In our current grind culture, it can be hard to get yourself to do something just because you like doing it. If you share it with friends and family, they might even start making the dreaded evil suggestion that you should try making money off your hobbies. Everything is all about attracting big money now and it's suffocating true art. Making stuff is no longer about fulfillment, it's about creating a commodity that can be sold for money and you make decisions regarding your stuff you would never make, in the hopes that maybe putting romance in your novel that was supposed to be about the horror of war will make a publisher more likely to publish it or skipping out on that video you were going to make on an obscure indie game you really like in favour of a Minecraft challenge video will be more likely to be seen. Instead of creating something for a small niche of people or even just for you, you end up creating something you don't like that very few people are going to really resonate with. You make slop. I was caught in that shit for a long, long time, spent the last 10 years trying to figure out a way to make stuff that provides value for everyone else, my own enjoyment be damned. I skipped out on writing stories because I didn't think I had anything to say, I quit on learning to draw because I wasn't improving fast enough, I lost my love for playing music because I'm bad at composing my own stuff. The only thing that stuck with me was game development, not because I'm good at it, but because my passion for it was so great I felt I had to keep trying or I'd die, but even that wasn't a smooth ride, I've quit so many times, sitting here at my desk crying my eyes out like a great big bearded baby because I couldn't make AAA quality from day 1. No point in making anything if it wasn't good enough to compete with what everyone else is making after all, and what an idiotic mindset that was. There I was enjoying every last line of code I wrote, only to quit because the finished product was unlikely to be of value to other people? People who would at most scroll past my game on steam and think "Huh, that's pretty cool" and then immediately forget about it? It was only just last month I finally awoke from that idiocy and started working on myself, changing my mindset and forcing myself to write a story with no intent of ever getting to anyone but me and maybe a good friend and for the first time in a decade, I slept like a fucking baby, without any need for medicine, alcohol or for tiring myself out so bad my body has no choice but sleep. Just a regular night's sleep, it was great. Then I got hit with a minor writers block, I'm not quite happy with the last scene I wrote and I don't know how to transition into the next one I have planned, so I just stopped and played Dwarf Fortress for a few weeks. It's hard to do that without the constant thought of "Oh shit, I'm wasting my time, I need to get back to doing stuff that might make me money and makes other people happy", but I just force it. No programming today, not feeling it, we're playing DF. Like Reggie said, "If it's not fun, why bother?". The whole point of artistic expression was always to make stuff as a reflection of us as individuals, as a society and as a species, but sometime through the course of human history, we forgot what art can do for us and instead started looking at how to use artistic skills to make us wealthy. No more thinking about how to frame a painting, write a paragraph or play a melody that resonates with the viewer on a deep level, instead we just use market research and "art theory" to create stuff that triggers dopamine receptors once and are then forgotten. God forbid we accidentally challenge the consumer, they might get mad and *not* buy our mass produced slop for all their friends and family members. It's tragic and I'm really mad at myself that I got caught up in it and instead of making things for these 10 years, I spent them thinking about what to make. Thank you for sharing that sentiment, I'm very happy to see at least one person seems to agree with my insanity.
Absolutely agree with you my man. I’m happy to hear you’re working on yourself and finding joy in making stuff for yourself! I know it’s not an easy journey but keep going. You got this :)
I've always wanted to create something story based, whether it be a game or, y'know, an actual story. But I've struggled with originality for the longest time, the whole time. But now, I think I finally got something, I know it's mine and I want to go somewhere with it. I haven't done anything with it yet, I've got plenty ideas on how the story is gonna play out, and at the same time I only got the name of 1 character, and it's not even the main character. Regardless of where I am in developing this idea, I want to thank you, this video is a huge help and I'll be taking it to heart for when I do decide to progress in my story. Thanks.
