The Stallion Theory: How aimless creativity ruins your life

[@yaniksilver]

You broke this down perfectly. I remember watching Jerry talk about not breaking the chain of writing one joke per day as his discipline. As a creative person - we think we want zero constraints and unlimited funding but it’s just not true. One of my recent projects came about from an experiment of drawing one journal page every day for 108 days. It didn’t matter if it was 1am or 3am. Knocking out that checkbox felt great and I also had no expectation of what the end result would be aside from something for myself. The project turned into a published book and oracle deck bought by a publisher. I believe it’s better to be proficient than to be perfect. Great work on this video

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Reflect upon the Past. Embrace your Present. Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled. But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@juliekovich-recordingartist]

Thank you for your story! Been in a slump so looking for new encouragement:-)

[@user-ut4zw6so6o]

Congratulations, good work! I started to do that during COVID and after awhile got off track. Thanks for reigniting the desire to start again.

[@alexandrahill9176]

That's amazing, congrats! There's a 2.5 draft of a gothic novel I haven't looked at in months, but I used to wrote short scary stories when I was a teenager and after watching this and reading your story, I should get back into that!

[@mayanightstar]

This is one of those videos that came into my life at the perfect time. Perfectionism has literally been ruining my life for the last 2-3 years but I finally feel like I'm starting to see the end of this tunnel

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Reflect upon the Past. Embrace your Present. Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled. But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@letbreathbeair]

oh yes me too… I wanted to do everything perfectly that I never even started doing anything at all because I was afraid of it not being perfect 😢

[@grannyronna]

Congratulations to you! Our struggles to perfectionism is never ending but this video teaches us how to be creative and smart at the same time. It makes us more efficient since there is structure/framework that guides us accomplish things in a more organized manner.

[@ThePhospholipids]

Same. I'm a musician but also artist and I always end up drawing lots as practice but never having any complete piece to show off. Or starting up music projects then getting caught up in details and abandoning them. I'm trying to actually upload stuff to my channel now, even if it's subpar ..[insert shameless self-advertising]

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

@@letbreathbeair I've published ~420,000 words and 260+ illustrations over 3 of 6 books in my series. Claiming that all of it is "100% perfect" would be... folly. However, it's pretty fuggin' hardcore stuff. Freakin' GORGEOUS work, overall. Award-winning, actually. Tons of work, though. *Throngs.* 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end." --DD1 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@sarahs1368]

This is literally the reason I chose to go into visual design instead of fine art. I thrive on boundaries and my creativity has a box to think outside of, instead of a daunting sea of endless options. I needed this video sooo much today, as I’m literally missing class because of a domino effect of indecision. But now I have a sticky note above my desk that reads “quantity over quality. Creativity will come.” Thank you!

[@ASpaceOstrich]

Hmm. I've often thought to myself that I don't have the capacity for original ideas anymore. If I take something someone has already made, I can come up with awesome twists on the concept. Alternative interpretations. But never anything original. Stuff I come up with is always defined by the things I'm copying from. Its X meets Y, or its elements from A, B, and C. I'm also extremely indecisive and perfectionist. Crippled by it in fact. I will produce one artwork in a month, when even a particularly slow artist would only take maybe six hours to create the same thing. I wonder if the perfectionism is the reason I don't feel like I can make anything original.

[@silixtuhibiski95]

@@ASpaceOstrich That's natural. I'm a songwriter, and I sometimes begin writing and just play what seems to be the most obvious boring interpretation of the music I like. But I am a practiced songwriter, so I drop that idea and try to do something new. If this happens a few times I'll stop and move on to something else for now. This can happen 25-50% of the time one week and not at all another. The key is exercising your creativity, because you'll always just be piecing together what you know, but your individual experience of life is very unique. So if you express that with confidence and practice, you'll see how your ideas are just as original as any idea ever was.

[@twinguy9633]

@@ASpaceOstrich Seems like making orginal things is quite hardcore. I struggle with it too. It seems like there is a barrier that I cant pass a box I cant escape. But on the other side of the box I feel that there is what I m looking for it must be possible to come up with something completely new

[@moontiides]

@@ASpaceOstrich I feel this too!! I also do art and recently have been trying to develop some original characters more, but I feel that it’s so hard to do when there are just seemingly endless options and I can add and change things as much as I want. Whereas I find it way easier to take pre-existing characters and spin their stories in different ways or add different characteristics to them. I hope someday I can take control of my indecision haha

[@sarahs1368]

@@illsmackudown good point. I never thought about personalizing my avatar, KZbin was never a priority since I don’t have a channel. But now I might. Thanks for the idea

[@sebasg.2709]

as a student graphic designer with adhd this has explained so much and this honestly helps me so much. I didn't know this was a thing but the creative anxiety where I do research all day instead of actually doing something is crazy.

