(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best books about creativity

You got lots of good advice on the thread. I just want to reinforce that at almost 28, you are so young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Anything can happen. But you need to start the change. If you keep doing the same things over and over, you can pretty much expect the same to keep happening. So YOU need to get this process started. You have nothing to lose, girl! You are an intelligent, healthy woman, you are competent, you've got a stable job, you write well... You can be whomever you want to be.

The thing is, right now, you are lacking motivation. You have no challenge going on. So I think it's time for you to stop holding yourself back. Go for it. Write a kick-ass resume and start applying for a job at a company you like. A good book with ideas for job hunting is Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters. I gifted this to a friend a couple years ago, and it was very good for her. For negotiating skills, getting a raise or a new position, and actually to get people to love you everywhere you go, read How to Win Friends and Influence People.

You really shouldn't compare yourself to others. We never know how people really are... That happy marriage, maybe it's not so happy. That fancy lifestyle, maybe powered by credit card debts... We just never know. So don't waste your time and energy (those are limited resources) on other people. Focus on how you can improve YOUR life. How you can be happy by being you and doing you. Think of your time and your energy as a currency. It's to be spent in the only person that deserves it -- you.

If you don't like the gym, don't go to the gym. Life goes by so fast, don't waste your "currency" on something you don't love. Ditch the damn gym. What about running, hiking, kayaking, yoga, tai chi chuan, dog walking, belly dance, ballet, climbing, skateboarding?! Surely you can find something that you love, that makes you happy AND that makes you healthy and strong! You might even meet people and make new friends who share those interests with you. The same applies for hobbies. If you haven't found a passion, try to discover it! You can take guitar lessons, try painting or drawing, cooking... keep trying. Keep learning more about yourself. Surround yourself with things you love, people you love, sports you love. Give yourself, your body, your mind, the love you deserve. Buy some essential oils, give yourself a nice foot massage. Be proactive when it comes to this. It is your life. Your happiness is your responsibility!

Lastly, I'd like to recommend a book I am reading now. It is changing my life. It's called The Artist's Way. When the author wrote it, she was focusing on writers and artists. But the truth is, this book is for everybody. It's a "course" in 12 weeks and it involves two main things: writing 3 pages of stream of consciousness daily, and going on a weekly date with yourself. Every week you deal with a different aspect of your life - or rather, a different block in your life. Little by little you work on removing the blocks, very gently. Your work on your self-esteem, your courage, your creativity... To me it feels like therapy. It's life saving.

Just remember, it's never too late. :)

1.) Something that is grey: Sculpy! From my cosplay wishlist! :D

2.) Something reminiscent of rain: This hair accessory from my Silly Fun list! I don't know if they're meant to, but the blue bits remind me of raindrops. <3

3.) Something food related that is unusual: Food picks from my Silly Fun list! Maybe not super unusual in Japan, but here in America I doubt you'd see them often.

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself: This book off my Books wishlist of course! It's for my husband, who's a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls games. I like them, too, but I doubt I'd ever read this.

5.) A book I should read: The Invisible Gorilla, again, off my Books list. I read almost a third of this book while hidden in a book store one day. It's an absolutely fascinating study (or rather, collection of studies) about how much trust we place in our own faulty intuitions.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related: Barely, but this nautical star decal! Unfortunately, it's not on any of my lists.

7.) Something related to cats: Another from my Books wishlist! I'm pretty sure I already know my cat wants to kill me, but this book looks funny anyway.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it: Stationary, from my Silly Fun list. I have no one to write to, but I have an obsession with pretty stationary and cards and things. I'm usually too afraid to write on it, even, because nothing ever seems worthy of the pretty paper...

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life: From my Movies/TV list: Braveheart! Because FREEEDOOOOOOM!!!!!

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain: Survival knife from my Adventure wishlist! Secluded, unpopulated areas are best for hiding from zombies, and this thing even comes with a firestarter! HOW CAN YOU SAY NO?

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals: This book which is, strangely, on my Semi-Practical list. I'm a Math/Physics major, but I haven't been in school in quite a while. I'm about to go back very soon, and I'm a little petrified of failing out.

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items: Red Heart yarn from my Crochet wishlist!

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item: The PS4 from my Video Games list. I'm an avid gamer. Video games are how I relax. It's one of the few things that, no matter how crappy my day was, always manages to raise my spirits and help me forget about it all.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box: Apparently bread boxes are way bigger than I thought, so I'll go with this desk off my Semi-Practical wishlist. Surely that's big enough! XD

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball: Turtle earrings off my Silly Fun list! THEY'RE SO CUTE!

16.) Something that smells wonderful: Teavana's Blueberry Bliss tea off my Silly Fun list (yet again). If you've never been in a Teavana store, go this second and just...inhale. <3

17.) A (SFW) toy: Frog mitt from my Practical list. I'm fairly certain this isn't supposed to be a toy, but I get the feeling I'm going to spend more time using it as a puppet than as an oven mitt.

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school: This backpack from my Semi-Practical list! I want it so badly!! IT'S STUDIO GHIBLI HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be: 12 Hole Ocarina from my Ocarina wishlist. It's so beautiful and it comes with a Lord of the Rings songbook and I just LOVE IT SO MUCH.

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand: Shark sleeping bag from my Silly Fun wishlist! You need me to explain it's awesome?? REALLY? IT'S A SHARK SLEEPING BAG. It looks like the shark is eating you!! Plus it's called the "Chumbuddy" and that just makes me laugh way harder than it should.

Fear cuts deeper than swords!

I'd been in serial long-term relationships from age 20 to 37, never really "dated" during that time. After my marriage ended at age 37, I had no idea how to date. So, I really didn't.

I had a few FWB on the side, for a little over a year (mostly guys I was friends with, or were friends of friends I'd met through some social circle). No serious relationships until I asked out a long-time friend & coworker who'd been single for about 6 months before I asked him out. I was nervous as shit (especially regarding dating a coworker) but 1.5 years later, it's the best relationship of my life.

I really don't think I could have been ready to get into a relationship with this guy, though, without the HARD work I did on my thinking & behavior. I read about a dozen books on relationships, happiness, self-compassion, self-acceptance, and getting over emotional abuse. My favorite books from this time are:

1. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman. It really helped me understand what a healthy relationship looks like, what good communication looks like, how to keep a relationship strong over the long haul, and a bunch of other skills. I think this should be a mandatory read for everyone alive.
   
2. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, by Brene Brown. Fantastic book about self-acceptance and loving yourself
   
   I guess I'd say... before you get into the dating scene, make sure that you have the confidence to be who you are, not who you think others want you to be so that they dont' turn you down. Be okay with people telling you no, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, be ok with telling someone else no or letting them down. Don't keep dating someone because you don't want to hurt their feelings, or they're too sweet, or whatever reason. Good luck out there.

I agree with needing to seek help first. Step one is definitely to take her to a psychologist. Therapists and Psychologists are not the same thing - a psychologist does more than therapists can do and holds a degree in advanced psychology (therapists may not have one). You can do a quick Google search to see the difference between them, but I do highly recommend finding a Psychologist.

As far as book recommendations, I think it's probably not wise to give her just anything (especially books that may contain anything that reminds her of her trauma) until she figures out what is most comfortable to her. It's really best right now to let her make those choices.

What I can recommend are some books for anxiety or depression (she may be feeling both or just one or the other), or "feel-good" kinds of stuff:

• Start Where You Are: A Journal of Self-Exploration
  
• 1 Page at a Time (You can find other books similar to this and Start Where on Amazon in their "Customers Also Bought" section at the bottom of the page)
  
• Depressed & Anxious (This is a behavior therapy workbook and can be used alongside going to a psychologist, or can be directed by a psychologist at their behest. It does require that the person using it is self-motivated enough to do it.)
  
• Mind Over Mood, Second Edition: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think (This is another workbook and I really really like this one, but-like the previous workbook-it also requires self-motivation to do. Of the two this is the one I like more, personally.)
  
  There are other good books out there that have been recommended in other threads on this subreddit, but IMO these are not a bad place to start. If you really really want to get her something, you may want to stick to the first two suggestions and other books like them so she can have some feel-good "breathe easy" kinds of books until she feels she's at a point where she might want to try doing a workbook.
  
  I also found this doing a quick Google search and it looks like it has some good articles: http://www.pandys.org/recommendedreading.html
  
  

  But the first thing you should absolutely do is help her find a psychologist. Go to Google, type in your city name and Psychologists. Look up the people you find to make sure they are licensed psycholgists, not LCPC's or anything else. They need to have "PsyD" next to their name to be a licensed clinical psychologist. Start calling offices and see if anyone is accepting new patients.
  

  
  
  Edit: As an aside from book recommendations: Jigsaw puzzles and paint-by-numbers are other good no-brain-required activities that she may like to do. It keeps her focus on an activity so she isn't stewing her thoughts on anything else (negative or otherwise), and requires very little effort and energy (which may be in short supply for her right now). You can buy jigsaw puzzles for $10 or less from most stores, or go to places like Goodwill and other charity stores where they typically sell them for $.50-$2.00.

Cook through Julia Child's cook book. Once you are done throw a big party with all of your favorite dishes at it for your friends and family! :)

You could also take up lomography. It's very amazing and very creative. Lots of fun too. Just google it and you will see. It's a form of photography.

You could help out someone who is single with kids and not much time. You could cook for them, help the kids with homework, stuff like that. Think Mrs. Doubtfire.

Take up film making and screen writing. Write you own script and then film it. If it's a really great one you could have a local viewing of it and then maybe even send it into some festivals!

Buy a book entitled: This Book Will Change Your Life. It's a great way to add a bunch of variety to your life. I have it and I've got to say, it is amazing and a ton of fun. It will definitely be a great change in your life along with a great challenge. Here is a link for you to buy it! http://www.amazon.com/This-Book-Will-Change-Your/dp/0452284899/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310168300&sr=8-1

Another amazing book is Soul Pancake. It's written by Rainn Wilson. He plays Dwight on the office. He is beyond talented at what he does. Soul Pancake really is an extraordinary book. Link: http://www.amazon.com/SoulPancake-Chew-Lifes-Big-Questions/dp/1401310338/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310168501&sr=1-1

Make your own bucket list. Wait a week. Start doing everything on that list. Put things on it that are serious things like helping out the community through running a food drive to silly things like building bob barker's head out of lunch meat!

Do something that was on your husband's bucket list. Something that you know he wanted to do or would have wanted to do.

I lost my dad 5 years ago when I was 18. It's one of the things on my bucket list.

It was a similar boat for me, but all one can do is move forward. You should read Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art, by Stephen Nachmanovitch. Before I was even diagnosed, it helped me through a very tough time in my life. A wonderful book for inspiring creativity and new chapters in life.

Here is an excellent story from the introduction:

> A New Flute

> A new flute was invented in China. A Japanese master musician discovered the subtle beauties of its tone and brought it back home, where he gave concerts all around the country. One evening he played with a community of musicians and music lovers who lived in a certain town. At the end of the concert, his name was called. He took out the new flute and played one piece. When he was finished, there was silence in the room for a long moment. Then the voice of the oldest man was heard from the back of the room: "Like a god!"

> The next day, as this master was packing to leave, the musicians approached him and asked how long it would take a skilled player to learn the flute. "Years," he said. They asked if he would take a pupil, and he agreed. After he left, they decided among themselves to send a young man, a brilliantly talented flautist, sensitive to beauty, diligent and trustworthy. They gave him money for his living expenses and for the master's tuition, and sent him on his way to the capital, where the master lived.

> The student arrived and was accepted by his teacher, who assigned him a single, simple tune. At first he received systematic instruction, but he easily mastered all the technical problems. Now he arrived for his daily lesson, sat down, and played his tune—and all the master could say was, "Something lacking." The student exerted himself in every possible way; he practiced for endless hours; yet day after day, week after week, all the master said was, "Something lacking." He begged the master to change the tune, but the master said no. The daily playing, the daily "something lacking" continued for months on end. The student's hope of success and fear of failure became ever magnified, and he swung from agitation to despondency.

> Finally the frustration became too much for him. One night he packed his bag and slinked out. He continued to live in the capital city for some time longer, until his money ran dry. He began drinking. Finally, impoverished, he drifted back to his own part of the country. Ashamed to show his face to his former colleagues, he found a hut far out in the countryside. He still possessed his flutes, still played, but found no new inspiration in music. Passing farmers heard him play and sent their children to him for beginner's lessons. He lived this way for years.