@@marcogonzalez9673 That's what kept me off writing for a long, long time. Every idea I came up with seemed like I'd just stolen it from somewhere else. I've always made these little worlds in my head I could disappear into when I get bored or just need some kind of easy escapism, but every idea I seemed to come up with just felt like it was ripped straight from whatever fantasy media I was taking in. A feeling that has only gotten stronger now I'm actually writing and a few days after starting up my story, a new character is introduced in the book I'm reading with the same name as my main character, by pure happenstance. Truth is, there just really is nothing new under the sun and I think the best way to find originality isn't in coming up with ideas nobody else has, but to make your spin on an idea uniquely yours. I've been reading Wheel of Time lately and especially early on in the series, you can tell Robert Jordan really likes Tolkien, but as it goes on, the twists he does on all the old fantasy tropes get twistier until a fundamentally derivative idea becomes wholly his. Becoming infatuated with those books and seeing the inspirations being wielded so confidently is probably a part of what shattered my old mindset of "I have nothing to say", because even if you truly don't have an original idea in your head - and let's be honest, you do, you just think they're derivative because you're being too self critical - you'll be expressing those ideas with your voice and that's what will make it yours. Best of luck with whatever you get to making, man.
I've found what you mentioned at 7:00 to be one of the most important lessons to learn when it comes to creative practice. Whether it's an imperfect final creation or just a sketch or unpolished draft, literally anything that actually exists is superior to that flawless creation that can only exist in your head. And knocking out those imperfect pieces will get you much closer to being able to make that perfect one a reality through practice and experimentation than just sitting around and overthinking it will.
Yesssssss!! Actually DOING stuff, even if it’s imperfect, is much better than just THINKING about doing stuff and will ultimately lead you to making something truly amazing.
in the words of Cursive - "art is hard". I'm glad that you're grinding through it though. We're all out here making work that is worth indulging in. Don't ever forget that.
I also am doing youtube from time to time. What rly broke my back last time i tried getting into it, was seeing all the positive responses i got. Sounds rich i know, but it lead to me holding myself to a higher standard and just not being happy with what i was putting out, which lead to writers block, etc.. Thanks for making this video and it did help. Unfortunately i do not currently have a lot of time to spare, but I'll try to keep your words in mind.
Last year I had a video of mine blow up, and since it was the first time anything like that had happened, I had the same response you did. I got a big head and suddenly nothing I did was good enough for my new standards. Honestly stepping back for a bit and recentering myself is what really helped me. I’m glad this video helped ya in some way :)
16:40 another thing about comparing yourself to others - sometimes you simply can't - even within a medium. Maybe your type of video/music/story/game doesn't exist yet, and as you said earlier in the video - if you like it, then there may be other people who like it too! So the tip of making stuff that you yourself like is a great one - of course not always that easy, if you make a thing for a rather long time and you want to see it succeed too, that can kinda make you fall into the trap of changing it according to other opinions, but won't make it exactly what you and the probably likeminded people out there wanted. Also yeah sure there's some objective markers of Quality, but as you said, that'll only improve with time, while working on your craft. Anyways, cool video! Keep it up! :)
18:50 To add to your point on these creators who have been making stuff for ages and have really honed their craft, they've also just increased the size of their productions. To use the Markiplier example: this is someone who has grown their operation to include a number of editors, a talent manager, and other creatives he works with to produce the stuff he does. It's very easy for new and casual creators to look at what's being produced and leave the theater when the credits start rolling - so many of our favourite things are made by fleets of people or individuals whose lives revolve around their art. Tempered expectations for the stuff we produce will make us happier throughout the artistic process when we work alone and especially for the majority of people with day jobs. When it comes to creation all that matters is that you enjoy yourself while you do it and that you learn something everyday while you do it. Great Video!
I agree wholeheartedly with your point about the team behind stuff. Often we look at a few key people involved in projects but rarely ever acknowledge the bigger picture and all the other people with them. As a solo creator, it’s really important to remember that you’re only one person and you can only do so much, but that doesn’t mean what you make is unimportant. And as long as you have fun doing it, who really cares lol
phenomenal video, I really needed to hear this ! trying to balance graphic design, d&d worldbuilding, content creation, and other creative inspirations has been really hard recently
absolutely loved this video, it was just what i needed. it started a bit rocky but you really got your point across. i also think people make things just because they think others will enjoy them or for the sole purpose of being sold and liked by everyone, and thats just not a good way to go about it. ive been working on an animation and procrastinating so much because i am so afraid of what people are going to think of it and where it might take me, but this reminded me that i need to stop caring at all about those things and just do it because i love animation and want to make something i'm proud of. who cares if it gets 10 views or 100,000, i just need to be happy with it
Really enjoyed this video, felt like a conversation with a friend. I also finished listening to The Creative Act recently and I feel like it helped me re-evaluate the way I looked at art specifically why I create my own art and what my goals with it are. I've been making music for 8 years now on and off, I came extremely close to breaking into doing it full-time producing for others, but didn't pursue that route since the money isn't what motivated me. I realized my motivations when I began and my motivations now are very different, but the core ethos of why I create remains the same and I've begun to create again with a new sense of purpose.
