Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

*With Lukas Graham’s voice* Once I was 7 weeks old my daddy told me to
switch off the TV and go enjoy the morning.

Though I sadly could not watch television nor do anything at 7 weeks old, I still could enjoy the morning. And in this week’s issue, we’ll know why mornings and any moments in life are important in our creative journeys.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

Main Wheel

At the moment I'm writing, the sky is grey. There is no sight of the sun. The atmosphere is cold and whenever the wind blows on my skin, I feel Russian.

Though this description fits the "sad day" criteria, I've found this morning to be peaceful and beautiful. Calm is ruling over nature.

Everyone, from the little ants to the drivers on the road, is taking action with patience. Time seems to go slowly. The grey sky adds another layer of serenity. The disappearance of the sun makes space for reflection. And the cold atmosphere increases the warm sensation of being at home.

The same circumstances with a different perspective would have hindered me from seeing the beauty of this present. And such things are what we meet daily in our lives.

Unfortunately, we don't pay attention to them. It's easy to notice the sublime and bright sun. It's easy to appreciate the beautiful blue sky. And it's easy to adore a lively day.

These are great things to have. Yet when they occur, we do not cross the line of admiration and jump into the potential depth. There is no strong incentive to do so.

In moments like the morning I'm having, I get a chance to observe and appreciate little things. Through the present, I got inspired to create.

Fortunately, this is not limited to me or anyone. We can all be inspired by our own lives. I can even add that our lives are our biggest creative influence. Think about it.

Every moment that passes makes your life. And it’s in the time you have that you create any form of creative work. Even though some creatives can never fail to inspire you, it’s impossible to spend more time consuming their work than time living your life.

So, why not take advantage of this source of inspiration that’s ever-present?

It’s the ultimate source of inspiration. It’s where and when everything happens.

Yes, we do not have full control over it. There are things that come we wish never came. The events that occur which place us in an unpleasant state.

But the good news is, we have full control over this source of inspiration. We can access it anytime we are willing to. For, it doesn’t depend on what happens in our lives, but on how we live our lives.

The way we live our lives influences what we see and experience. And by default, anything becomes a bridge to getting a creative spark. Hence, if you live an interesting life, you’ll have interesting things and ways to create.

To live an interesting life, differ from one person to another. That’s a Duh?! fact.

However, the fundamental principle remains the same for everyone. Live in the present and see everything as an opportunity to learn and wonder.

It’s simple but difficult to implement. It’s a continuous and conscious task. And it’s still so worthwhile.

You’ll experience things you would not otherwise.

You’ll be open to even the smallest forms of novelty. The novelty can be realizing that birds’ chirps are higher on a sunny day. And that gives you the idea to wear bright clothes for that interview you need a lively tone.

That’s just one example of numerous possible ones.

In this source of inspiration, you’ll find things to do and create by experimenting on yourself and sharing what you discover. And such information or creation is almost guaranteed to be singular and distinctive.

So, don’t neglect your most inexpensive, available, and yet priceless source of inspiration. In it, you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

Inspiring Wheels

Here are two (or more) creative works that you’ll not regret checking out:

• “Jacob Collier Full Masterclass - Mexico City, 11th April 2024” - Jacob Collier | I’ve always had a hard spot for people who over-promote craftmanship over art. Such people put an over-emphasis on “doing things right” and “sticking to some rules.” They over-praise complexity and worship multi-instrumentalists. Sadly, they’re confused as masters and experts. (Plus, they have a passion for hating modern music by cherry-picking the worst instances) Rick Beato is a great example. Why am I saying all of this? Well, because I’ve unconsciously placed Jacob Collier in that group. He’s often mentioned in that group’s content. I never really dived into his work because of that. After watching this video, I saw how wrong I was. Jacob just happened to be a “model” to those people because he happened to be what they adore. He plays multiple instruments and knows so much about music theory. However, in this video, I understood that he just is obsessed with the way things work, but he understands that the theory and practices mean nothing without the art and creativity side. He painted a clear line between practice, play, creativity, and theory. I can say he ironically went against most beliefs that group hold.
  
  This is an amazing video. To briefly explain it, he speaks about the importance of the sensation you want to feel and communicate to others. It’s not so much about sticking to “what is right,” but “what you feel is right in the right context.” And there is no such thing as “wrong” and “impossible” in music. It’s a 1 hour 39 minutes video and every minute is worth listening to.

• “The Tragic Tale of Joaquin Phoenix“ - Du Cinema | Calling this a video is an insult to the outstanding work done. This has been one of my all-time favorite pieces from YouTube. It’s a creative short documentary about Joaquin Phoenix. It explores his background and brilliance which both make him one of a kind. To me, Joaquin is one of the few mainstream actors who truly deserves the name artist. And this video demonstrates why.

Want to share this issue of 4CW with a friend, colleague,… any human being? Just copy and paste this link: https://4creativewheels.beehiiv.com/p/april-25-2024 😉 😃

Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

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