For some time now, I've struggled to find the inspiration to write and do photography in Hawaii.
When I first arrived here, my goal was to document my journey, further my photography, deepen my martial arts practice and finish writing my novel. At first I was super focused and creative but slowly that started to fade away. I live in a community where there is so much to do and experience as I'm surrounded by beauty, abundance, nature and amazing people from all over the world. On my first visit to Hawaii I even went to create a quick video to showcase the essence of my experience here.
In the past year, I've had so many meaningful and colorful experiences, yet I still found myself drifting into a mild case of depression. I was having so much fun but something was missing.
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
I found above saying to hold so true. I discovered that you can have all the pleasures in life, all the money and all the honeys in the world but if you live a life without purpose and without love you will end up being miserable. Being at this amazing community in the jungle of Hawaii yet still not truly expressing or sharing my genuine self and experiences with others. I became lost in other peoples agendas when I lost my own unique voice.
“If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.”
How true is that!? I wasn't standing for anything and was falling for everything. I became a product of my environment molded by the man or woman in power. I went through the factory line but kept failing the final inspection. Why, I asked myself, can't I be like everyone else?
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
The reason I kept failing was that my own unique self, which I kept brushing under the rug, needed to live and come to life. It didn't need to come from a place of conformity, but rather a place of authenticity. No one could really help me because they were busy dealing with their life and their circumstances. I asked for a sign and set my intention. I wanted to find my passion but didn't know where to start. One day on my walk to the lanai I saw this quote written on the white board:
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
I realized that I didn't need to figure out what the rest of my life would look like, I just needed to start where I'm at with what I have, and do the best I can. There is so much around me and so much in me to be grateful for and to share. I'm an experienced photographer and writer with my own point of view and way of thinking. But wait, the negative thoughts creep in ... "you might not be as good as that one photographer, or people might think your writing sucks." You know what!? It doesn't matter if I'm not good as another or what people think of me. What matters is what I think of myself. If you hold yourself to the highest of standards you'll never get started. A dear friend and inspiration of mine posted a picture on instagram once that said something along the lines of ...
“Create something today even if it sucks.”
Creating something today, even if it sucks is so much more powerful than having an idea inside you that wants to be born but you let it die inside you because you are afraid to share it for the sake of criticism. True, it might not be the greatest most stunning thing mankind has ever seen but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you begin and have movement taking place inside you.
“Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather becomes frozen, even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind.”
You go from being a dreamer to being a creator and that's powerful. As you continue creating with a persistent attitude you are bound to get better. I continue to meet people who are critical and judgmental towards myself, others and sadly towards themselves. You have the power to be either creative or destructive, the choice is yours. I don't know about you but I don't like being around people who put me down or make me feel bad about myself. I want to be with the energy that I can collaborate with, communicate with and cooperate with. That's why I find myself enjoying life so much more now. I'm surrounding myself with like minded people who want to communicate, cooperate, and collaborate on something that adds value to peoples lives. How bout you?
I put a lot of time, energy, love, not to mention money into the work I share here and I greatly appreciate the feedback from everyone - be it negative or positive. I'm learning and growing every moment and I am so grateful to share my life and art with you. If my body of work helps someone to move forward towards their goal, be it getting headshots/portraits or fitness pics for marketing material or if it inspires another to do photography, travel, write, be active, explore or anything for that matter-then it's all worth it at the end.
Thank you for your support. Thank you for your attention. Let's get out there and share our unique selves.
p.s.
I'd love to hear your experience or something that you are inspired to do or are doing. Go ahead share your stories below.
Much love.
-asim