You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for a video to go over this topic. I’ve been really depressed for a long time and part of it is because of my dissatisfaction with my creative efforts, art, music, voice acting, writing, etc, which all get worse cuz of a fear of failure and a terrible inner critic. All of it has made me really terrified to try and create anything, at the moment, and especially draw, which is something I deeply love.
I clicked in this video for two reasons. 1: Hey that's Crocomire from Super Metroid! 2: Oh boi I really needed to hear these kinds of tips for creative work Great video, ngl Keep it up!
I’ve made so many things for myself throughout my whole life, but now that I’m starting my own game studio, and making videos on it (different channel), I actually need to learn how to make things for other people along with making them for myself lol.
Yeah, I get you there. Balancing what you wanna do and what your audience expects is tough, especially when they don’t align all the time. I am strong believer that the passion you put into something is what resonates more than the content though. So, hopefully, your audience will love it no matter what lol
One small thing I'd push back on is the "Do it for yourself first" mentality. I'd say, that only applies if you're doing solo work and not using an existing IP. Disrespecting the audience is not a good thing, so if there are previous expectations on the work you are doing, take into account those expectations.
I 100% agree. You don’t wanna lose any loyal fans you have just by changing stuff up on a whim lol But it is still important to make stuff because you like it and not because it’ll make you money or it’s what’s expected. Sometimes changing things up can lead to crazy results. Ultimately it comes down the creator and what changes they make to an established project. There’s a lot of nuance to it :)
I swear the algorithm knows what im thinking, this is exactly the video ive needed I just recently started youtube again after taking nearly a year long break, and things haven't been going amazing but also not bad, just not as well as i was hoping, but i need to remember its for the enjoyment, not for the audience
Exactly. As long as you enjoy making something, then the process of creating is a reward in and of itself. Happy to hear you’re giving RUclips another shot and I hope it goes well for you :)
Thought this video was from a huge RUclipsr when I blindly clicked on it! I totally agree, I have personally been getting my feet wet just making let’s play videos, and have already learned so much more then if I had tried to make some massive project right off the bat.
Hey man, that is the biggest problem of my whole creative lifespan. If i were to go back in time, it would just be to force myself to put more shit out lol
"if you make something make sure you are doing it for yourself first" you do it because you can and because its fun... and for the high of external validation. I think there is a difference between doing stuff for yourself and doing stuff because its fun to do. What psycho creates something for yourself first? A rich psycho probably. You do stuff to share with your friends, to sell, to impress a potential employee. Also Rick Rubin Sandwich got into his life career thanks to his decent family life and friends. Video invalidated. the Art question hasnt been solved.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself and say that I’ve been through the wringer when it comes to why I do what I do. For a long time, I focused on doing stuff because I thought it’d get me somewhere and I was miserable. No external validation has ever felt as good as the internal validation I’m cultivating right now. That’s just me though, perhaps you or others are different and that’s fine. And if your comment wasn’t meant to be taken seriously I apologize for coming at you lol
![I survived 1000 days of Hardcore (but Cottagecore) Minecraft [Full Movie] 🍄](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6R94hPWAb2g/mqdefault.jpg)
In our current grind culture, it can be hard to get yourself to do something just because you like doing it. If you share it with friends and family, they might even start making the dreaded evil suggestion that you should try making money off your hobbies. Everything is all about attracting big money now and it's suffocating true art. Making stuff is no longer about fulfillment, it's about creating a commodity that can be sold for money and you make decisions regarding your stuff you would never make, in the hopes that maybe putting romance in your novel that was supposed to be about the horror of war will make a publisher more likely to publish it or skipping out on that video you were going to make on an obscure indie game you really like in favour of a Minecraft challenge video will be more likely to be seen. Instead of creating something for a small niche of people or even just for you, you end up creating something you don't like that very few people are going to really resonate with. You make slop. I was caught in that shit for a long, long time, spent the last 10 years trying to figure out a way to make stuff that provides value for everyone else, my own enjoyment be damned. I skipped out on writing stories because I didn't think I had anything