COMME DES BOURGEOISES

Morning Inspiration: The Power of Thinking

Often, we do not give enough credit to the power of our thoughts. Descartes once wrote, Cogito ergo sum, which translates directly as: I think, therefore I am. Although the level of this sentence may appear callow, there are some areas of this quote that deserve to be delved deeper into. 

I think. There is a certain audaciousness in the decision to merely think. Our thoughts are activated by our decision to engage in thinking, and the decision not to could be detrimental. 

Image: A fine pressed wine sits in a barrel at a champagne maison. The owner of the maison wants to make champagne but has forgotten to add the yeast that helps the grapes to ferment, and produce the “bubbles” that we enjoy when we consume champagne. The wine sits for years and spoils, because the champagne maison owner did not “activate” the fermentation process by adding his yeast. 

Interpretation: The decision to activate your thoughts is exactly like the owner of the champagne maison. If you decide not to activate your thoughts then you risk spoilage of your ideas. You risk profiting from your thoughts and ideas, and ultimately you will have a surplus of spoiled thoughts. 

I am. To say ‘you are’ is already a proclamatory byproduct of your inner thoughts. There is scripture that states: “As a man thinketh, so is he”. Granted, this type of thought is easy to understand on the surface, but has raised debate for centuries. Let’s analyze. 

Obviously, the discourse surrounding the power of thought is psychological, and the utilization of the power of thought requires a bit of “psyching” yourself into, which in turn, can be a bit scary.

Nonetheless, tapping in to the power of our thoughts is necessary not only in the grand scheme of creativity, but in the small scheme too. Tapping into your thoughts allows you to streamline your thoughts, and to deeply understand what is you actually wish to accomplish versus jumping into something that your are not completely into. 

In short, the quote from Descartes can be taken two ways: literally or metaphorically. No matter the side you choose, we have to know that there is power in our thoughts, and to give our thoughts the proper credit they deserve. 

Image: The people in the Adamawa state of Nigeria, lived near three main river valleys. One summer, the rivers that once provided them food and water, became murky, and unnavigable. They cried to God, asking him: “Why have you cursed the water?” For years, they blamed god for the famine, and the poverty they had encountered for so many years. Finally, one villager went out to search the rivers for the supposed “curse” and after 3 months of searching the rivers, the villager realized that his state had not been cursed, but indeed was blessed, as the river was flowing with oil. 

Interpretation: Our thoughts are like rivers flowing with oil-they cannot be profited from until we tap into them, and when we don’t, our rivers can be viewed as a waste. Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. 

Think on these things. 

Good Morning, 

D. 

The Christmas List to Remember

1. Goggles Umbrella - Design Boom - USD 64 + Shipping = USD 88

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/17506/designboom-shop-camouflage-goggles-umbrella.html

2. Asics Emperor - Sneaker - Barney’s New York = USD 200 - Size 12 or EUR 46

http://www.barneys.com/Emperor-Sneaker/501220119,default,pd.html?cgid=SHOES04

3. Ronnie Fieg x Sebago “Seneca Tan” - 150 USD - Size 12

http://shop.ronniefieg.com/products/sebago-seneca-tan 

4. Kith Varsity Jacket - USD 340 - Size Large

http://shop.kithnyc.com/products/kith-varsity-jacket-charcoal-red

5. Patta x Kangaroo Woodhollow - USD 150 - Size 12

http://www.patta.nl/winkel/men/footwear-/patta-x-kangaroos-woodhollow-khaki

6. Jeremy Scott x Swatch - Swatch Punk Watch - 51.37 USD 

http://www.colette.fr/#/eshop/article/30811683/swatch-x-jeremy-scott-swatch-punk/636/ 

Morning Inspiration: Growth Pains

Last night before I went to bed, i sat and reflected on the situation of one of my friends. This person, from what my twitter time line told me, was not happy with their current professional situation. This unhappiness was in direct correlation with a feeling of uneasiness and imbalance between what it is they were doing, and what they actually wanted to do. 

As creatives, and even as humans we sometimes find ourselves in a similar state of limbo. In reality, not every person is going to be able to share their gifts and talents, profit from them, and then repeat the process, with immediacy. Some of us, fortunately have to wait on the council above us to reconcile things, remove some major obstacles, create new lanes of travel and defeat unnecessary enemies. Yes, this wait is a fortunate one. 

The worst part about this process is the wait. The wait is indeed the hardest part because it requires what normal people would consider unnecessary patience. We start out well, with patience beginning as patience, then it turning into anxiety, then restlessness, then defeat. My friend, take solace, because this is exactly what this morning inspiration is all about. 

As one endures the waiting process, they develop pain, in your joints, your neck begins to ache, feet start to swell, etc. You know the story. Usually, the way we see this pain is in an assuming manner. The assumption: that because of this pain, we will never be able to walk into our season, because our joints hurt, our neck is aching, and our feet are swollen from the wait. 

This morning, I offer you an alternative view of the pain you are experiencing during your waiting process. 

When the body experiences growth, there is the rare case that the body will endure pain during the process.

When we were kids, we all wanted to be taller. For some it happened over night, and for others, there was some pain to be endured as their young bodies began to grow into adult bodies.  

These “growth” pains are similar to the pains you feel as you wait on your dreams and goals to come into fruition. Don’t see that aching neck or swelling foot as a sign to give up on your dreams and goals. The pain is there to remind you that you are indeed, growing! 

As you wait on the big break, your change in financial status, your first music placement, the record deal, the book deal, the acting gig, your kids behavior to change, most everything under the sun - Remember that because you are one of a kind, your situation is rare, and you will have to experience some growth pains. As long as you see them as such, you will be fine. 

Your wait, is not your denial, its your growth process. 


Good Morning,

D. 

Fasting

Tis the month of Thanksgiving, and I am fasting. Everyday until Thanksgiving. 

Rules:

Only Fruits and Vegetables (raw) during the day. Water is cool as well. 

One Meal per day: DINNER. 

More importantly this fast is for reflection, on the things that you are grateful for. Its a time to thank your Deity for all the blessings in your life, and to plan for the future. More importantly, it is to show your God, whoever that my be, that you want to commit to something, and they have committed to you. 

Fast ends on the morning of thanksgiving.