|
On personal development, mindful productivity, creative lifestyle design, and figuring it out as you go
|
|
Hey There,
For the past couple months, I’ve been quiet. Thinking. Contemplating. Strategizing. Rearranging after a few disappointments - the end of my year definitely didn’t go as planned. Sometimes, regardless of the effort you put in, life just doesn’t line up according to your schedule.
It’s tempting to want a big, bold, triumphant entry to the new year. Make splashy goals, send fancy greetings to everyone you know, proclaim that this will be your year.
Instead, my head has been down. I’m working on the thing I’ve been working on since May of last year. I’ve been trying to keep my still young business running behind the scenes. I’ve been thinking about how I want to show up online, how I can be authentic to my voice while resonating with an audience, and how I can make my creativity financially sustainable. It isn’t glamorous. There are no sparklers - yet.
If you’re in a season of focusing on developing your next big thing, consider this your permission to incubate. Good ideas need time to germinate in order to reach their full potential. Quality work takes time to produce. While it’s nice to hit yearly milestones, it’s even nicer to be able to bring your full vision to life. I'm taking the time I need to make this next project the best that it can be, and I’m excited to share it with you soon.
Wishing you much joy, peace, and prosperity in 2023 🥂
Spiritedly,
Ahsante
|
|
The Brilliant Beans are getting to see my work develop behind the scenes. Along with my monthly update, I've shared a mood board with my inspiration as I'm developing Bean Thinking.
If you're a member, don't miss out on these perks!
Thank you so much to The Brilliant Beans for your support <3
|
|
|
|
10 Years on YouTube!
It's my YouTube channel's 10th birthday this month!
I created Ahsante the Artist in January of 2013, and posted my first video on January 27th, 2013. It's wild to think that I've been doing this for a full decade! I've come a long way since using Photo Booth's rollercoaster effect
|
|
|
|
A Website Refresh
Several different types of folks have become interested in what I have to offer, so I streamlined things with a new "Work with me" page - check it out if you're curious!
|
|
|
|
Music to keep your spirits up and let it all out
|
|
|
Pieces of media and pop culture that I'm absolutely loving
|
|
YouTuber Peer Review of Johnny Harris
Editorial review and fact checking leads to better journalism, but for independent producers, it can be hard to get an outside perspective. This is a cool example of how public critique played that role.
A historian on the YouTube channel Present Past gave a specific, actionable critique of a Johnny Harris video, the discussion in the comments was productive, and (according to the comments), Harris then brought on the historian to review and co-write other videos in the series. It's a great example of working together to build public knowledge. We're smarter collectively than any one of us is individually.
|
|
|
Why we're all on antidepressants
This podcast episode was nuanced, thought provoking, and just struck me as beautiful. I've thought a lot about how to best manage my mental health, and this episode is an interesting exploration. Today, Explained is always on point with their audio aesthetic, but this might be my favorite podcast piece I've heard.
|
|
|
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
This often-recommended title had been on my list for a while, and I'm glad I finally got to it. While I thought it might be too depressing for my taste, it focuses less on the horrors of Holocaust and more on Frankl's psychological mindset needed to get through it. It's quite conceptual and goes deeply into deriving meaning from life events (including suffering), resisting nihilism, finding value in all people, and embodying real love. If we all lived by the principles put forward in this book, the world would be a kinder place.
|
|
|
|
What's been keeping my productivity boosted
|
|
- Blue Yeti Microphone + Rode PSA1 Studio Boom Arm: This is my set up to capture better quality audio during video calls, and to capture audio while I'm recording my screen if necessary. I really like how the Rode Arm clamps to the edge of my desk; it allows the mic to always be close by without taking up space on my desktop.
|
|
|
Live Spiritedly & Think Creatively
Catch ya next time :)
|
|
Not subscribed? Sign up here to get these letters directly to your inbox.
PS. Drag this to your ‘Primary’ inbox/ add me to your ‘Safe Sender’ list so you don’t miss a letter!
PPS. Consider supporting me on Patreon to help me continue making dope work
Some links in this email may be affiliate links, through which I earn a percentage of any purchase made.
|
|
|
|