> One morning there was a knock at his door. It was the oldest past-master from his town, along with the youngest student. They told him that tonight they were going to have a concert, and they had all decided it would not take place without him. With some effort, they overcame his feelings of fear and shame, and almost in a trance he picked up a flute and went with them. The concert began. As he waited behind the stage, no one intruded on his inner silence. Finally, at the end of the concert, his name was called. He stepped out onto the stage in his rags. He looked down at his hands, and realized that he had chosen the new flute.

> Now he realized he had nothing to gain and nothing to lose. He sat down and played the same tune he had played so many times for his teacher in the past. When he finished, there was silence for a long moment. Then the voice of the oldest man was heard, speaking softly from the back of the room: "Like a god!"

I know how you feel. And I think as you get older you will find your passion and get better at coming up with great ideas. 26 is still very young.

Creativity isn’t just something people are born with, it’s something you practice at. Even coming up with good ideas comes with experience. Sure some people seem like they are naturally good at it, but those same people lack other qualities that you have. As an ESFJ I think our natural superpower is empathy, emotional IQ, whatever you wanna call it. It’s also our greatest weakness, which is where all the guilt and depression can come from.

For the longest time I felt unfulfilled and struggled to find my passion in life. I also would get really frustrated because I didn’t feel like I was creative or would be able to come up with a great business idea, which are things I always wanted to do. Even after having cofounded a successful company, I couldn’t give myself any credit, because it was my partner who came up with the idea.

Now that I’m 36 things have changed. I practiced being creative at things I felt frustrated with before, and it actually comes easier to me now. (For me specifically that’s writing songs.) With the business experience I have now, I’m also better at coming up with ideas. The reason for all that is because I’ve made a bunch of mistakes before. Without those mistakes I wouldn’t have that confidence or abilities.

I also realized what my passion is. And it was right under my nose the entire time. For me it was pretty simple - I like helping people, and dogs make me happy. So I foster rescue dogs, and also I mentor people who are recently released from prison. It’s the ESFJ in me I guess.

When I was really lost I got this journal / book called “Start where you are”. Honestly it didn’t give me all the answers I wanted immediately, but it helped me visualize where I wanted to focus my energy.

Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399174826/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kBTnDbEV7SPBS

Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll get there at your own pace.

Art is something everyone loves, but artists are sometimes not held in the highest esteem due to eccentricities/lazy dispositions/delusions of grandeur/ etc. Some of the criticism is warranted and some of it isn't, but one thing I have come to realize it that being an artist is one of the hardest jobs around unless you are one of the 1/1,000,000 that just has that undeniable raw talent combined with some je ne sais quoi that people just gravitate towards and find irresistible.

For the rest of us, cultivation of our inner artist, practice, studying the past, learning from mistakes, and being honest with ourselves is important if we ever hope to progress. There are so many variables that play into this: what kind of art do you make? Is it for profit? Is it for self expression?

To make good art, you gotta become the artist that makes the art you love. You've probably heard the quote from Michelangelo, "I saw the angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free." in regards to his piece David, becoming the artist you are meant to be is a similar process. Sometimes it is about freeing yourself, finding yourself.

As a writer and a fashion designer, I sought education, I taught myself, I worked hard and practiced, I sought the advice of others...and I still wasn't able to properly express myself. At any moment, I felt like my heart could burst, nothing i did quenched my artistic thirst. Nothing was good enough.

I realized that my process was all wrong and that if an artists relies solely on their completed works, they will never find happiness. Something is always going to be left unsaid, no piece will every be finished perfectly, something to make it better will always be thought of later.

This book helped me tremendously r/https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252

It is a book that can teach you many things in regards to becoming the artist you want to be. It has themes that aren't for everyone (i'm not spiritual, and it does take it there at times) but they aren't overbearing and it is a little self-help-y. But anyway, I still recommend it as a tool to embracing your own work and growing as an artist. It is a 12 week program and has exercises to do and things like that.

Articles from reputable sources are a decent source of knowledge, but some quality business books will get you an infinitely better understanding of concepts. Here is my personal business book list if you want to get a "universal generalist" understanding of business:

• Business Creation - The Lean Start-up
  
• Value Creation - How to Make Millions With Your Ideas
  
• Marketing - Getting Everything You Can Out Of Everything You Got / All Marketers Are Liars
  
• Sales - Pitch Anything
  
• Value Delivery - Indispensable
  
• Accounting/Finances - Financial Intelligence / Accounting Made Simple
  
• Understanding the Human Mind - Making Sense of Behavior
  
• Productivity - Getting Things Done
  
• Problem Solving - The 80/20 Principle
  
• Decision Making - Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions
  
• Negotiation - 3-D Negotiation
  
• Management - Growing Great Employees
  
• Project Management - Making Things Happen
  
• Statistics - Marketing Metrics
  
• Corporate Knowledge - The Effective Executive
  
• Corporate Strategy - Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies
  
• Creativity - The Creative Habit
  
• Personal Finance - Your Money or Your Life
  
  I am graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce Honors degree in May and I can easily say that one of these books (average price ~25$) has significantly more content than most individual classes I have taken (~600$). However, keep in mind that business knowledge and business acumen are two entirely different things. Knowledge is easily obtainable through books like these, and acumen is the result of applied experience with decision making. In short, it is one thing to be book smart, but it is another to get out there and actually apply it. No one can give you that in the form of an article or book - you have to do that yourself.
  
  edit: added links to amazon

You underestimate what a bunch of motivated nerds with support from their friends and family can do. Science never has low hanging fruits, what's obvious to us now was the toughest thing for a person to imagine centuries ago. Further reading: Where Good Ideas Come From

SpaceX's first CTO used to design rocket engines as a teen. ISRO was started when India was way poorer than it is now. NASA had a motivated bunch of amateur hobbyists as the founding fathers of modern rocketry. As I said, general populace's interest leads to success and funding for innovation won't come until you capture the imagination of the people.

I'm sorry but China just copies, Japan has been forward looking for centuries and USA was founded by people who believed in doing things themselves and it still has that advantage today. Go back to history, they still had this deeply embedded in their respective societies before they were such behemoths.

As for R&D becomes valuable once a country has reached its peak, that's my point. The peak is only reachable once a lot of unsung heroes are given the freedom and helping hand by the society to work on making the country successful.

Know your fears - this is something I took from twyla tharp's incredible book the creative habit. In the book, which you should absolutely read, she talks about fears, and then, in an act of incredible courage, writes all of her personal artistic fears right there on the page for the world to see. (Her fears are, "1. People will laugh at me. 2. Someone has done it before. 3. I have nothing to say. 4. I will upset someone I love. 5. Once executed, the idea will never be as good as it is in my mind.")

I'm so grateful for her articulating those, because it allowed me to see the incredible power of simply setting your fears down on paper and understanding them. I realized that my own fears, which are different from hers have been dramatically impacting my behavior. Just by putting them down, they lose a smidge of their power, because you begin to see the logical flaws in your subconscious reasoning. (Incidentally, in the spirit of Twyla's honesty, my fears are: that my writer friends and mentors will read something I wrote and decide that I am a weaker writer than they thought; that my manager and agent will read my work and take me less seriously; that the next script will not help me move forward in my career, that I'll stall and lose my job and get fired; that I will have to move my wife back into a shitty living situation when we can't make rent.)

Action item: find a blank page. Write: "I'm afraid of..." and then keep your pen moving. When you get stuck, re-write, "I'm afraid of..." and take a different tack. Think about writing whatever you're procrastinating on right now, and the weird feeling in your gut that appears that's stopping you from working. Dig into it. "I'm afraid of..."

If it helps, you can burn or shred this page later.

Then, maybe later on, distill what you've written down into a few bullet points. Maybe you'll do this once, or maybe you'll come back to this exercise over and over as you write and discover more about yourself and what's actually motivating you.

welcome and embrace your fears. this is something I've distilled from a lifetime of reading Buddhist psychology and philosophy. A great introduction to the concept, though, would be Fear by the Vietnamiese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. The point here is that when you think about writing, or sit down to write, and find yourself encountering writers block, instead of just pushing past it, you want to sit back a moment and say, "I know there is this fear in me. I've seen this before, I've written it down." Then, instead of fighting it, you just sit with it a while and don't try to change it. Eventually, you can even come to take care of it, and take care of the wounded part of you that is causing the fear.

action item: when you find yourself procrastinating or experiencing writer's block, stop a moment, and say: "I'm experiencing a fear right now. Hello fear, old friend, I see you in me." This is a better strategy than 'powering through' or watching youtube for 6 hours (my typical move).

bigger action item: beyond the scope of this post, but I've found the above is significantly easier if I've been meditating regularly for 15 minutes a day or longer. Google, search youtube, subscribe to headspace or calm. If you think this is hogwash, the best skeptics discussion of meditation is 10% happier by dan harris.

routine: this is the underlying premise of the creative habit, which gives it its title. The idea is, it's much easier to overcome initial resistance if you develop a routine you follow every day, and the routine ends with you beginning to work.

action item: cultivate the habit of writing every day. Cultivate additional little habits that trigger 'it's writing time', like lighting a candle, putting on your headphones, sitting in a specific room or at a specific table, whatever. Something along the lines of a free-throw shooter dribbling three times before every shot, sort of thing.

morning pages. This is from the book the artists way by julia cameron. The whole book is kind of an exploration of writer's block, in a sense; and it's full of very smart ideas and actionable suggestions on the subject. But the cream of her teaching is: write three handwritten pages of whatever every morning, or when you sit down to write. This little suggestion is truly life-altering -- I was extremely skeptical upon hearing this advice, and now I swear by it. It gives you a place to excise all the junk and demons floating around in your brain every day, kind of like being your own therapist. And it gets you in the habit of moving your pen, writing what comes out, and not self-censoring. It is a way to both strengthen your ability to start writing freely, and simultaneously weaken your fears, procrastination, and distracting surface emotions.

action item: cultivate the habit of writing 3 pages longhand every day. If you're really stuck, get the book and work her 12-week program, it will absolutely un-stuck you, guaranteed.

do the work: the last thing I want to put here is kind of self-evident, but it deserves saying anyway: when it's all said and done, you need to actually put your ass in the chair and start writing. It's like swimming: you can't get better at it by thinking about it strategically or theoretically; you need to put most of your effort into putting out pages. Especially when you're just starting out, the best thing you can do is do a huge volume of work. It's not going to be as good as you want to be at first; it's like that for everyone. You just need to fight through that and write more, and it absolutely will get better over time.

action item: put yourself on a deadline to finish one short every week or two weeks or something. Or one pilot or feature every three or four months. Commit to making mistakes as fast as possible, embrace that things will fall short of your aspirations at first, and just do as much volume as possible.

Hope this helps and I welcome any feedback.

In addition to Chris Fox's videos, also check out his book, 5000 Words Per Hour.

I write 2000 words a day and I do it in an hour. Here's how that works:

The first thing I do when I wake up is I shower, make some coffee, and then sit at my computer to start writing. My daily goal is 2000 words a day.

I use Chris' 5000 Words Per Hour iOS app. I set the timer for 20 minutes and also set a 20-minute timer on the the Freedom app on my computer. Freedom disables email and chat and I also set it to block Facebook and Twitter. This is so I don't have any distractions while I'm writing, but I can still use the Internet for reference purposes, like looking up a street or city on Google Maps.

I also use a site called Brain FM. This is a great site that plays music that helps you focus. I plug in my headphones, start my timers, and start writing. And I don't stop until that timer goes off.

Once the timer goes off, I record how many words I wrote and then take a 5-minute break—go to the bathroom, get a refill on my coffee, check email/social media really quickly, etc. After the break's done, I begin another 20-minute session.

By the time I've finished, I've gotten anywhere from 2000-2400 words down.

So that's the basic process. Some other tricks I've learned in order to make the most of each sprint:

-Outline: When I have an outline, even if it's just a few sentences per chapter/scene, that makes the writing go a lot faster. I've got a basic roadmap and that keeps my mind focused. If I make changes to the outline or if I add in something extra, that's fine. But I already have a basic guide for what to write and that means I don't have to waste any time thinking of what to write.

-Learn To Type: This really can't be understated. If you type by hunting and pecking on the keyboard with two fingers, even if you can do it faster than anyone else, you're still not going to be as fast as someone who never has to look at the keyboard and can type with all ten fingers. There are lots of free resources out there for learning how to type. It's nothing more than drilling. I can type about 100 words per minute going at a straight clip, so you'd better believe that when I'm in that flow zone when the words just pour out of me, my fingers are dancing across that keyboard and I'm getting a ton of words written in a short amount of time.

