Become A Better Maker and A Better You
"To destroy is always the first step in any creation." -e. e. cummings
Do you ever feel disengaged from your recent past, from people you love and care about, from your work and career pathways as you once conceived and pursued them?
I think it’s normal to feel this way. Two years of COVID-19 must be accounted for. The Trump years too—all the noise, lawlessness, and chaos shook things and people to the core. All of which can leave many of us seeking a new rhythm and a new way of being.
To get there, Tony Schwartz, the CEO of The Energy Project and author of The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working suggests the practice of self-regulation: the ability to sit with your emotions calmly and skillfully in the face of whatever challenges you encounter.
Self-judgment arises when our inner critic gets triggered and makes us feel ‘less than.’ Turning our judgment on others is one common way we try to feel ‘better than.’ By swinging between these two extremes, we find ourselves on an endless treadmill, forever straining to prove our worthiness, often at the expense of ourselves and others. Instead, when you notice those feelings arising, try to simply observe them — without judging yourself.
In other words, be here now—grateful, gracious, and forgiving. Learn to live with your weaker parts, with your insecurities and imperfections. Start to balance your negative thoughts with more positive conceptions of self. See yourself as a humble servant, provider, and faithful friend. Recognize your gifts and good fortune, and understand how this makes you more able to serve others and the planet.
DB, That’s Me
Thanks to the incredible design team around me, I now have the benefit of a new logo, brand identity system, and website at davidburn.com (the best place to learn more about my writing projects and brand consulting services).
A Remedy for Cynicism, Just $9
Normally, an author or publisher with a new book to promote directly asks for reviews. I’ve asked for a few. This first book review for Ad Brains came in all on its own.
I really enjoyed Ad Brains. When you've been working in the ad business as long as I have, you tend to gain a veneer of cynicism. Well, this book helped chip a fair bit of that away as it reminded me of all the smart, interesting people that work in the business. David Burn did a great job of giving us a peek into the minds of many of them.
Ad Brains is not just for people who work in advertising. It’s a book for anyone who cares about the creative process and working well with others.
Lagniappe
Bob Dylan: Retrospectrum, the most comprehensive exhibition of Bob Dylan's artwork ever seen in America, is at Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum in Miami, FL, through April 2022.
The richest man on the planet today can't find enough workers, so he's making them in his factory.
According to a recent study, $2.6 billion per year is spent by big brands advertising on websites that carry misinformation on various topics, from anti-vaccine, and climate change.
Rewatch Austin City Limits 7th Annual Hall of Fame Honors (90 min) on PBS.
“Postalgia,” refers to a yearning not for an idealized version of the past, but for a similarly utopic future.
A SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon after spending almost seven years hurtling through space.
Let’s Chat
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Thanks for being here now.