to say, I quit on learning to draw because I wasn't improving fast enough, I lost my love for playing music because I'm bad at composing my own stuff. The only thing that stuck with me was game development, not because I'm good at it, but because my passion for it was so great I felt I had to keep trying or I'd die, but even that wasn't a smooth ride, I've quit so many times, sitting here at my desk crying my eyes out like a great big bearded baby because I couldn't make AAA quality from day 1. No point in making anything if it wasn't good enough to compete with what everyone else is making after all, and what an idiotic mindset that was. There I was enjoying every last line of code I wrote, only to quit because the finished product was unlikely to be of value to other people? People who would at most scroll past my game on steam and think "Huh, that's pretty cool" and then immediately forget about it? It was only just last month I finally awoke from that idiocy and started working on myself, changing my mindset and forcing myself to write a story with no intent of ever getting to anyone but me and maybe a good friend and for the first time in a decade, I slept like a fucking baby, without any need for medicine, alcohol or for tiring myself out so bad my body has no choice but sleep. Just a regular night's sleep, it was great. Then I got hit with a minor writers block, I'm not quite happy with the last scene I wrote and I don't know how to transition into the next one I have planned, so I just stopped and played Dwarf Fortress for a few weeks. It's hard to do that without the constant thought of "Oh shit, I'm wasting my time, I need to get back to doing stuff that might make me money and makes other people happy", but I just force it. No programming today, not feeling it, we're playing DF. Like Reggie said, "If it's not fun, why bother?". The whole point of artistic expression was always to make stuff as a reflection of us as individuals, as a society and as a species, but sometime through the course of human history, we forgot what art can do for us and instead started looking at how to use artistic skills to make us wealthy. No more thinking about how to frame a painting, write a paragraph or play a melody that resonates with the viewer on a deep level, instead we just use market research and "art theory" to create stuff that triggers dopamine receptors once and are then forgotten. God forbid we accidentally challenge the consumer, they might get mad and *not* buy our mass produced slop for all their friends and family members. It's tragic and I'm really mad at myself that I got caught up in it and instead of making things for these 10 years, I spent them thinking about what to make. Thank you for sharing that sentiment, I'm very happy to see at least one person seems to agree with my insanity.
Absolutely agree with you my man. I’m happy to hear you’re working on yourself and finding joy in making stuff for yourself! I know it’s not an easy journey but keep going. You got this :)
damn. ur point was very well articulated, what u said resonated with me. thank u for writing this
I've always wanted to create something story based, whether it be a game or, y'know, an actual story. But I've struggled with originality for the longest time, the whole time. But now, I think I finally got something, I know it's mine and I want to go somewhere with it. I haven't done anything with it yet, I've got plenty ideas on how the story is gonna play out, and at the same time I only got the name of 1 character, and it's not even the main character. Regardless of where I am in developing this idea, I want to thank you, this video is a huge help and I'll be taking it to heart for when I do decide to progress in my story. Thanks.
@@marcogonzalez9673 That's what kept me off writing for a long, long time. Every idea I came up with seemed like I'd just stolen it from somewhere else. I've always made these little worlds in my head I could disappear into when I get bored or just need some kind of easy escapism, but every idea I seemed to come up with just felt like it was ripped straight from whatever fantasy media I was taking in. A feeling that has only gotten stronger now I'm actually writing and a few days after starting up my story, a new character is introduced in the book I'm reading with the same name as my main character, by pure happenstance. Truth is, there just really is nothing new under the sun and I think the best way to find originality isn't in coming up with ideas nobody else has, but to make your spin on an idea uniquely yours. I've been reading Wheel of Time lately and especially early on in the series, you can tell Robert Jordan really likes Tolkien, but as it goes on, the twists he does on all the old fantasy tropes get twistier until a fundamentally derivative idea becomes wholly his. Becoming infatuated with those books and seeing the inspirations being wielded so confidently is probably a part of what shattered my old mindset of "I have nothing to say", because even if you truly don't have an original idea in your head - and let's be honest, you do, you just think they're derivative because you're being too self critical - you'll be expressing those ideas with your voice and that's what will make it yours. Best of luck with whatever you get to making, man.