-Minimize Distractions: Not only distractions from the web, but other distractions as well. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode. Make sure your family understands this is your writing time and you shouldn't be disturbed. If there's a room in your place where you can be alone for your writing time, do your writing there. Put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door if you need to. Or if you have to write at say the kitchen table, make a little standee or nameplate you can put in front of you with DO NOT DISTURB written on it. I always set up my office with my desk facing the wall and not the window so nothing outside can distract me.

-Make It Routine: Can you write at the same time and in the same place every single day? If so, do it. If you have the ability to set up a home office, then absolutely do that. Try not to use that location for anything other than writing if you can help it. After some time, your brain will start to associate being in that place at that time with writing.

Now obviously, not all this will be possible for everyone. But it's what works for me. Figure out what works for you.

Here goes...

1. Something blue - Because why not?
   
   
2. Something that says summer - No matter what, I always end up with a sunburn.
   
   
3. Food related & unusual - This makes me so happy.
   
   
4. For the boyfriend - because he loved this game when he was younger and hasn't been able to find it since. [For the boyfriend's sister] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IXEAQ5Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3U384785C6ZFS&psc=1) - because she LOVES hedgehogs!
   
   
5. A book you should read - This is about a German Shepherd adopted by the Royal Air Force during World War II.
   
   
6. Less than a dollar - Had help from my boyfriend with this one. :)
   
   
7. Dog related - YAS
   
   
8. not useful but awesome - Now I want this!
   
   
9. Movie everyone should watch at least once - Heart warming movie
   
   
10. Useful for zombie attack - For cutting off their heads!
    
    
11. Profound impact on my life & help achieve current goals - I desperately need to get in shape.
    
    
12. Add-on item - WHY is this an add-on item? Ridiculous.
    
    
13. Fandom related - Socks, the best way to support your fandom when you're at work and can't wear graphic t-shirts.
    
    
14. Ridiculously priced
    
    
15. Sharks or unicorns - both, with a bonus cat!
    
    
16. Something that smells wonderful - Ahhh, sweet childhood!
    
    
17. Toy that I wanted when I was a child - I wanted a razor scooter so bad when I was a kid, but never got one.
    
    
18. Helpful for writers - I am definitely not a writer, but this seems like something that may help.
    
    
19. Something related to my current obsession - I am currently OBSESSED with Shameless!
    
    
20. Random & weird - I love bacon as much as the next person, but this is a bit too far...

Usually when I am low on energy it is because I am discontent/depressed/unhappy with my life. If you do a good number of these and still have low energy, go see a doctor.

• +1 for exercise. Make it fun, though. Rock climbing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tough Mudders, GORUCK Challenges, boxing, yoga, dancing(!), ultimate frisbee, go to the batting cages, pickup basketball, rowing, horseback riding, etc. Do something competitive if you're competitive, something social if you're not, something meditative if you're neither.
  
  
• How much water are you drinking? Nothing affects my mood and energy levels more than (de)hydration. Buy a canteen and drain it X times per day. Start immediately after waking.
  
  
• If you smoke, quit.
  
  
• If you eat crap, eat better. /r/fitness has diet advice that works for performance not starvation.
  
  
• Meditate. Start with five minutes, twice a day. If meditation disagrees with your religious beliefs, start praying more, silent prayer if allowed.
  
  
• What are your interests? If you answered "hanging out with friends" or "I don't know," there's your problem, right there. Try one new thing each week. Almost everything these days can be tried out for a minimum expense. Find a hobby and a way to do it with other people. Once you have your hobby make sure you do it with other people at least once a week.
  
  
• Play more. Seriously. tl;dr: do one fun thing a day and one scheduled, planned fun thing a week.
  
  
• Vitamins make a real difference for me, especially vitamin D during the winter. While on the topic, check your SAD symptoms.
  
  
• How's your drug and alcohol intake? How do you feel when you go clean for 30/60/90 days? If the thought of dropping booze/drugs frightens you, if you drink/use daily, or if you drink/use massive amounts on the weekends, this is probably what's wrong. Quit for 30 days. If you don't make it or if you turn into a giant asshole during those 30 days, talk to a therapist, talk to a friend who has quit, or go to an AA meeting.
  
  
• How's your caffeine intake?
  
  
• Quit fapping. Especially if you are a dude.
  
  
• How are things at work? This site can make them better. Not just for job seekers.
  
  
• How much do you socialize? Do you do it in the ways that fit you? For instance, if you're an introvert, do you mainly meet people for dinner/coffee/drinks at a quiet bar or someone's house, and if you're extroverted, do you mainly meet in large groups with lots of social stimulation? Whether introvert or extrovert, make sure you're socializing at least twice a week.
  
  
• Don't have friends? Make some.
  
  
• Make gratitude a habit. At the end of each day, write down five things you're grateful for.
  
  
• Develop goals and work toward them.
  
  
• Get organized. Lack of energy can come from lack of focus and too many responsibilities weighing you down.
  
  
• Start doing something creative. Paint, sing, write, take a pottery class, take a storytelling class, etc. Already know you're creative? Read and follow The Artist's Way. In fact, just read and follow The Artist's Way even if you don't think you're creative.
  
  
• On a related note, learn how to make something with your hands. Knitting, carpentry, sculpture, glassblowing, metalworking, welding, legos, whatever.
  
  
• How is your financial situation? If it sucks, head over to /r/personalfinance and start fixing it.
  
  
• Did you grow up in a dysfunctional household? Try therapy, ACoA (not just for children of alcoholics), or al-anon.
  
  
• How much time do you spend online? Try a week of limiting it to 30 min/day.
  
  
• Clean your home. Clutter subtly sucks people's will to live.
  
  
• Consciously hang out more with high-energy people. We are herd animals and others effect us in amazing ways.
  
  
• Ask someone out on a date. No one comes to mind? Time to quit fapping/meet new people/both.
  
  
• Meditate (although exercise is the #1 advice here for a reason, meditation is amazing).
  
  
• Seriously, meditate. 5 minutes, twice a day.
  
  
• OK then, do yoga.
  
  
• Go on a 1-day retreat.
  
  
• Take a road trip. It can be a weekend road trip.
  
  
• Start watching sunrises and sunsets.
  
  
• Go to museums if your town has them.
  
  
• Go to the beach if your town has one.
  
  
• Hike the local mountain if there is one.
  
  
• Talk to someone who knows the local music scene and start looking for a local band you like. Go to their shows.
  
  
• How do you fill your down time? Reading, reddit, fb, Netflix, TV, gaming? Whatever it is, limit it to 30 min/day. Substitute something active or social, preferably both.
  
  
• VOLUNTEER. Help people. Sign yourself up for a once-a-week commitment.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  EDIT: Thanks for the gold and the /r/bestof! I am super excited.
  
  EDIT2: I totally forgot sleep. Sleeping until you wake up naturally is the best, but if you can't do that, I'm a big fan of sleep apps that use your phone's accelerometer to wake you during light sleep, like Sleep As Android.

First off, welcome! We’re glad to have you :)

A lot really depends on how you want to learn. Everyone has different styles and techniques. Some pay for lessons or workbooks. Some trace and trace and trace some more. Some freehand copy. This sub is a good start!

Practice strokes from u/MyOwnGuitarHero (our tireless lead mod) if you don’t have access to a printer
https://www.reddit.com/r/BrushCalligraphy/comments/7wwcrs/practice_drills/?st=JDQI7DMR&sh=34264b22

https://www.reddit.com/r/BrushCalligraphy/comments/7p1cau/daily_drills/?st=JDQIB6UG&sh=515b6075

If you do have access to a printer there are lots of free printable PDF practice sheets to use. Below is just one I found from just a google search. Pinterest is a good resource as well
http://lghttp.56260.nexcesscdn.net/8037E40/tombowusa.com/media/wysiwyg/Tombow/pdfs/Tombow-Dual-Brush-Pen-Practice_Full.pdf

If you’d like a book to work from these are a couple of good choices or any from amazon with good reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Lettering-Beginners-Creative-Alphabet-Projects/dp/1546947299

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1948209004/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W7TYCZCT757T7MJ9TAZH

And don’t forget some good quality paper as soon as you get a chance. Rhodia is good or some just use laser print paper. They’re both really smooth and hold ink well.

Hmm... seeing your post history includes both IT and writing...

I'd suggest buying and reading the book "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. I'd do that today if you never have. Load it up on the Kindle PC app and for $7 you have life changing knowledge. You can read most of it in 2 hours or less. Many chapters are less than a page. It is the foundation for many writer's lives.

Second, I'd taking writing classes or enroll in a local writers group that meets and shares regularly. Knowing you'll get feedback each week makes writing rewarding, social, and teaches you the (literally) HUNDREDS of things you need to know to stand a chance at completing and marketing a finished novel. It also adds natural discipline. People who only write "when they feel inspired" are openly laughed at in university English departments. Plus, I've felt my strongest inspirations after I've sat down and just tried to write a scene... thinking about the characters on paper and imagining what they will do next. Inspiration is earned. It is fought for. If you only do what you feel like, you'll have an unfulfilling life!

Beyond that, if you work in IT, it is relatively easy these days to take some classes online for free or cheap and add another specialty to your CV/resume. Think of all the sites you see constantly posted on Reddit/Imgur: Codecademy, Khan Academy, Udemy, etc. Just learn one or two more skills and try looking for some new job positions. Just looking around and checking job postings... that's a motivating act! It often makes people feel like they have hope.

Writing like Suzanne Collins is relatively easy by the way. The vocabulary level is low and the plotting is not that intricate. I'm not saying you'll become famous (your story must be magical and liked by readers for that), but that is not a difficult standard to hit! Just reading a few books on plot, like those by James Scott Bell or "The Writer's Journey" by C. Vogler, will start you powerfully down the path! Your first book will probably suck. No one can write great stories at first. But, by your 2nd book you feel good. And by your fourth or fifth book you are actually good.

1. something blue

2. summer vibes

3. unusual food, avocado hugger

4. this for my mom. shes the ultimate beach planner, and it would be such a good gift because it has the insulated bottom that she could bring snacks and drinks in!

5. girl in cabin 10 its a suspense, and Ruth Ware has quickly become one of my fav authors.

six- hmm coming back.

7. dog bed for burrow types

8. this useless gift is pretty funny though

9. inception because its just a giant mind fuck and its awesome

10. first aid kit for zombies just seems like you might need a band-aid or something.

11. DSM 5 pocket version im currently studying for my license to become a counselor, and this one be so helpful when I have to diagnose my clients. it's absolutely vital for a therapist, and it would change my life!

12. add- on

13. harry potter fandom

14. this painting is 235,000 HOLY CRAP

15. unicorn cupcake topper

16. bourbon vanilla candle

17. barbie dream house was EVERYTHING

18. writers block

19. makeup vanity I cant afford one right now, but I will save up and get one!!! Im obsessed with makeup and having a good place to sit while doing it.

20. bacon survival kit. for the true bacon lovers lmao

Edit: I literally give up on editing the numbers. But this was such a fun scavenger hunt! Thank you adoptee!

Yes, a lot, for various definitions of "easily accessible".

Let's first assume, you have some kind of academic education or background. In this case, you're like most psych students who would usually start with a text book. I'm not an English speaker, so my experience is limited (and outdated). However, a quick search leads me to suggest:

• Introduction to Psychology (11th Ed.) by James W. Kalat (because of its emphasis on "how do we know")
  
• Psychology: A Concise Introduction by Richard Griggs due to its price.
  
  Of course, textbooks are not what a friend of mine would call "bathtub books". They need to be read with attention and dedication. The advantage is that you get a comprehensive overview. Which might be what you want if you're considering to study psychology.
  
  If you're looking for books that are closer to bookstore bestsellers, the problem is that there's too much one could recommend. Psychology is such a vast field, and most books only pick a few sections (often to sell the author's personal ideas).
  
  Rather than trying to make specific recommendation for every possible topic, here's a very short introduction.
  
  Basically, you can think about psychology as an apartment building with four main stories or floors.
  
  
• The ground floor might be called "methodological". This is where people discuss what methods to use to reach their goals. To some degree people here also discuss what goals to pursue in the first place. Many people who live here may not call themselves psychologists, but statisticians, or philosophers (of science).
  
