Skip to main content

Thoughts on Motivation

17th July 2018

What motivates us?


To answer the first, it's easy to think of the generic statements:
Art, culture, other artists, music, people, life experiences, nature etc. But honestly, it seems like a real task to stay motivated. To stay focused. To achieve 'flow' i.e: being in the zone.
Today I felt a slight tingling warmth, a small burst of excitement. I couldn't point out to what it was, but I felt a vague sense of motivation.
      I haven't done anything differently today. Why was I feeling motivated?
Last night I watched Anurag Kashyap and Kalki's interview on TapeCast. He mentioned how he has stopped evaluating himself and comparing himself to other film makers. Whether he's great, or mediocre; instead he is focusing on just doing. Expressing, creating, failing and succeeding.
It's not something I haven't heard before - me and Polo discussed the other day how it's the age of doers and not thinkers. Everyone has ideas today, but not everyone has the time, patience and energy to do it. It's the executers who succeed. However when I watched the interview, I asked myself -
"Film maker's create so many more films in their lifetime than animators. They tell so many more stories. Why is that?"
"Because Animation Film making is a much more laborious process."
"Well then what about shortfilms? Those are more doable, why don't we create more of those?"
     I guess the only thing stopping me is my lack of motivation - to see things through. The thought that there is nothing stopping me from creating films was really motivating. I just had to stick it up and see it through the end.
     This morning was quite productive, and doing a few colourscripts motivated me to do more. I guess motivation comes in bursts, and when it does, you need to use it to the fullest, push away distractions and achieve the most you possibly can. When you see your accomplishments, it only helps you stay more motivated to push and see your projects through. Collaborating with people takes it one step further. To have someone else bounce back the ideas, and help you in execution only pushes the project further.
     But what would help someone stay motivated for a longer period of time, rather than in short bursts like I felt today? I'd like to explore that. Possibly, practicing genuine happiness for other artists' successes can help. Learning a new skill, like software can create curiosity, which also helps in motivating us. Being in the practice of doing short drawing challenges online in artist groups can help, and motivate one to continue doing more. The best feeling is that of complete focus - being so engrossed in an activity that all else becomes white noise. If you feel that even once in the day, I think you'd be on your way to lasting motivation.


More about Flow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Late Nights and stress-laughter

Yaaaayyyy!!! People I found it!! I'm so glad this wasn't corrupted in my pen drive! Hope you guys enjoy the read, and moreover, the ficticious memories! :) 24/ May/ 09 Chi looked at the computer while transferring her pictures to the pen drive. She had the expression one would have when they saw a picture of their dog after long. However, it was obviously misinterpreted by me. She was actually disgusted with the way Ranka sang. It was a pity that he sat next to her while he listened to his music. She had to listen his besura voice. Often she’d come along complaining. And the hours of stress and prolonged exposure to the computer screen made us go out for walks or to drink some water. One of those days, Chi turned left and slapped Ranka right across the face. He looked right, and asked stupidly – “What?” She raged with the utmost disgust and self-pity. “Your voice sounds like a rat being killed.” “So?” he asked. She didn’t know how else to make him stop. They were the nights I’d...

Journalling!

I've heard that journalling is a nice way to keep a record of one's experiences so that we can later recall, learn and introspect, and that's it's also a form of meditation where we can clear our minds before heading to bed. I have a horrible habit of starting things and never finishing them; the list of these things is so long that I don't even know where to begin. Journalling is one of them. It's a habit I want to cultivate for myself and see if it provides enrichment to my life in any way. I also have a horrible memory, so this way I can always refer back to the thoughts and ideas floating in my brain and dump them out here to make it the world's problem :P Since I don't have a lot of followers I welcome you all to unfollow if I get too boring. Making this public is an easy way for me to stick to it and be consistent. So let me start off by talking about how my day/week has been. Since the beginning of the lockdown in India because of Covid19, my ro...

(J) Deadly Liners

Girlfriend: And are you sure you love me and no one else? Boyfriend: Dead Sure! I checked the whole list again yesterday Waiter: Would you like your coffee black? Customer: What other colors do you have? Manager: Sorry, but i can't give you a job. I don't need much help. Job Applicant: That's all right. In fact I'm just the right person in this case. You will see, I won't be of much help anyway!! Dad: Son, what do you want for your birthday? Son: Not much dad, Just a radio with a sports car around it. Diner: I can't eat such a rotten chicken. Call the manager! Waiter: It's no use. He won't eat it either. Diner: You'll drive me to my grave! Waiter: Well, you don't expect to walk there, do you? Husband: You know, wife, our son got his brain from me. Wife: I think he did, I still got mine with me! Man: Officer! There's a bomb in my garden! Officer: Don't worry. If no one claims it within three days, you can keep it. Father: Your...