I've found what you mentioned at 7:00 to be one of the most important lessons to learn when it comes to creative practice. Whether it's an imperfect final creation or just a sketch or unpolished draft, literally anything that actually exists is superior to that flawless creation that can only exist in your head. And knocking out those imperfect pieces will get you much closer to being able to make that perfect one a reality through practice and experimentation than just sitting around and overthinking it will.
Yesssssss!! Actually DOING stuff, even if it’s imperfect, is much better than just THINKING about doing stuff and will ultimately lead you to making something truly amazing.
in the words of Cursive - "art is hard". I'm glad that you're grinding through it though. We're all out here making work that is worth indulging in. Don't ever forget that.
I 100% agree.
I also am doing youtube from time to time. What rly broke my back last time i tried getting into it, was seeing all the positive responses i got. Sounds rich i know, but it lead to me holding myself to a higher standard and just not being happy with what i was putting out, which lead to writers block, etc.. Thanks for making this video and it did help. Unfortunately i do not currently have a lot of time to spare, but I'll try to keep your words in mind.
Last year I had a video of mine blow up, and since it was the first time anything like that had happened, I had the same response you did. I got a big head and suddenly nothing I did was good enough for my new standards.
Honestly stepping back for a bit and recentering myself is what really helped me. I’m glad this video helped ya in some way :)
made me cry at work man, thanks lmao. everything feels so difficult when you feel like nothing you do is right
16:40 another thing about comparing yourself to others - sometimes you simply can't - even within a medium.
Maybe your type of video/music/story/game doesn't exist yet, and as you said earlier in the video - if you like it, then there may be other people who like it too!
So the tip of making stuff that you yourself like is a great one - of course not always that easy, if you make a thing for a rather long time and you want to see it succeed too, that can kinda make you fall into the trap of changing it according to other opinions, but won't make it exactly what you and the probably likeminded people out there wanted.
Also yeah sure there's some objective markers of Quality, but as you said, that'll only improve with time, while working on your craft.
Anyways, cool video! Keep it up! :)
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it. And double thanks for the wonderful comment! Its really insightful :)
18:50 To add to your point on these creators who have been making stuff for ages and have really honed their craft, they've also just increased the size of their productions. To use the Markiplier example: this is someone who has grown their operation to include a number of editors, a talent manager, and other creatives he works with to produce the stuff he does. It's very easy for new and casual creators to look at what's being produced and leave the theater when the credits start rolling - so many of our favourite things are made by fleets of people or individuals whose lives revolve around their art. Tempered expectations for the stuff we produce will make us happier throughout the artistic process when we work alone and especially for the majority of people with day jobs.
When it comes to creation all that matters is that you enjoy yourself while you do it and that you learn something everyday while you do it. Great Video!
I agree wholeheartedly with your point about the team behind stuff. Often we look at a few key people involved in projects but rarely ever acknowledge the bigger picture and all the other people with them.
As a solo creator, it’s really important to remember that you’re only one person and you can only do so much, but that doesn’t mean what you make is unimportant. And as long as you have fun doing it, who really cares lol
phenomenal video, I really needed to hear this ! trying to balance graphic design, d&d worldbuilding, content creation, and other creative inspirations has been really hard recently
It can be so hard to juggle multiple creative endeavors at once lol If only we had enough time in the day for everything we wanna do
absolutely loved this video, it was just what i needed. it started a bit rocky but you really got your point across. i also think people make things just because they think others will enjoy them or for the sole purpose of being sold and liked by everyone, and thats just not a good way to go about it.
ive been working on an animation and procrastinating so much because i am so afraid of what people are going to think of it and where it might take me, but this reminded me that i need to stop caring at all about those things and just do it because i love animation and want to make something i'm proud of. who cares if it gets 10 views or 100,000, i just need to be happy with it
Really enjoyed this video, felt like a conversation with a friend.
I also finished listening to The Creative Act recently and I feel like it helped me re-evaluate the way I looked at art specifically why I create my own art and what my goals with it are. I've been making music for 8 years now on and off, I came extremely close to breaking into doing it full-time producing for others, but didn't pursue that route since the money isn't what motivated me. I realized my motivations when I began and my motivations now are very different, but the core ethos of why I create remains the same and I've begun to create again with a new sense of purpose.