• The first floor might be called "biological" (in a wider sense). People here discuss two sorts of questions: (a) How does the brain work on a physical and chemical basis? And (b) why is it the way it is, and not some other way? This is the evolutionary (or biological in the more narrow sense) approach. Again, not everybody working here is a psychologist. Some are physicians, others are biologists, still others are anthropologists.
  
• The second floor might be called "personal". Here, people wonder about observations you can make about yourself when you watch yourself thinking. For instance, you know you remember things, so you have a memory. You make decisions, so you need to make judgments. This is the floor where you'll probably find the most people who called themselves psychologists.
  
• The third floor might be called "social". This is where people wonder about the interaction of people, their relationships, and possibly the things that arise because of it, such as friendships, institutions, norms, etc. Generally speaking, you probably find the most diversity here, because this is the floor also inhabited by economists, sociologists, etc.
  
  Now, questions asked on one floor are obviously related to questions on other (lower) floors. People who work in the second floor may emphasize other approaches in the ground floor than people working in the first or third floor.
  
  It's therefore helpful to also imagine that these floors are inhabited by different teams or coalitions of psychologists. Some teams are mostly situated in one or at most two floors. Others have apartments in all floors.
  
  And, of course, the constellation keeps on changing. Some teams who once dominated one or more floors now find themselves with only a couple of apartments, and maybe the closet.
  
  This is what happened to the team called "psychoanalysis" which was founded by people like Freud and Jung. It's probably fair to say that most psychologists today think that their work in the ground floor (the methodological floor) was not quite persuasive. Therefore I would advise against reading books by Freud or Jung, unless you're specifically interested in psychoanalysis, or the history of psychology.
  
  Another team which once dominated the second floor, but mostly lost it again, is called behaviourism. Although their insights and methods are still in use, they stumbled due to a decision made in the ground floor (namely to reduce the second floor to a single apartment called 'behavior'). This turned out to be too cramped for most psychologists, so this aspect is nowadays mostly ignored.
  
  Today, the second floor is mostly dominated and inhabited by cognitive psychology, I'd say. Unless, you have other interests, I recommend this one as a good place to start.
  
  From there, it's easier to explore other floors. Going up to the third floor, for instance, you'll find it mostly dominated by social psychology (as least as far as the building called 'psychology' is concerned). Going down into the first floor, you'll find neuropsychology and evolutionary psychology; the latter still quite young and in some quarters still quite controversial.
  
  That said, my standard recommendation for getting started in cognitive psychology is:
  
  
• The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Chabris and Simons.
  
  It's a fast tour through the basic sections of the (cognitive) mind – attention, perception, memory, judgment – and, more importantly, the many ways it goes wrong. Although it probably wasn't written to be a readable and short introduction to cognitive psychology, I think it works quite well as such.
  
  After reading it, you should be able to ask a central and important question: If humans make so many mistakes, how can psychologists (in particular, but also scientists, in general) prevent making these themselves? This basic question brings you straight to the ground floor from which most of psychology's history can be understood.
  
  Hope this helps.

The first part of /u/YgramulTheMany's post, I agree with. I don't think that "zoning out" is conducive to good music-making, though. I once took a workshop from an improvising musician, Tatsuya Nakatani, who gave us an interesting idea for approaching "flocking" improvisation (where you follow what one or more other improvisers are doing, like a flock of birds): pick one of the other musicians that you're playing with and pretend you're them. You still make music on your own instrument, but you're trying to get your brain to believe that what you're doing on your instrument is actually what the target musician is doing on their instrument. It sounds a little bizarre, but the results were astounding. When I tried it, I completely locked in to the directionality of what the other musician was playing, and so what I was doing lined up astoundingly well with what he was doing, with barely any delay between us. It almost felt like telepathy.

Practicing meditation helps, because it helps you get into the improvisational mindset in every moment of your life, and when you're that practiced at it, you can just drop into it and out of it at will.

I also have to suggest reading Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch. Of the many excellent books on improvisation that I've read, this one's the best, and especially suitable for what you're looking for since it deals with the nature of improvising mind and how to get there. It's literally life changing.

For me, it's meditative. I don't play in tournaments much or really compete. I prefer to play alone and compete against my own scores. Throw, walk, pick up, throw, walk, pick up etc. It clears my head and sometimes I'll be three or four holes in and remember that I haven't been thinking except for in the moment in full immersion. There's a book by Stephen Nachmanovich called "Free Play" that really describes the commitment of mind and body that happens when you become fully integrated and immersed in an activity. Of course, there is tons of creativity in disc golf as well, which stimulates that side of the brain as well. Again, it's walking throwing meditation for me.

Also, I love being in the woods and challenging myself continually.
I love that it's free to play most of the time.

I'm a big fan of lists and journaling. Lists help me get thoughts out of my head and sometimes result in something handy I can use later.

As for journals, I like gratitude journaling. It helps with my habit of catastrophizing and forces me to look for the good when I am anxious and overwhelmed. I have also used several journals that I LOVE. Links below.

[Pick Me Up: A Pep Talk for Now and Later] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143109081/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cPrSBb9M5TWW6)

[52 Lists for Happiness: Weekly Journaling Inspiration for Positivity, Balance, and Joy] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1632170965/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NPrSBbKEZVA03)

>Do you find that the standard system of technical interviews (data structures & algorithms) is an effective way of assessing candidates? Why or why not?

When I was an undergraduate, the dominant interview approach involved brainteasers like "why are manhole covers round?" Initially, these were reliable indicators of future success. But after every other company started copying Microsoft mindlessly and asking the same set of questions, the approach quickly became less effective. People optimized for interview performance with books like How Would You Move Mount Fuji? and How to Ace the Brainteaser Interview.

Brainteasers were mostly phased out after Google introduced the current approach involving data structures and algorithms. Initially, these were reliable indicators of future success. But after every other company started copying Google mindlessly and asking the same set of questions, the approach quickly became less effective. People optimized for interview performance with books like Cracking the Coding Interview and Elements of Programming Interviews.

There are certainly parallels between what happened then and what's happening now. The difference today is that people have taken things to another level with platforms like Pramp and bootcamps like Interview Kickstart. New businesses keep popping up that focus on cracking the current system, and I don't think that bodes well for its future.

But what can we do about it? The fact is that any interviewing process can be cracked once its format becomes popular and standardized. Let's say that some major company like Facebook introduces a new standard that involves candidates giving two-hour presentations about significant personal projects and then answering tough questions from a committee. You may be familiar with this format if you've ever applied for a research position. I actually think this would be great for 2-3 years until everyone starts doing it and Gayle Laakmann McDowell or whoever publishes "Cracking the Personal Project Presentation." And then a bunch of new businesses will pop up to sell you slide templates, professional reviews, etc.

In short, I'm not a big fan of the current system (EDIT: because it's been "cracked") but I honestly don't know of a better one (EDIT: that won't suffer the same fate).

I don't believe you need to sacrifice quality for quantity. Quite the opposite, in fact. The more you write, the better you get. A novel every two months may feel impossible to you right now. It certainly did to me when I started, especially since the first one took two years.

I intend to do a book a month for the next twelve months. The books I've written at this speed are selling extremely well, and all have a 4.3 average or higher across multiple platforms.

You'll note that one of these books is called 5,000 Words Per Hour. I've harnessed neuroscience to train myself to write faster, and the results have been amazing.

Want to hear something crazy? I'm middle of the road on production speed among the top selling authors I know. Amanda Lee puts out 2-3 full length novels a month.

You can argue that her books are crap, but I'd argue otherwise. They tell great stories and fans buy them in droves. We don't all have to be Patrick Rothfuss, and in fact can't be if we want to make a living.

Asimov wrote over 500 books in his lifetime. If you want to make a go at this, then odds are good you'll need to write faster than you currently believe you're capable of.

Before you discount what I have to say bear in mind that I put out 7 books in my first 14 months, and every last one has sold thousands of copies.

Also bear in mind that I have three editors and a great system for rotating through drafts. That's taken me a while to get down, and it's still a work in process. I also have an author assistant who takes care of a lot of day to day tasks.

On the flip side, I have a day job as the sole iOS developer at a startup so I'm working a more than full time job. I'm proof that anyone can do this, regardless of real life obligations.

Others have mentioned how hard that tattoo tarot deck is. I'm guessing PiP is "Picture in Picture(?)." If you're looking for something easier to read and not Rider-Waite, I picked up the "Everyday Tarot" deck off Amazon after being pulled to it's minimalist look and simple colors so as not to distract from the message in the art. I really love this deck and glad I picked it up to work with it as my first deck.

I also read through Biddy Tarot's "9 Sure-Fire Ways to Select a Tarot Deck That's Right of You". This, ultimately, led me to her deck but she does give other examples and suggestions to help you find the right fit.

Good luck finding your first deck and have fun!

1. turn off the internet!
   
   
2. consult The Creative Habit and The War of Art.
   
   
3. understand that creativity is like a muscle, it will become stronger and more dependable as long as you use it regularly and 'feed' it properly to encourage its growth.
   
   
4. become familiar with the concept of 'scratching' (i.e. different things different artists do to glean inspiration, such as going to a movie, going for a bike ride, people watching, going to a library, etc) - try every one of these you can think of, and figure out which ones work best to nurture your creative habit.
   
   
5. we all suffer from the 'what would this person think?' syndrome at some point- whether its a musical peer, loved one, or whatever - there's always somebody in our subconscious mind we're afraid of letting down or being judged by. write a song about how you're not afraid of that, and you won't worry about it anymore for a while.

No need to apologize! I don’t really practice, to be honest. Most of the time I just wing it, actually! I’ve been hand lettering my illustrations for years so the transition to bullet journaling seemed fairly natural but I also didn’t want to use that same “font” everyone seems to be using in theirs at the moment, so I just kinda stumbled onto whatever it is I’m doing now.

But! If you’re looking for resources, I’ve heard good things about this book but haven’t actually checked it out myself. Also, r/handwriting and r/lettering have great ideas for writing styles if you’re wanting some inspiration for something fresh.

I suggest you work your way through this book, completing all the exercises one or two a day: The Artist’s Way. Take her advice and free-write every morning or at some convenient time when you don’t have to think about your structured work or studies. It’s very freeing (I am not generally a person who requires a guide but this one is seriously helpful):

https://www.amazon.ca/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252

The other books that really got me standing up straight are Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird and Stephen King’s On Writing.

The absolute best and most inspiring book on writing I’ve ever read - and one that always kick starts me when I feel my writing is ‘wooden’ - is Brenda Euland’s If You Want To Write. Hands down, it’s the best book.

We all need a little inspiration from time to time to drag us from the doldrums.

A few more practical techniques (not mine):

Forced association. Attempt to blend the two into something worthwhile. A bad example - lamp and speaker. How about a speaker that looks like a lamp and can be moved around like a flexible lamp arm? This forces the mind to make connections between things that otherwise seem unrelated.

The +-x technique. What can I add/subtract/modify to the design that would make it more creative. Turn it upside down. Completely change the shape. Add something.

I'm explaining this really poorly. Thinker Toys is a fantastic book that gives you practical exercises to help boost creativity and encourage out of the box thinking. I've read a tonne of guides and this one is by far the best.

I'm reading a book now called Free Play which was given to me as a graduation gift by my grandmother a couple years ago, most likely because she thought it would help me write screenplays and achieve my dream of becoming a director. I saw that the book was about improv and art and assumed it was about acting and painting and shit which I had no interest in, so I left it on my bookshelf at home when I went off to college and forgot about it until a few weeks ago when I visited home for Thanksgiving. Probably because I'm struggling with writer's block, or possibly because I felt bad about never giving it a chance, or maybe even because deep down I knew it would help me combat my ever-worsening SA and depression, I brought it back with me and began reading it.

Holy shit. I can't exactly describe the book with words, but it's like psychotherapy. On a literal level, it's about how to clear your mind and change your thought process, based on how you view the universe in relation to yourself, to attain this enlightened, zen-like state of oneness with your surroundings and yourself, which clears all the bullshit from your mind and lets new ideas--previously locked away in your subconscious--flow continuously into your consciousness, allowing you to harness them for whatever your task is (aka: improvisation). The author uses music/dance/art/writing etc. as literal examples of artistic mediums but explains how the mindset required to truly create these things in the moment is one which we should strive to attain through practice and live with at every moment, without fear or judgment of the world of which we are a dynamic part. It's all about becoming aware and being able to draw wisdom and logic from the connection between the Self and your surroundings, through which you can find peace, happiness, perpetual clear-headedness, and channel 100% of your conscious and subconscious energy, working in symbiosis, into what you want, and how to cease giving a fuck about everything else. Fight Club philosophy told through examples of famous artists throughout history.