[@crrtis]

I’m 33, been making music since 2008, diagnosed with adhd a few months back. I was literally wondering if this video helped anyone with adhd and you were the next comment I read. Thanks, stay up.

[@Pharozos]

This video would have been good to see when I was a art student. Good luck with your studies.

[@romaroalte2645]

Seems like I have ADHD too then

[@infiniteX3]

I can relate and I’m trying to get out of it

[@JaRyCu]

I wanted to write a comment about how it's a shame this video isn't longer... but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it didn't need to be. Short, sweet, to the point, and absolutely amazing. Thank you for this.

[@agata1014]

If it was longer, we would spend more time watching and thinking, but not doing stuff.

[@gezz555]

If this video was longer, I would totally procrastinating from watching it and pile it up with my other watch later list lol.

[@jz5005]

I wish every YT vid were much shorter. That said, I’m exploring using ChatGPT for written summaries.

[@kyrstenwetzel6575]

If U slow it down to 0.75 or 0.5 speed, it kinda feels like u met a wise artist grandpa at a coffee shop whilst wandering downtown. It also makes the video longer. And it feels like a different video experience.....

[@Startr00per]

This video perfectly explains this feeling I've been having lately. Ironically enough, I found that the developing my skills to the point where I could draw almost anything is what hindered me the most and led me into a frozen state. What got me out of that state? The constraints of an assignment on a digital media team where I was responsible for creating posters based on specific academic subjects. As someone who always hated constraints on my creativity, I was shocked by how easy it was to create the posters, and how much joy I found in it as well. Fast forward about two weeks later, and I'm realizing that just like that stallion, I won't get anywhere if I don't harness all this energy into something more focused...so I'm gonna go work on that...later

[@oceancrosby4578]

Well, you had me going on your well written inspirational paragraph. I was thinking, hey, yeah, this is it. Until the last sentence. Now I'm back to square one.

[@Startr00per]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@oceancrosby4578😭Well, on the bright side, I did end up working on it, and I’ve gotten more work done in the past few weeks than in the past few years! It took a bit to figure it out, but it’s possible

[@18pristine]

This video makes so much sense to me, i work freelance as a costume designer. Want to make my own brand but have been crippled by the freedom of being able to do whatever i please with it. I have invested money already to make it happen but after making a logo, cant seem to make myself design the actual pieces i wanna produce. I been stuck on this loop of today is the day or ill do it tomorrow, its been a few months…help.

[@nothanks5162]

