There are infinite terms to define people at two ends of a success spectrum. Ex Alpha/Beta, Leader/Follower, Dominant/Submissive, the list goes on. One of the best predictors to determine if one is “Successful/Unsuccessful” is whether they fall on the side of Creator or Consumer.
What is a Creator?
Def: Creator- someone who brings something new into existence
Think of creators as the “doers,” the contributors, the producers.
Some examples of creating include Business, writing, making music, athletic performance, drawing, teaching, etc
What is a Consumer?
Def: Consumer- Someone who consumes a product or service.
Think of consumers as the bystanders, the passive observers, the followers
Some examples of consuming include scrolling on social media, shopping, overeating, clickbait news, movies and TV, etc
Nowadays, due to social media, it is easier than ever to be a consumer. We have access to nearly the entirety of human knowledge and entertainment from the palm of our hands. With algorithms expertly designed and personalized to leverage the brain’s reward center and keep you from doing anything but chronically consuming.
Thankfully, it is also easier than ever to create and share your creativity with others. Whether that be music, advice, humor, accomplishments, sports, or ideas. All it takes is a couple clicks, some initiative, and boom, a majority of the world can access your creativity.
Why Create
- Improves learning and creativity
- leads to opportunity
- Involves using/exercising your brain
- Feels good
- Creates value
These are some of the benefits of creating, broadly speaking. Specific endeavors like business create financial benefits, and sports enhance physical health.
Why Consume
Consumption isn’t all bad; we need to consume information in order to evolve and learn. Consumption is beneficial when that which you are consuming is in service to that which you are creating.
Consumption starts to be harmful when it gets in the way of what you should be creating. This could be because the quality of that which you are consuming is low or because consumption is literally consuming your time.
Creating Mindsets
There are a couple of mindsets I like when thinking about ways to create.
1.How can I give instead of take?
This is especially important in relationships. Try to find ways to give and provide value in your relationships instead of “what can i get from this person.” you will find that when you have the give mindset, you will often times end up receiving more from the relationship, internally and externally; a beautiful paradox.
2. What am I good at, and how can I share that with others
We feel a sense of purpose when we utilize our unique capabilities to have an impact on others. Now this is easier said than done, as finding your unique proficiencies are takes some time. Some never find them or use them at all. I believe this is because most people aren’t willing go through the discomfort of continually trying new things. There are innumerable number of different skills out there and innumerable ways those skills can have profound impacts. How can one think, “I’m bad at everything,” if it is physically impossible to try everything? This is just a cliché way of saying that in order for YOU to make an impact on the world, you need to TRY NEW THINGS, and IT’S GONNA BE UNCOMFORTABLE. That’s how you know you’re growing; if you are uncomfortable.
Creating, as I stated earlier, is bringing something new into existence. So inevitably, if you are creating, you are doing something new, something you’ve never done before. This will be difficult. When doing something new we face the fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, and we have to go against our biological desire for comfort.
From an evolutionary perspective, seeking comfort is linked to survival. Comfortable environments typically pose fewer threats and require less energy expenditure, allowing for safer conditions to live, grow, and reproduce. In our day an age this biological trait is EXTREMELY maladaptive. Survival in 2024 means staying away from processed foods/overeating; It means staying off the couch; it means not drowning yourself in alcohol to numb the discomfort of being human. If we don’t consciously make an effort to go against our innate desire for comfort than we will end up fat, depressed, and sick. You may find short-lived comfort in gluttony, sloth, and drugs, but you will find discomfort in the rapid decay of your mind, body, soul, and relationships.
That is the life of a consumer. Now a creator, on the other hand, finds their discomfort in effort and facing their fears. They find comfort in the lives they change, and their physical/financial freedom, and living with purpose.
How to Start Creating
There are so many ways to create; the key is to seek them out and make an effort to create. This includes starting conversations with strangers, journaling about your thoughts, sharing your knowledge with others, and creating a more healthy body.
When you feel the resistance, the discomfort of trying something new, think of that as an opportunity to create, and evolve. Embrace it fully, and think about how lucky we are to have the ability to create.
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