TL;DR Free Play, a book about chilling the fuck out and effectively going full-Buddhist to achieve every single one of your goals with clarity of mind

Say no more, fam.

You don't need a degree to run a business. Having your own business allows you to experiment with these books first hand instead of taking some professor's word for it. Professor's usually just read what the book says. If they were actually good at running a business they'd probably be doing that.

• Business Creation - The Lean Start-up
  
  
  
• Value Creation - How to Make Millions With Your Ideas
  
  
  
• Marketing - Getting Everything You Can Out Of Everything You Got / All Marketers Are Liars
  
  
  
• Sales - Pitch Anything
  
  
  
• Value Delivery - Indispensable
  
  
  
• Accounting/Finances - Financial Intelligence / Accounting Made Simple
  
• Understanding the Human Mind - Making Sense of Behavior
  
  
  
• Productivity - Getting Things Done
  
  
  
• Problem Solving - The 80/20 Principle
  
  
  
• Decision Making - Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions
  
  
  
• Negotiation - 3-D Negotiation
  
  
  
• Management - Growing Great Employees
  
  
  
• Project Management - Making Things Happen
  
  
  
• Statistics - Marketing Metrics
  
  
  
• Corporate Knowledge - The Effective Executive
  
  
  
• Corporate Strategy - Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies
  
  
  
• Creativity - The Creative Habit
  
  
  
• Personal Finance - Your Money or Your Life

Someone wrote a full book about it, in fact!--Reader Magnets by Nick Stephenson. It's free to read with a Kindle Unlimited account and it's really short. I thought it was pretty helpful. It might be a good resource if you're interested. It goes through how you can use a free story to build your mailing list and sell more books. I haven't done it yet myself so I can't really offer anything useful beyond that.

My kids no longer put out milk and cookies for santa! It's not because they don't believe, but more so because our cat is a punk. If you choose us, I think my oldest would benefit from something like this or my youngest something like this one He loves teen titans go and almost has them all. They each have their own individual wishlist. Thanks for the contest!

The Aesthetic of Play:

Play takes place in the mind of the player. The book offers heuristics for analyzing the playfulness of a game. This allows you to create intrinsically engaging games – playful games.

Advanced Game Design: A Systems Approach:

Games are essentially systems – parts that interact with each other in complex ways that generate interesting gameplay. You will learn to observe systems, and start to see them everywhere. You will also learn to create them, harnessing complexity and emergence.

Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques:

Not a game design book, but it greatly improved my ability to think creatively, come up with non-obvious solutions, and alter my daily life mindset towards ordinary things. Which is relevant to designing games.

I kind of have mixed feelings about it. I'm reading the War of Art for the second time, and it advocates almost the exact opposite approach to creative endeavors. Pressfield encourages you to "just do it", in a sense. Simply force yourself to put in the work, and let inspiration find you. Sort of like the old saying "Inspiration can find you, but it has to find you working."

Thanks to that advice I've been able to push past self-doubt and procrastination to put in at least an hour a day of game dev time for some time now. And yeah, my first game won't be anything inspirational or amazing, and maybe Bukowski would say that it didn't burst out of me so maybe I shouldn't have done it. But I'm proud of it, and as the War of Art also taught me, the next project will be even better.

I've posted about this before, but check out 52 Lists For Happiness. I think it would really help you to love yourself, and focus on positive things instead of the negative. Good luck!

Edit: formatting

For composing, it's usually easiest to start with an ostinato, or repeating 1-4 measure phrase, in your LH. Then, try to come up with a melody in your RH to fit over that LH figure. You can try setting the words of a poem to music over that ostinato figure.

Remember, composing is a skill, so the more you do it, the better you get. Don't worry about whether it's good or not, don't try to compose a certain "style" or emotion. Simply allow what wants to come out to emerge. The book [Free Play] (http://www.amazon.com/Free-Play-Improvisation-Life-Art/dp/0874776317) has lots of great ideas in these areas.

I didn't start composing until I was in college, but I had started improvising before then, usually with jazz chords I was learning from my saxophone lessons, but not always. My biggest recommendation is to keep studying what greats have done before you and to always have some sort of voice recorder around (my phone does this). I've been in airports and driving in cars when great musical ideas struck. RECORD THOSE IDEAS!! You almost certainly will forget them otherwise, so it's good to have a repository of ideas to draw from later.

I personally have only ever composed in the jazz idiom, which I like because you only have to compose 30-60 bars or so and not everything has to be 100% nailed down, which leaves room for editing and takes some of the perfectionist pressure off. Your mileage may vary, of course.

In terms of your question in general (i.e. generating useful ideas in general), it's really just a matter of creating a large amount of ideas every day. For me, I have a list of 17 different topics that I generate ideas for (which I pick randomly each day) and then I generate 10 ideas for the random topic that day.

Ignore whether your ideas are "good" or "bad" and just generate them. Oftentimes the best ideas can seem counter-intuitive, unusual, or "bad" at first.

It's also a matter of having the proper mindset as well. For that, I'd recommend listening to "the MFCEO" podcast. Also, reading books related to creativity could also be useful for you. Here's one that helped me a lot:

https://www.amazon.com/Thinkertoys-Handbook-Creative-Thinking-Techniques-2nd/dp/1580087736

Also, don't get stuck waiting for the "perfect" idea, because it's never going to happen and you're going to get stuck overanalyzing things. Just make things and work your ass off.

PM me if you have any more questions! Good luck

Dorodango!

The rest of Olsen's site's pretty good too - he teaches art at an IB high school.

Another of my favorite bits of art theory/art history that also suggests a few different exercises comes from this overview of Picasso's bull series.

Also, read this book NOW and, if possible, get the kids to read it too. Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch. It's one of the best guides I know to creative processes in general, and you kind of pick up some art stuff by osmosis, just from the examples he uses.

Oh, and remember: art is NOT technique. Art is NOT representation. It's a search for significance.

The book that got me started was "Compassion and Self Hate". There might be other books published since then, but for some reason this book really got through to me.

The thing that really, truly cemented this for me was a personal growth course done by Human Awareness Institute. These courses might be too "out there" for many, but oh my did they work well for me. Specifically, Level 2 focuses on self-love.

EDIT -- my wife reminded me about this book too. It is excellent: https://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Imperfection-Think-Supposed-Embrace-ebook/dp/B00BS03LL6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465698723&sr=1-1&keywords=brene+brown

Self care/pampering kit. Bath bombs, facial masks, polish, candles. Hand made card, they're the best.

Maybe a necklace of some sort. I went through a bad breakup years ago and my best friend bought me a little sterling silver necklace with a cute charm to replace the necklace he'd bought me (I wore his all the time). I started wearing the one she got me and it was a constant reminder that I was loved, seems silly I guess, but it worked.

A good book is always a must. Might I suggest Maya Angelou (And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394502523/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-jPCybXYQ9MMY).


When she's healed a little and is ready for reflection, I also suggest "Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self Exploration." (Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399174826/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JmPCyb988RCV1).

There are plenty of people here in the "publish once a day" club doing that, and I know some do a lot more. I definitely found committing to publishing once a day has increased the rate I'm able to comfortable write at and I also think it's made my writing better.

I bought this book a while back and thought it was pretty good, although I haven't gotten to the point where I can do this volume in an hour http://www.amazon.com/000-Words-Per-Hour-Smarter-ebook/dp/B00XIQKBT8

> What were very wrong reasons if you don't mind disclosing?

the very wrong reasons:

• she was open to and celebrated me loving her very deeply. Problem: I never thought to check to see if she was feeling and acting the same way in return (in kind) or just merely mirroring me
  
• we came from the same town out west, had grown up with an almost identical value set. Problem: shared "general" values are even worse than shared "lifestyle" values at positing a false feeling of compatibility
  
• it seemed that we were both artists because we both had skills in a certain artistic field. Problem: she doesn't have the spirit of an artist, working every single day, committed to and constantly refining and improving the artistic process, being totally committed to the artist's way as expressed so very well in Twyla Tharp's excellent book The Creative Habit
  
  

My mom is a huge writing/reading nerd, so she's getting a 52 lists journal and a book-shaped tea infuser.

My dad isn't a material person at all, so I'm never sure what to get him. He is outdoorsy though, so I'm tentatively thinking of getting him the camping version of Settler's of Catan, or a small point-and-shoot camera if I can find an affordable one.

My husband knows my Reddit, so honey, if you're reading this: nice try! Although it's safe to say he's getting homemade baking, a decorated house, a stocking full of more food and things he's expressed mild interest in but never bought for himself, and something specific to his interests that I know he'll love. :)

There are good explanations for why thousands of people would testify to miracles in group settings..dealing with basic human psychology, group dynamics, memory contamination, etc. People can whip themselves up into a euphoric frenzy, interpreting mundane events as supernatural ones, especially when "primed" to do so by those surrounding them or a charismatic leader..and the simple act of sharing memories with others can literally alter the memory of your audience. People literally borrow memories from one another without realizing it. For more on this and other strange phenomena about human psychology, check out The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us

As for the question of believing in miracles on the basis of stories, I highly recommend this book which I think makes a very powerful case against believing in things like the resurrection on the basis of testimony. And if Christians do want to believe it after reading this book, they will be forced to accept that they have an inconsistent standard of evidence, since they dismiss claims from competing/incompatible religions that are much better attested and have a much more reliable chain of evidence.

Steven Johnson in Where good ideas come from says he did a rough study and found 50% of good ideas in the 20th century (I think) came from the public sector.

My own hypothesis: individuals create good ideas. Give individuals freedom (from economics, i.e. basic income) and technology will increase faster.

Your posts are what made me subscribe to this sub. I think it would be a great idea to create a challenge book. If you haven't seen ["This Book Will Change Your Life"] (http://www.amazon.com/This-Book-Will-Change-Your/dp/0452284899) it may help draw some inspiration. Congrats on completing your challenge.

I'm the lazy kind too. Drawing isn't very strenuous, and you can sit and draw your own foot for your drawing of the day, if you want. :)


I actually bought two books--the one I mentioned (http://www.amazon.com/The-Drawing-Right-Side-Brain/dp/0007116454), and Keys to Drawing, by Burt Dodson http://www.amazon.com/Keys-Drawing-Bert-Dodson/dp/0891343377/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413937201&sr=1-1&keywords=keys+to+drawing+by+bert+dodson. They are fab books that made me understand that anyone can draw. Some days I got inspiration from the books and did exercises, and other days I'd pick something from around the house or out of a book or even froze the tv and drew people I saw there. No rules except to draw what I saw or imagined once a day, and to finish what I started. For me, finishing was the most important thing, because I get frustrated and want to quit.


Would love to share! That means I'll have to learn how to upload here ...


If you do choose drawing, I'd love to see how it goes!

Sorry for the Amazon links, but these books are phenomenal. My goals for 2016 are 1) learn how to find my own happiness 2) get away from needing stuff and 3) read more. I got this set of books as a way of kick-starting my year of self exploration, and if I read your post correctly that's kinda what you're looking for, too.

• "Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self Exploration" by Meera Lee Patel
  
  
• "The 52 Lists Project: A Year of Weekly Journaling Inspiration" by Moorea Seal
  
  
• "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo

Oh!! If you haven't yet, check out Brene Brown's TED talks on vulnerability and shame.

Also, her book The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are.

I know exactly how you feel. I was lost for a long time to the bottle too....who I came back to wasn't exactly a stranger, but it was someone I hadn't seen since I was a young teen. She's pretty awesome though. ;-)

I'm so happy for you that you have given yourself this opportunity to discover yourself!

I took some entrepreneurship courses in college and read "Cracking Creativity" "Your Brain At Work" and "Thinkertoys" as part of the curriculum. I thought all of them were excellent and cracking creativity is especially good for creative thinking

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=cracking+creativity&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Acracking+creativity

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Work-Strategies-Distraction/dp/0061771295/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449172741&sr=1-1&keywords=your+brain+at+work

http://www.amazon.com/Thinkertoys-Handbook-Creative-Thinking-Techniques-2nd/dp/1580087736/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449172562&sr=1-1&keywords=thinkertoys

The jump from horses to moon landing falls borders closely to the "Ancient Aliens" hypothesis that aliens surely must have built the pyramids. We had the steam engine back in Roman times. It took another 1800 some odd years before the idea became commercially viable. Asia had printing presses, of a sort, centuries before Guttenberg. What held back these advances?