Find out how it's serving you. Not doing it it's serving you in some way, more so, than doing it. We are wired to avoid change, and whatever is painful. Whatever we consider uncertain or energy consuming. Etc. If you find out how not doing it it's serving you, you can decide with your free will if it's worth it. And if you fall back into old patters, apparently, for that moment, it wasn't worth it. Thing is, you can change your mind every day. However, you need to remember that doing 1 thing, even though it might seem minuscule cause you have to do 1000 things. But doing 0, will always be 0. 1 can turn to 2. 0 remains 0. So take your wins as they come without judging. No one goes from crawling their whole life to suddenly walking. Don't be so cruel to yourself or others. It doesn't lead anywhere...literally. You'll fall down, it's normal, just get back up. Also, another thing that's helped me is playing it forward as well: if I keep doing what I enjoy doing today, like...drinking coffee, not sleeping and watching youtube, and if I keep doing it 2, 5, or 10 years, how will I feel? Will it be just as enjoyable? Will you be happy? Healthy? Is it worth the consequences basically? And does it push me toward my dream in any way? And no, this is not when I decided to quit social media and sleep. But to do my work first, play later. Even if my work was 10 minutes today, 5 hours tomorrow. It's still better than nothing. Also, I started using my 'play time' to do what I call 'research'. Soul-searching. Muse? Nah, just ...you know when you can't even cry about your life but then you put on a song that explains it perfectly? That which makes you feel anything, is my research. It's pure motivation. You see or hear something, and your mind changes it and makes it different and your own at the same time? Like one could look at a picture of a dress, and their mind would just go: but that'd look better. That color could be like this. In fact, something that I've never seen in my entire life is...and there's your inspiration. Creating anything worthwhile needs inspiration. Just working and not living...even if living means looking at other's people's work, be it reading, movies, youtube vids, games or whatever floats your boat, they can create that spark. Something someone has said or done might push you today. Use your feelings. Don't run from them. I literally search for shows that make me aware of life and death, of other perspectives, of other ways to look at my own experiences, past or present, of...etc. The world is your oyster. If you even allow yourself to think search for help/ inspiration, and look around, you might find something or someone to make you aware of what you even want to do with your art. The brain likes tasks and patterns when it involves just 'looking around'. The subconscious especially. Where your pain and joy lies is where you need to dig. Not in the numbness...escapism, fear, etc. What do you wish to change that you've even reached this path? What was it in your that just went: yes, this. I want to do this. How what you do can help someone else as well as your past self? What do you wish that costume to make that person feel? What do you wish you'd be able to wear, that doesn't exist yet? Basically: What need do you fill? And are you willing to sacrifice comfort, free time, and from what you're saying, are you willing to risk failing again and again until you maybe, make it, at something you love? Or are you willing to never start because it's better to fail at something you don't care about? There's no right or wrong answer. There's only a pause on that answer. Decide. Pick what's right for you. And whatever it is, jump into that boat. Be all in or all out. No more standing on the side-lines 'cause that's where you'll get...suffering, self-hate, trust-issues with yourself and just...not a happy life. If you don't want to do it, realize why. And if all you find is a valid reason, f it. If not, then dip your toe in the water and keep doing it as long as you can until you can start to swim. It's the middle of the day, I haven't slept for...24 hours and I had 3 coffees so I apologize for this TedTalk but I felt like saying this to you. Hoping it helps you. If it doesn't then sorry for making you read all of this, but when I know about something, 'cause I've been there, trust me, I am still there in some ways, then I want to share what I wish someone else would've told me. 'Cause later never comes. No one will hold your hand unless you're suppppper lucky and even then, you must put in some effort. But what I've realized after years, is that if it keeps bugging me and I just can't let it go and nothing's as good as that, I might as well give it a go. What do I have to lose? Really? What is there to lose? You fail, you're back in the same place you're now. Nothing much changes. You fail, you learn, you try again. Still in the same place. In the godlike chance you succeed, then great, you can keep going and this time, you'll have some support. But starting...is a lonely place and if you don't have a solid why and because, and be honest with yourself first and foremost...then why suffer in the first place? Again, thank you for listening to my TedTalk haha, and sorry. I tend to listen to my instinct and that's both good and bad, but this is what I felt like sharing with you. And I wish you all the best. Truly. Standing on the fence is sometimes, if not, most of the times... it's even harder than doing it. I know. Sometimes I wish that option didn't even exist.

[@WillyJunior]

@@nothanks5162 bruh

[@VladaldTrumptin]

@@nothanks5162what a reply ❤

[@michellekaiser-eo6lg]

I'm an admin person who works with creatives. It's been such a shock to me, how I fix little things and my team acts like I moved mountains. I think we all need a manager-brain to help us through creative projects. (I can't take my own creative hobbies forward, so I too would like a manager!). Loving and hoping too much makes it hard to see the practical aspects of any endeavor.

[@michellesteimle9969]

I love Gloria Vanderbilt and to me her brand is the one I can count on to fit my waist and my hips. I love it when there are fun details like embroidery or buttons and such but the brand to me says the fit is going to match my body type and that builds trust. My suggestion is to pick a body type that your brand will fit and you will have customers for life and you can play with details you add too it.

[@MandaPanda254]

This resonates so much. Im a very creative person, constantly procrastinating by endless options ive accidentally created for myself, resulting in low productivity and output. Frozen by choice is so dang accurate

[@RocketSlug]

I'm a big fan of Mark Rosewater, the lead designer of the card game Magic: The Gathering, and he has similar views on creativity. One of his repeated maxims is "restrictions breed creativity" and he's also advocated for systematizing creativity and often recommends the book A Whack On the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech

[@PipFoweraker]

His lead is also IMO one of the best demonstrations of careful maximisation of design space over time. Magic had lots of opportunities to paint itself into corners and managed not to do so for a very long time.

