we wanted to see, instead of letting us find what we wanted to see, the world really did change. Facebook’s profits went sky high because suddenly, it had a much more captive audience, which was primed to buy from all those precisely placed advertisements. The rest of the social media platforms saw the potential for gold, and the Algo became a permanent feature. It was meant to support the business providing the free platforms and NOT to help the users doing the creative.
Over the last five years, we’ve all become slaves to the machine. For those of us in the content-creating world, we create to satisfy the ever-changing ALGO and to get all the likes, follows, comments and engagement we can. We constantly create content to trick the machine and have that one thing go viral and shower us with riches. As consumers, we’ve become addicts to our phones and tablets because, god forbid, we can’t miss out on anything. AND we’ve developed this nonchalance about free. We have become entrenched with the idea that the internet means everything is free, so why should we pay for something someone has just let loose? Music, novels, plays, artwork, crafts, and EVERYTHING are all created for our pleasure to be enjoyed when we want and for the lofty price tag of zero dollars.
Essentially, we no longer do anything for ourselves; we do everything for the machine.
Mic drop time. Because you are human, you are CREATIVE.
Here’s a little about Creatives
A creative does something to please themselves first. The first priority of a creative is NOT to make money or carry a bunch of likes and followers. Most creatives I know are highly introverted and NEVER start from the position of I’m going to make this thing and, therefore, get 150 people engaging with me. A creative always begins with, what if ….? And a creative always continues because they are excited about their work.
Sure, you might not be a musician, an actor, a writer, or an artist. But you likely can stir up a mean meal that no one else can. If you’re faced with a problem in the garden, the house or the office, you might be the one all others come to because you can McGiver anything. Or maybe you’re the type with the gift of gab — you magically say the right things at the right time for the right reasons. All these things say you are creative. Yes, in your own way.
And I can guarantee that when you started any of these things, you never once thought about, “Will that be 100 or one million who are in my corner?” Does this matter enough to take a perfect before and after and post it on my socials? OMG, I better check Instagram and see if anyone is already doing this.
What if
What if we reclaimed our personal creativity from the machine? What if we created content that genuinely resonated with our hearts and brains? What if we shifted our focus from mindless scrolling to mindful reflection? Ask ourselves if our actions are leading us towards our goals. What if we stopped the endless creation for the sake of keeping up and instead focused on what truly matters to us? Reclaiming our personal creativity is not just a possibility, it’s a powerful choice that can empower us and bring back the joy of creation.
Can you imagine what the poor machine would do if we just stepped back, slowed down, and did things the human way again? By ‘the human way, ‘I mean focusing on our own needs, desires, and creativity rather than constantly catering to the always-changing Algo and incessant demands of technology.
Imagine the positive changes if we reclaimed our creativity from the machine. Life could take on a new, more meaningful direction, couldn’t it? Reclaiming our personal creativity is not just about breaking free from the shackles of technology, it’s about opening up a world of new possibilities and a more fulfilling life. It’s a step towards a brighter, more optimistic future.
I believe THAT indeed would be for the better and in our highest good.
Speaking of Creativity
In one month, I will host an online shindig for my listeners.
Yup, September 20th at 4 PM EST. Why? With them, I can continue the 5Cs Podcast for a third year.
Listen, environmental issues are not high on most people’s agendas. Businesses struggle to determine how to be intentional and effective with limited time and cash flow. Yet, every week, I see loyal listeners who tune in regularly.
This event provides a platform for us to connect, share our experiences, and learn from each other. I want to meet them, and I hope they’d like to put a voice with a name. So, I’ve blocked two hours on my calendar to share insights, answer questions, and discuss the podcast’s future. Are you interested in joining? Here’s the link.