People to work on them and knowledge of what was done already. This book does a decent job at explaining the latter part. I'm sure now that I'm linking to it I'll be corrected with far better ones (I hope? Always looking for more books.)

The gist of what I mean.

Part of what was holding back tech development was around the time we were using horses and buggies it took ~19 people farming to feed 20 to use a crude estimate from memory. We now live in an age where ~1 person with modern advances can feed 20. That's a lot of people freed up to work and develop elsewhere. Someone who may have been pulled out of school before "middle school" even two generations ago to work on the farm can now get a PHD. That is the legacy (the good one, not the combustible rivers) of the Industrial Revolution. You can see this in real time. Look at what China has been doing the last few decades. They're going through their own version of the I.R. with more citizens leaving farming for cities.

With the internet we have another boom similar to the industrial revolution. The I.R. freed up the brain power. The information revolution that is/has culminated with the Internet makes getting the known information. So research is easier. Look at how fast home brewed aerial drones are taking off or home brewed near space photography.

So I wouldn't say our technology is progressing faster now than it has in the past. I'd argue that technically our advancement was held back in the past by the needs of survival. We've reached or reaching the point where those shackles are increasingly removed.

You could PM your name to me, if you want. (Hover over my name, click "Send Message"). We'll just move to private messages instead.

If you want to see how a great email funnel setup looks, I'd pick up and read Reader Magnets, by Nick Stephenson. He's got tons of info, and that's how I structured my setup.

Also, yes, signing up for the competition's newsletters is a great way to see what's working. That should give you a good idea of how they're structured, how much info is included, how often they send emails, and so on.

I know what you mean about getting yourself back into a positive mental space. Part of it is SAD with living in the Midwest, but I've really been struggling with it these past couple of months as well. I definitely see a connection myself between when I am eating healthy/low carb and exercising and my mood. You're a good reminder to get back into regularly writing in my gratitude journal, and I'm eager to hear more about your journal app. I've also been eyeing the 52 Lists for Happiness journal.

What book are you reading next?

Lego blocks!!! Yes I know they're not directly programming related. Children who play with Lego blocks (or basically built anything with their hands) are better and more creative problem solvers later in life.

Kids are naturally "little scientists" so I'm a little wary of people who want to encourage their kids to have an interest in STEM, it's more important not to accidentally discourage them by being a real annoyance about it. Young children learn through play.

I think the standard reply to this is:

Some kind of structured practice and this book: Drawing on the right side of the brain.

I have this book and whilst I haven't been adhering to it strictly in any way, it has definitely improved my ability to draw. The examples provided of progress by her students is quite encouraging, too.

Visual cognitive psychologist here. This work was actually done by Dan Simons, and refers to an effect known as "Change Blindness". Basically, when we're paying attention to something we fail to see things that are right in front of us. It's a beautiful example of how the world around us isn't actually what we see - there's simply too much information in an image received by our retinas for our brain to process. In order to deal with this challenge our mind has come up with "mental shortcuts" in order to make sense of the world. In this case, since we're so engaged in a task (i.e. counting the number of passes), we shift attentional resources that would otherwise allow us to "see" the gorilla enter the scene.

A better (and more recent) version of the video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQmdoK_ZfY - it includes some other types of changes, many of which even if you know about the Gorilla most people will fail to notice.

My personal favorite, which I use in a lot of instructional lectures as well, is "The Door Study" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWSxSQsspiQ - fun fact, this effect exists even when the confederates swap gender (i.e. a person is first confronted with a man, and then he is swapped out for a woman).

Also worth mentioning, Dan Simons wrote a book called "The Invisible Gorilla" aimed at explaining a lot of these kinds of phenomena towards the general public. If you find this kind of thing interesting, it's definitely worth checking out: http://www.amazon.com/The-Invisible-Gorilla-Intuitions-Deceive/dp/0307459667

It doesn't need to be super brightly colored. But white text on a black background just isn't enough.

Example 1.

Example 2.

Example 3.

None of those are super brightly colored. But they're eye-catching.

It's not a book pertaining exactly to AS or neurodiversity, but I've been reading Where Good Ideas Come From by Steve Johnson. It's a fantastic book which explores how creativity is a function of the mind.

You've hit rock bottom which is a good thing, now there is only one way to go and that is up. Another plus is that your canvas is clear so you could experiment with different colors to paint a different life for yourself.

But first you need some guidance so open up a few books and read. Stay up and stay strong my friend.

A book that will help is....

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
By Steven Pressfield

https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG

Are you giving away a story free to subscribers? Where in your front matter / back matter do you put your CTA (Call to Action) to entice them to sign-up? Do you use images or just text? For every 100 books you sell (or give away free), how many subscribers are you getting on average? It's work, but it's soooo worth it.

ETA: Throwing some power words into your CTA/headline might help too. The Lust column on that page, for instance, has some juicy words to use for your CTA/headline. Have I mentioned the importance of your CTA/headline enough yet? ;)

ETA TOO: If you want some homework, read Influence by Cialdini and/or Tested Advertising Methods for some basics on marketing. For even more author-specific newsletter tips, check out Mark Dawson and/or Nick Stephenson.

If you're looking at it from a purely productivity/developing habits that support continual creativity perspective, I love Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit.

This is a short read:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007A4SDCG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Moreover, how long did it take you to acquire the skills you do have? Do you use them in ways that are entirely personal to you?

Creating music is just a skill, like all the others. Be prepared to feel like you suck for a long time before you ever feel like you are accomplishing anything, possibly forever, even if you do great things.

If you're interested partially in using it to build a mailing list you may want to check out Reader Magnets by Nick Stephenson (it's $0.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited). It's a quick read and part of it is him talking a bit about how to set up a WordPress site. He recommends a good, simple theme that works well with his program but I can't remember it off the top of my head.

Found it, it's this one: https://demos.cyberchimps.com/responsive/

Also, this site is helpful for learning WordPress stuff in general, if you're new to it (I am): http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-learn-wordpress-for-free-in-a-week-or-less/

Happy birthday!!! The Artist’s Way makes me happiest because it reminds me that as long as I’m trying to become an artist, I will be one. It also reminds me that there are others who face the same blocks I do. :)

​

Mitch Hedberg once said:

​

“I saw a wino eating grapes.

I told him he had to wait.”

Uhhh... are you sure you're looking at the right book? I don't recall any of that.

Regardless, the book has a pretty simple premise: If you want to be a professional writer, sit your rear end in a chair and write. The only way to get good enough to find work is to put in the work first.

There, I saved you 11 bucks.

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

It's putting me on a path that may not align with the RE of FIRE, but is slowly stepping me towards things I enjoy. Do I really enjoy being a hardware engineer in industry? No. Can I use the tenets of FIRE to manage my money to allow for a more flexible and enriching life? Yes! And I'm mid-plan on executing that change which was crafted d during the 12 weeks of working through this book.

EDIT: I also did the Marie Kondo tidying during this stage so that helped too!

You may be right but it would be pretty bizarre for this one particular name to be subject to the same specific misspelling on such a mass scale. The first part of the name "Beren" is a more uncommon sound than "stain"; wouldn't you expect a misspelling like "BERNstain" to be more prevalent than "Berenstein". Also, when people find out they've been misspelling a word they generally don't react with the level of shock and discomfort that Berenstain has caused. Couple this with the fact that it's a book series that kids have used in learning how to spell - sounding out every syllable.
Also check out an old amazon review of a book by none other than Stan Berenst?in:
 
"A marvelous help for anybody who has ever encountered the resistance of a blank page, an empty canvas or an unyielding musical scale."

- Stan Berenstein, co-creator of The Berenstein Bears##

from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007A4SDCG?ref_=cm_cr_pr_product_top&pldnSite=1
 
I'm British so I don't have a dog in this fight either way.
Every theory I've seen about what is actually causing the Mandela effect (parallel universes, time editing, simulation etc..) has some problems or is contradicted by some aspect of the ME phenomena. I don't think anybody currently has enough information to reliably say what is going on.
Anyway, I don't want to derail the conversation from your hashing proposal. I think it's a truly inspired idea and I'm downloading Wikipedia as I type...

maybe they worked at microsoft and got in like the mid80s?

although then the process was arguably worse lol. "How would you move mt fuji?"

https://www.amazon.com/How-Would-Move-Mount-Fuji/dp/0316778494

etc

then again. for that id guess OP would just say something equally terrible. "you dont need to prepare for those, you either have the intelligence or you dont" or something that shows massive survivorship bias for luckily answering one of those super vague questions correctly 30 years ago

a techincal process which everyone can spend time preparing for is GOOD. for everybody

I feel you, I get creative blocks when I try to make music. I suggest looking into creative processes, they are meant to use in times like these and the more you study them the more you'll be able to find your own that works

Here is some examples I found online: https://simplicable.com/new/creative-processes

Ive also read some books on creativity I would suggest picking up some of them for yourself also.

Here's one I like: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG

The Writer's Block. It's a desktop cube-shaped book full of "spark words", like individual words that you then have to write something inspired by, and tasks, such as "Tell the story of how your parents got engaged". One of my writer friends bought me one as a birthday present and it's really handy to just flick to a random page when you're feeling stuck. Sometimes you come out with complete trash, but sometimes you write a nice little piece. Either way, it's handy to keep your brain warmed up and something bigger might stem from one of the exercises.

I'm not surprised by the GPA and degrees being useless. My interest is more in the puzzles aspect.

I agree that questions like "How would you move Mount Fuji" are silly and worthless, but what about simple programming "puzzles" like asking someone to reverse a string or to find the average or median of an array of numbers? I've found simple whiteboard programming tasks to be an excellent way of initially filtering out people who can't program, no matter how many years of experience they have.

Goal planning depends on your values. Once you can verbalize your values then you'll be able to formulate your goals. That said these resources will help you with the next steps: Read Thinkertoys for an explanation of mind-mapping. GTD by David Allen. Get familiar with Evernote to keep you on track. Watch these for an explanation of how to synthesize the two. Read and watch all the Brian Tracy info you can get your hands on. Become proficient with these resources and you'll accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible

Keep going, you can get there! Just do a few sprints every day. Before you know it, you'll be blasting out words left and right.

I did 3-6 sprints 6-7 days a week for about 3 weeks before it got easier. YMMV however.

The most important thing is to just do it every day, especially on the days you don't want to (those are the days you level up) and don't worry about creating top quality stuff. Just focus on getting the rhythm/habit down of never missing a day.

Edit: this book may help: https://www.amazon.com/000-Words-Hour-Faster-Smarter-ebook/dp/B00XIQKBT8

Pro tip, get it for free when you sign up for his newsletter: http://www.chrisfoxwrites.com/ . You can always unsubscribe after, but he does put out some good stuff.

In Jean-Jacques Rousseau's seminal work The Social Contract, he (a fervent Christian) insisted that Christianity is incompatible with a sovereign state and suggested that it would be better if we had a national folk religion. I feel exactly this way about sports. It is our national religion. As an atheist, it's my only religion, and it's a naturalistic and humanistic one. I explicitly refer to it as religion, and I'm being serious about it. Play is an important element of human culture. You might want to read this book on the topic if you have further interest.

I recently picked up The 52 Lists Project to help me journal more throughout the year. I'm not one to sit down and really just write down my thoughts and feelings, it seems like that's more typical in times of despair or frustration, rather than happiness, so this seemed like a good way to journal in a more positive way. The also have a Happiness version too.

Books that really helped me make a change were The War of Art, GRIT, and The Kaizen Way. All linked below :)

And to be honest with you I was never a morning person either. It took me 3 weeks of going to sleep at 10 and waking up at 5 before I could finally do it and not want to kill myself haha. But it gets easier, and your days become a bit more manageable when you've got a headstart on the world. No matter what time you get up I always recommend getting right out of bed whenever possible.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007A4SDCG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010MH9V3W/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GU2RHCG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Cool piece of trivia. If you're interested, the book "How Would You Move Mount Fuji" was an interesting read I had on that type of reasoning.

As for moving a customer and producer closer to each other, I think that applies broadly; I'm trying to find specific examples of it in practice.

Thanks for the input!

> Okay, I just got to 2,800 words in this post in about half an hour I think.