Dude that’s awesome! I’m glad you’ve kept pursuing music and found a renewed purpose :)
You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for a video to go over this topic. I’ve been really depressed for a long time and part of it is because of my dissatisfaction with my creative efforts, art, music, voice acting, writing, etc, which all get worse cuz of a fear of failure and a terrible inner critic. All of it has made me really terrified to try and create anything, at the moment, and especially draw, which is something I deeply love.
Aw man I’m sorry to hear about that. I’ve been there :/ It’s a struggle but I know you can overcome the fear and get back to doing what you love!
@@majorcalzone
Thanks man ❤🥺
I clicked in this video for two reasons.
1: Hey that's Crocomire from Super Metroid!
2: Oh boi I really needed to hear these kinds of tips for creative work
Great video, ngl
Keep it up!
I too click on videos featuring Crocomire. I am a simple man.
Glad you liked the video! Hope it helped it some way :)
I’ve made so many things for myself throughout my whole life, but now that I’m starting my own game studio, and making videos on it (different channel), I actually need to learn how to make things for other people along with making them for myself lol.
Yeah, I get you there. Balancing what you wanna do and what your audience expects is tough, especially when they don’t align all the time. I am strong believer that the passion you put into something is what resonates more than the content though. So, hopefully, your audience will love it no matter what lol
I'm making a manga currently and will release it soon. this is one of the best videos. extreme accuracy
Haha thank you! Best of luck with your manga :)
One small thing I'd push back on is the "Do it for yourself first" mentality. I'd say, that only applies if you're doing solo work and not using an existing IP. Disrespecting the audience is not a good thing, so if there are previous expectations on the work you are doing, take into account those expectations.
I 100% agree. You don’t wanna lose any loyal fans you have just by changing stuff up on a whim lol
But it is still important to make stuff because you like it and not because it’ll make you money or it’s what’s expected. Sometimes changing things up can lead to crazy results. Ultimately it comes down the creator and what changes they make to an established project. There’s a lot of nuance to it :)
I swear the algorithm knows what im thinking, this is exactly the video ive needed
I just recently started youtube again after taking nearly a year long break, and things haven't been going amazing but also not bad, just not as well as i was hoping, but i need to remember its for the enjoyment, not for the audience
Exactly. As long as you enjoy making something, then the process of creating is a reward in and of itself.
Happy to hear you’re giving RUclips another shot and I hope it goes well for you :)
Damn can't believe I missed the last 3 videos 😂 good to see you back tho hope life's good
Haha it’s all good my man. Yeah life has been pretty good for me. Hope it has been for you too!
Thought this video was from a huge RUclipsr when I blindly clicked on it!
I totally agree, I have personally been getting my feet wet just making let’s play videos, and have already learned so much more then if I had tried to make some massive project right off the bat.
Thanks man, I appreciate the kind words :)
Stoked to hear your video making has gone well. I wish you the best of luck going forward!
Hey man, that is the biggest problem of my whole creative lifespan.
If i were to go back in time, it would just be to force myself to put more shit out lol
For real. If I had stuck with RUclips back when I started ~10 years ago, I wonder where I’d be now lol
Very good video!
Thank you!
very interesting video! :>
Thank you!
Liam Triforce comparison is so relatable 😭
Dude’s a legend fr
@@majorcalzone Crazy how his videos are so relaxing yet enriching. Exactly what I'm trying to do with my videos
I felt like writing something, I got really invested in it but now I second guessed myself last second. Am I the only person that this happens to?
Absolutely not. I’ve had plenty of writing projects fall through like that unfortunately :/
yea, I suppose its time to sit down and get crackin on some fun ideas.
Just gotta do, not think
"if you make something make sure you are doing it for yourself first"
you do it because you can and because its fun... and for the high of external validation.
I think there is a difference between doing stuff for yourself and doing stuff because its fun to do.
What psycho creates something for yourself first? A rich psycho probably. You do stuff to share with your friends, to sell, to impress a potential employee.
Also Rick Rubin Sandwich got into his life career thanks to his decent family life and friends. Video invalidated. the Art question hasnt been solved.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself and say that I’ve been through the wringer when it comes to why I do what I do. For a long time, I focused on doing stuff because I thought it’d get me somewhere and I was miserable. No external validation has ever felt as good as the internal validation I’m cultivating right now.
That’s just me though, perhaps you or others are different and that’s fine. And if your comment wasn’t meant to be taken seriously I apologize for coming at you lol