Your post is 542 words long. How are you counting words? Or did I miss some reference?

To address your question: what /u/Forloveandmoney said and especially what /u/salamanderwolf said. There are notorious liars in this beat; we've even had one or two in this very subreddit. 5000 words per hour is not normal at all and in fact it's a selling point for this book which promises that you can reach this apparently unreachable target. Guess what: if it seems unreachable, it's not something most people are achieving every day, even taking the book's promise at face value.

Relax and write and try to enjoy it. :)

Check out The Invisible Gorilla. It's more of a psychology book but it is about ways in which overconfidence affects behavior so it is very much applicable to economics and I found it very interesting and fun to read.

1. I'd say some sort of spa-related thing...bath bombs, face mask, whatever. something relaxing! Looking at your list, I'd go with the Pokeball bombs...I only say that because I'm a Pokemon nerd myself, lol.
   
   
2. This. Or this. Orrrr dis. So that I can make my planner pretty and do artsy fartsy things!
   
   
3. Ummm, going to summon a random person since I'm still new here! u/AdelaideSaphire. She had bath bombs on her list too!! So I say that. Or Funkos, cuz I personally collect them too :P

As many have mentioned, Stephen King's On Writing is great. I also really liked Ray Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing. Writing Down the Bones was good too.

Aside from those, I enjoy prompt books a lot. Keeps me from whining about writers' block. In fact... One I've had for a decade is literally called The Writers Block.

Learning the fundamentals of drawing can help with understanding the whole process. I am working my way through this book: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
It basically walks you thorough the concepts behind drawing and teaches you the principals of contour, negative space, etc.
It's written by an art professor and has projects throughout the book.
Art classes are great, but might be too costly. The book is nice because you can go at your own pace. I've found it to be extremely useful.

It is a great question, and something almost everyone struggles with. I'd suggest working on creativity as a skill, separate from your job, and it let organically work its way back into the office.

There is has been a ton written in the last decade about how the creativity that almost every child has is drained out. It may be the way our education works, our society, or just a byproduct of being an adult and becoming aware of right and wrong, possible and impossible, true and false. There are tons of approaches to tapping back into that childlike sense of creativity and wonder, some more psychological, some more spiritual. I'd just look and see what suits you. But look at stuff like:

https://zenhabits.net/how-to-be-childlike/

https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/

https://www.amazon.com/Out-Box-Ideas-Thinking-Creatively/dp/1844834115

https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948209004/?coliid=I30VN4RUX47F7&colid=VFGTCUE8E4XS&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

​

It's a lettering and modern calligraphy book. I write a lot of letters to friends and family in addition to make cards and gifts for people. I'm always looking to make things more beautiful and learn new art skills:)

I first ran into this idea reading The Artist's Way with an online group. It's one of the first regular disciplines she recommends to foster creativity.

Personally, it took me a long time to get comfortable with Daily Pages and to find a way to distinguish between them and "regular journaling". For a long, long time I tried to journal for three pages every morning, which was exhausting, took forever, and was emotionally difficult.

When I finally gave myself permission to just write whatever was in my head ... to do lists, random worries, rants, pretend arguments with people, whatever ... it became easier to build the discipline, and much more helpful to me.

The difference is that my daily pages help me figure out what's stealing my attention (things I worry about, relationships that need tending to, etc.) , but that I might be avoiding, or even unaware of. Letting my messy and less formed thoughts out on the page often reveals to me what I'm neglecting in my life. And yes, sometimes that is my grocery list and meal plan for the week. Other times it's bigger issues about my health or my family. If I just let it be the stream-of-consciousness brain dump that I intend it to be, it can be quick and fairly easy to do. Just let it flow.

Journaling, the conscious act of trying to write focused ideas on a particular subject, is most useful to me when I need to figure out a next step, or unravel what I'm really feeling and thinking about something. It requires more effort and focus on my part, and potentially could span several "sessions", but almost always ends with a sense of purpose and clarity.

I guess what I am trying to say is "Don't cross the streams." Daily Pages are a discipline of writing 3 (or whatever you choose) pages of what's on your mind. No more. No less. Garbage and all. Journaling (for me) is writing until the thing is resolved (to some reasonable degree) and that takes whatever number of pages and minutes it takes.

And to tie this back to Notebooks, my Daily Pages notebooks are usually cheap and I'll test various pens and inks or just use a daily carry G-2 ... whatever. My journals are my "good" notebooks. I use my favorite pens and inks. Heck, even my penmanship is better in my journals. (Chicken scratch is not only OK in my Daily Pages, it's practically required)

Could it be How Would You Move Mount Fuji?: Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle -- How the World's Smartest COmpanies Select the Most Creative Thinkers ?

Here's a pic of one of the covers, or there is this one.

Cool article! A related book I've been reading lately is "Play" by Stuart brown.

Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul https://www.amazon.com/dp/1583333789/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e5iyxb47400TQ

Cool, thanks so much!

The first action I took... Well, I read this, which basically revealed what I'd been doing wrong for two years. That was my first big breakthrough, and I will be a lifelong fan of Dr. Brown for writing that book.

Working with Ramit and Tim was pretty incredible. They're both really sharp guys who went out of their way to expose me to amazing people and priceless experiences. It was tough, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

And I think we're all very capable of being stricken with anxiety, but it's something that builds and accumulates due to our environment and habits. It's not like it's a permanent condition that we have to be stuck with forever! And that means we are all capable of curing our anxiety :)

Thinkertoys is a great book on creative thinking.
http://www.amazon.com/Thinkertoys-Handbook-Creative-Thinking-Techniques-Edition/dp/1580087736

If you are open to a popular rather than a scholarly text, I can recommend Brene Brown (although she has the scholarly credentials), The Gifts of Imperfection. She writes a lot about the challenges of being authentic, showing your true self, in particular your vulnerability.
https://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Imperfection-Think-Supposed-Embrace-ebook/dp/B00BS03LL6

There's a really great book that explains this and gives you some tips about going about it - and it's permafree! It's called "Reader Magnets" by Nick Stephenson. You can find it on Amazon here.

ETA a word I left out.

no, no, /u/MattDemers really did mean "War of Art"! The title's obviously a play on Sun Tzu's work, but War of Art has to do with overcoming internal creative hurdles and the like. Here's the link to the Amazon page.

I haven't read it myself yet, but I saw it on a suggestion thread on a different subreddit a while back so it made its way onto my "look into" list.

Learn art basics first. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is very short and very helpful. I suggest starting with that.

>I often read that practice is the key to good drawing.

It's the only way. Learn and apply. Keep reiterating that cycle.

I can't make any recommendations about ADHD/ADD but I DO think you should go see a doctor, first and foremost. Aside from that, try to not be so hard on yourself! Us human's have A LOT to learn and many have a learning curve greater than others. That doesn't mean they're dumb or stupid, they just learn and process things differently so it takes a little longer to get the hang of it. It's also important for your mentors, peers and bosses to understand how to work with you to make sure you properly understand how to do a process. I'm not sure what your job is, but maybe you can ask if there's a written guideline somewhere? Or write yourself one to reference when you do it correctly, and make notes of where you frequently make mistakes. For example, I'm really so bad at math and anything with numbers and I just started a job where I have to count out large amounts of money and I literally get so tripped up and embarrassed I can't even think straight. It's been really hard for me, but I'm pushing through and practicing as much as possible.

I know it's hard, but try not to compare yourself to others and maybe even start journaling at night for self-reflection. I'll link the two I recently bought that I've been loving :)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307719774/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399174826/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

May I suggest you take a look at this post and its comments?

In particular, you might want to read my replies there since I felt the same way you do for a very long time.

You can get out of that state and learn to draw. It's totally doable.

Edit: also, I think a book like Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain might help you.

Ah man, seeing her share her copy of this book on instagram was a little too perfect.

Define scientific and define Art. I suspect that you are looking for scientific papers (written by academics, peer reviewed, and the published). Not easy. You might find something in Google Scholar as relates to Art Therapy.

This is an interesting book about PLAY, because after all Art is Play.

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Shapes-Brain-Imagination-Invigorates/dp/1583333789

Steven Johnson - Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation

'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield[0] is a great book on productivity and procrastination in creative endeavors. He introduces the concept "resistance", a force that sabotages your ability to get things done - and offers insights on how to overcome it.

 

[0]https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG

i don't really like apps except as a reference, because it doesn't give you the option to draw your card of the day. i hold fast to the belief that divination in cartomancy is driven by the subconscious; how many shuffles you do, how you cut the deck, which cards you're drawn to. unless you have the option to do these things, i don't put much weight into the apps.

​

if you're short on cash you can always color your own deck, a book you can pick up at amazon. or you could find many of the less expensive decks, such as the smith-waite centennial deck, everyday mini deck, or the ceccoli mini deck. all these decks listed are cheaper than the coloring book, with the exception of the first they are under $10, and if you have prime they will come in two days with free shipping.

These are the two best resources on reddit. There's also this cool little book called, The Writer's Block, which I kind of dig.

I got this deck after seeing it posted on this sub and fell in love. It’s RW based deck. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0762492791?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Edit: it’s called Everyday Tarot

Everyday Tarot Mini Tarot Deck https://www.amazon.com/dp/0762492791/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ELLrDb8SYYBZP

^^^^
I primarily use this one. It's cheap but high quality, extremely portable, and comes with a small guidebook which is very helpful when learning to read the cards, and simplified art so you dont get overwhelmed by details.

Totally a hijack but Where good ideas come from by Stephen Johnson.

Most of his 'talks' are +- 100 years of industrial revolution.

Could be This Book Will Change Your Life. I own it, it's got a year's worth of daily tasks to perform.

Hope this is what you're looking for.

Deck is Everyday Tarot mini deck because I have mini hands.

Posting because lolz and because it’s hard NOT to read that as “or else,” but it’s a legitimately accurate read on my situatio now. Several aspects of my life have kind of turned upside down in the past few and I feel like I’m starting over in a lot of ways, so I’m reading this that my deck really knows what’s up and I need to quit questioning the universe.

The exhaustion and drainage you feel is the proof - the receipt, as it were - of the strength you have at your command.

If you need to do anything, you need to find a means of recharging that strength without having to worry about the ugliness submerging you while you rest & recuperate. At the risk of sounding trite, Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way has a laundry-list of methods of recharging one's creative batteries, most if not all of which are transferrable skills when it comes to recharging one's mental health. Found this of interest too.

Fingers crossed in your favour...

Man here. A while back I was following this book with the ex: http://www.amazon.com/This-Book-Will-Change-Your/dp/0452284899

One of the tasks is to post a an honest personal ad on Craigslist, but for the opposite sexual orientation. We each posted a long, detailed ad about our hobbies and interests. She got a bunch of really polite women asking for a date at a local coffee shop.

I got pictures of penises. Lots of them. What is going on at the MfM?

edit: grammar.

'this book will change your life' .. fun book.

Lettering and Modern Calligraphy: A Beginner's Guide: Learn Hand Lettering and Brush Lettering https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948209004/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_N2kWDbP1D33H6

I’ve been learning how to do this and it’s so soothing.

I got This Book Will Change Your Life for Christmas one year and it was pretty amusing. If I remember correctly, it even came with fake warning stickers to add to things. The premise was that it suggests a new activity for each day that can be accomplished with minimal materials.

http://www.amazon.com/000-Words-Per-Hour-Smarter-ebook/dp/B00XIQKBT8

It actually gets very easy after a while. Currently I write around 800 words in 15 minutes.

Have you read How Would You Move Mount Fuji? and if yes, is it an accurate description? Do you have crazy job interview anecdotes you can share with us?

The Everyday Tarot. :) https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Tarot-Mini-Deck/dp/0762492791/

Seconded for On Writing. And to add to that "The Creative Habit" by Twyla Tharp.

I recommend The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It doesn't directly address CPTSD, but it does talk a lot about the inner critic (Cameron calls it the censor) and the inner child. There are a lot of exercises that are helpful.

What I do isn't quite like you describe, though it is much like D. above.

I do morning pages, which I was first introduced to in The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. The tl;dr? Basically 3 pages of longhand stream of conscious writing on pen and paper. For me, this ends up being about an hour's worth of writing. It's one of the first activities of my morning, usually within an hour of waking, so I'm still "booting up", so to speak.

It's a habit that I've had off and on since I first read Julia Cameron's book probably a dozen years ago. I would correlate the times when I was writing with my most mindful and aware times of my life. I am more in tune with my desires. I get ideas for what I want to do. I may start writing by complaining about how tired I am, move to writing about something I want to do, and then end up writing about some change I need to make. You really do get to the bottom of things. And by doing it every day, you have that daily touchstone of what's going on in your life.

I've just been back in the daily habit for three weeks and it has already made a big difference. I've been able to make some changes in my life that are putting me on a better path.

Get The Writer's Block - or make your own. People can respond creatively to the prompts as a group - coming up with a skit, writing a story or poem, drawing something, et cetera.

This could be of some use (I have no affiliation but have played with it a few times.)

Writer's Block

​

It is what it says- a small block book of writing prompts. Some are better than others- as a random example flicking the book open:

Write a story that begins 'three days later they found the body'.

may i recommend the book, "this book will change your life" very similar to this concept.

http://www.amazon.com/This-Book-Will-Change-Your/dp/0452284899

Very much in the same style as Effortless Mastery, Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch and The Inner Game of Music by Tim Galloway and Barry Green.

If you start to sort them, those three together probably go with Wooten's "Music Lesson", "Zen Guitar", and "The Musician's Way".

That interviewer wasn't even creative enough to use more than the title of the book as his question: How would you move mount fuji?

FYI, Microsoft doesn't really use puzzle questions anymore.

I bookmarked this but just got a chance to read it - I struggle enormously with some built-up issues surrounding my own perfectionism, and dread passing that perfectionist anxiety down to my son. Analysis paralysis is a huge struggle for me at work and home.

Brene Brown is a fantastic researcher, author and speaker who deals with perfectionism, vulnerability, shame, etc. Her book The Gifts of Imperfection really opened my eyes.

I recently read This and it helped me with drawing perspective immensely.

But straining your brain can be good!

Hey, I have a different life experience but similar in many aspects. As far as creativity goes, overcoming that fear and producing I found this book helpful. This author has a few views I roll my eyes at but it is helpful and motivating.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

And I am. I work 60+ hours a week on top of writing and doing other things. It just takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Go read Chris Fox's 5000 Words Per Hour. It doesn't take that long and it just requires knowing what you want to write.

https://www.amazon.com/000-Words-Hour-Faster-Smarter-ebook/dp/B00XIQKBT8

simple amazon search :D

You have the right attitude to be a good artist. Many beginners take critique badly and are too sensitive (which is actually good for an artist) and become defensive.


I recommend the book The War of Art. This gem will serve you for the rest of your life.

The first book I thought of is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Would-Move-Mount-Fuji/dp/0316778494

https://www.amazon.com/How-Would-Move-Mount-Fuji/dp/0316778494

Two book recommendations!
the artists way

And
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

Get the book The Artist's Way and do that whole program. It's life changing.

https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252

Gonna assume it's this one? The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007116454/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gDpEzb0RMWCFA

https://www.amazon.com/How-Would-Move-Mount-Fuji/dp/0316778494

Read this book. http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418412475&sr=8-1&keywords=the+war+of+art

Hello.

I have been drawing since I was little kid.

If I had to start now I'd use this book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Drawing-Right-Side-Brain/dp/0007116454

I bet they read this book before interviewing you: https://www.amazon.com/How-Would-Move-Mount-Fuji/dp/0316778494

I guess it doesn't get more life changing than that

This Book Will Change Your Life

ThinkerToys - http://www.amazon.com/Thinkertoys-Handbook-Creative-Thinking-Techniques-Edition/dp/1580087736

Read the whole series. Do the exercises.

Also check out his YouTube channel.

Read the War of Art by Steven Pressfield
www.amazon.com/dp/B007A4SDCG

Bascially you are experiencing resistance in the form of procrastination.
Fix a writing schedule and stick to it, Motivation or Not. Once the routine is set follow it religiously. Once your fingers are moving and the words start appearing on the page, motivation will follow.

The Gifts of Imperfection helped me to get honest about how I feel instead of pretending my emotions don't exist.

And Switch on Your Brain taught me how manage my emotions by managing my thoughts. I didn't even realize how negative and berating my self-talk was until I read that book.

I'm kinda weirded out by the 10 point star in the middle as Tarot cards have Pentacles as that's one of the suites of the cards which is kinda weird that they'd use that symbol.


Also there's major and minor arcana, depending on what deck set is in use a tarot deck would almost match with the MtG Commander deck (78 cards for a regular Rider-Waite deck)


Add while typing this: It's "Everyday Tarot" mini tarot deck illustrated by Eleanor Grosch

I assume any such test is bullshit.

Seriously, I thought the fad of "why are manhole covers round?" had already (thankfully) passed.

But I'd expect cute little logic puzzles or riddles to be on it. There's a book called How Would You Move Mount Fuji that covers a lot of these sorts of questions.

> Think of yourself as a human being with normal working body parts, the only difference is that you have what is essentially a rogue AI in your brain. It randomly runs junk code at random times of the day saying "hey now's a good time to look at porn". That code just somehow got implanted in you somewhere along the way, it didn't originate from you, and it is not an inherent part of you, at all.

Reminds me of The War of Art. Steven Pressfield personifies your rogue AI idea as "Resistance," a sort of anti-muse that acts like an invasive mental pest distracting you from your priorities.

I just started doing The Artist's Way program. https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536667414&sr=8-1&keywords=the+artists%27+way

It's for blocked writers, to get past your inner critic. It's a 12 week program, with assignments each week. And the author is in long term recovery, so a lot of the language is similar to recovery (and she talks about "recovering" your creativity.)

I'm enjoying it, and It has helped me figure out a bunch of stuff I had been stuck on with my own writing.

Yes. FWIW, it's a reasonably common thing for creators to feel. A couple book recommendations:

• Art & Fear
  
• The War of Art

Read "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. It deals with this exact problem and could help you to overcome it.

The enjoyment should come from the drawing, not be a destination where you feel you fail if you don't get there. If you want to draw there is a really great book called The War of Art. One of the ideas in the book is that there are internal battles that keep you from getting where you want to be. One of mine is not wanting to waste paper/pencils/supplies and I have to over come that and "free" my guilt of that and be free to fail and keep drawing.

Here's a list of some of my favorite books on writing:

• The Art of Fiction
  
• Techniques of the Selling Writer
  
• Sin and Syntax
  
• The First Five Pages
  
• The War of Art

> But that's just stupid.

What is?

>100% of our time isn't dedicated to music. You dont always have to be doing something that's pushing your music forward

Of course not and nobody is advocating for that. But we are talking about something that is holding you back whenever you ARE making music. Getting anxious, overly judgemental, restless and/or empty-minded are very common feelings when working on music, or at least for me.

One thing I would recommend to everybody is trying to get past those said feelings. Cope with them, acknowledge them and not focus on them too much. There is a great book that talks about this, War of Art (not Art of War). It focuses mostly on this overly-judgemental feeling, sometimes referred to as "Writers Block".

When I first started to make music I would get the "writers block" and feel annoyed by it. Nothing wrong with talking about it, but it doesn't solve much. And that's the point (I think) OP was trying to make, or at least I am trying to make.

I recommend checking out The War of Art (https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG), it's helped me a lot with keeping on track with my artistic endeavors and as well as worrying about losing the inspiration/talent.

I've been in a life that was basically shit. This book helped me more than anything else, The Gifts of Imperfection. Also meditation is free and does wonders. Check out The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. These two books really changed my life and helped me dig myself out of a state of deep depression. Another thing you should check out CBT therapy and read anything about neuroplasticity.

Not only are humans horrible at remembering, they can also be horrible at seeing. Take a look at this clip Selective attention test

EDIT: The Invisible Gorilla is a pretty interesting book about how your brain fools you

It is possible to do alone. I've been to (court mandated) AA and NA and I simply cannot stand it. One sob story or wild tale of drunken adventure after another, the same stories week after week...everyone with tears in their eyes, a good 40% of people in there saying they are sober when the reality is that they have just switched up to something else (weed or pills generally). All the God and Jesus bullshit. I hate everything about it, even the camaraderie/people pretending to care about you

I wanted to become sober and I have. books like these X † X help me put things into perspective and realize that there is much more that I want to do in life than get home and get wasted and then feel shitty the entire next day.

I was a monster...I'd do any drug under the sun, I'd drink a fifth of vodka every night and I was able to stop with my own willpower eventually

You're overthinking this. All of those things you listed are excuses. They seem reasonable to you, but they're literally just false roadblocks.

There's only one thing you need do: start.

Don't think about the thousand things you think you're supposed to do or that you think you need, just start.

Also, go read The War of Art.

I think this is a case of focusing on the least effective aspects here. I'd instead suggest taking a two month block to work on perfect form in the basic movements, and focus on only that for that period. Ingrain the basic habits, and then progress. Also, I'd suggest reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield for the motivation side...which is really the discipline side. In other words: your likely totally fine as a person, you are just lacking a few skills. Focus on acquiring the skills rather than beating yourself up. The skills change everything, the self abuse does nothing. https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG

In my experience, the more experienced you are, the more an interview focuses on things like prior projects, architecture, teams, culture, etc. I just completed a job hunt where I interviewed with several major east/west-coast tech companies, and none of them asked LeetCode-style questions. I did get programming questions and take-home exercises, but they were practical ones (e.g., discussing a real-world problem the company has) or, surprisingly, lightweight bozo screens (e.g., traversing a tree and printing values).

But it really depends upon the company. My understanding is that Google's interviews still consist of multiple rounds of LeetCode-style questions, though I've also heard that's changing.

I've been involved in hiring at several companies now, and I think LeetCode-style interviews are on their way out. The more nimble a company is, the less-likely it is to ask you the traditional LeetCode-style whiteboarding question. It's the slower companies that are entrenched in their cargo-culted interview processes that still ask LeetCode-style questions, including some Big 4s and Unicorns. But that will change. No one asks "How would you move Mt. Fuji?" anymore. I imagine companies will continue asking programming questions, but I expect them to become more practical, typically covering the sort of problem you might encounter if given an offer.

Tienes que practicar no prestarle atención a esa parte de ti que te dice que no tienes nada interesante que escribir.

Te propongo un ejercicio que leí en un libro. Cada día tienes que rellenar 3 páginas. Solo hay dos reglas:

1. No puedes corregir nada de lo que escribas. Tienes que dejar faltas de ortografía, gramática, typos, etc.
   
2. No puedes detenerte a pensar qué vas a escribir. Tienes que escribir "en automático".
   
   Escribe lo primero que se te pase por la mente. Da igual si es una tontería o no tiene sentido. Si no sabes qué escribir escribe "no se qué escribir" hasta que rellenes las 3 páginas.
   
   El objetivo no es hacer literatura ni escribir bien, es rellenar papel. La autora del libro dice que es mejor escribir a mano, pero yo creo que es cuestión de gustos.

Holy shit, relax! What about me making a mistake makes me a fucking low life?

People make this mistake often. It's not because the biker is less important, it's because he's less visible. It is a common mistake sitting at a light in stagnant traffic, and not seeing anyone in your mirror or to your side, make a move into the turn lane because you realize this is your turn (most common) or to make a u-turn if you realized you missed a turn or need to go back the other way (slightly less common). Both of these mistakes become mistakes when the driver assumes by (a) the empty space next to them, (b) nothing in their side mirror, and (c) the fact that they're sitting still all adds up to no harm in moving over or turning around. That's why blind spot checking is important, but there's nothing malicious or selfish about that lack of action, as stupid as it may be to not do so and as harmful as the consequences might have turned out. A metric fuckton of people forget to check their blind spots on a regular basis, and there are tons of stories to be told of near misses just as there are also tons of non-events in which failure to check the blind spot resulted in no harm because the blind spot was conveniently empty. You can read more about these kinds of mistakes in The Invisible Gorilla.

For anyone who thinks I'm defending asshole cab drivers and people who are aggressive toward bicyclists and motorcyclists, I'm not. I ride both on my days off and I'm very empathetic to the guys who are hit or scared shitless on a regular basis, because I am one of them. I'm not saying my mistakes were harmless; quite the opposite. I'd be a fool to not learn from them. My first comment and every one of my replies to it is based on the fact that this is not karma but rather a mistake followed by coincidence. Karma is more of a return on intention; I see no ill intention here. Illegal, yes. Rightfully ticketed, yes. But a return on intention? That would be saying that the cab driver intentionally cut off the biker that he did see, flipped him the bird, and laughed as he drove away because he has 4 wheels and doors to protect him. Does anyone really think that's the case in this gif?