[@JakeyMan]

Dominaria, and the MTG mechanics and cards, were made by Richard Garfield. Those older cards, though raw and unbalanced and of their time, are far more sought after. The Western quick buck model infested MTG and Wotc. The cards curl up, and aren't worth buying. Rosewater the plague. Too, overbalancing creates boredom after denaturaion and market saturation.

[@NYKIRA]

Love how you pointed out the duality in Freedom "Less Choice = More Action". It's so funny how it works, yet truly having active boundaries in your creativity (and life tbh) creates a system where you can just flow continuously 💛

[@esselmeyer8233]

Creative angst is such a good name for it! I'm not a big deadline person, but this definitely opens up my mind to different ways I can apply some constraints to my creativity to get me flowing. I've definitely been feeling the creative angst towards my webcomic, so some ways I can think of limiting myself is by limiting my style, the colors, or the composition(s).

[@RangoJalex]

This is insanely relevant to me at this exact moment thanks for posting this haha!

[@shitchops]

same with me and for many years unfort.

[@jimmythebold589]

praise the algorithm!

[@jimmythebold589]

give thanks to the algorithm. or your search engine prowess!! @@shitchops

[@CourtneyCoulson]

The Pomodoro method changed my life. I have so many different hobbies and projects I want to do, but some would get a lot of attention, while others were ignored for months or years. But if I do a little bit of everything for one hour a day, I'm constantly making progress at a consistent rate, I can now plan and predict in a way I couldn't before.

[@iendros]

That creativity needs constraints is something I knew for some time, already. With my very severe ADHD in mind, I feel that the Stallion Theory even more applies to my needs. Because: No structure at all and my head is a 3D-Cloud-Map. I think I really found a good tool for alot of things for me here! ADHD, for me personally, is kind of like a rocket engine. Complex. If it works, it's pure, massive energy. But it needs alot of work and dedication so it works fine and stable. Due to my personal circumstances, I've learned most things alone. And instead of working, I struggled how to build up a working structure at all and find any kind of self-organisation and overview. I never learned that. And with overthinking for a veeeery long time? Well, vicious circle! Instead of focussing on a problem solution, I sat down with the problems and just listened aimlessly to their problems, wondering why nothing happenes. You forget about solutions and even rewards. This and the lack of progress intensified so much, I then had lost most interest and desire to do most things I actually love to do. I was totally reduced to daydreams and very few real results. So I was the extreme version of that. And this video just comes to the absolute best time. Thank you so much =)

[@beatrizazevedo7637]

Hope you're doing well as of today. Sending my best wishes to you.

[@LaurieLondon]

Yay, this is the video I voted for! It reminds me of an exercise an old painting instructor gave us. We were to paint something using only 1 color plus black and white. He said too many choices can be overwhelming, that we can often be more creative with a limited palette. Thanks for another great video!

[@velvetbees]

When I read what John Steinbeck wrote in The Grapes of Wrath, "I'm just pain with skin on", it it made me want to stop writing my stories. He did it. He wrote the line I have been trying to write all my life. Then I read how hard he worked to write that way. He got discouraged too. That gave me hope. If he got discouraged, then I should keep on trying.

[@pettypsghetti]

I needed this video. I've been writing the same script for ten years. I get asked "don't you want to write another story???" I couldn't imagine doing that, because this story needs to get done in the "perfect" way. as I age and my bones creak and my baby grows inside me, I realize the "perfection" is inside the creative process. I also realize I really want to write more than I want to overthink.

[@jobbimaster]

Here you go, a deadline. One month from now. Make it a horrible draft.

[@missmiller7]

Perfectionism is the obsession with the imperfect. Don't strive for perfect otherwise you will only focus on what is not perfect. Just get it done because your heart drives you and stop following the mind that wants an impossible ideal. We are imperfect beings, meaning it is impossible to truly create anything "perfect" but we can sure as hell create meaning for ourselves and the people around us :) x

[@Nyla_Corvina]

I have exactly the opposite problem this video presents, The more limitations put on me the less likely i am to do anything, because if i don't have free reign to do whatever comes to mind i will sit there for hours thinking about how exactly i want to make said thing in my own image. and the box that I've now put myself in creates anxiety that i have to stick strictly within that box and moving outside of it will cause issues. this reaction is probably related to trauma but that's how my mind works.

[@snufkinhollow318]

I'm not going to go into long and boring details but you cannot even begin to imagine how this 12 minute video has helped me contextualise some pretty heavy shit that I've been dealing with recently having escaped from a pretty horrific time of my life where, amongst other things, I was actively prevented from being creative. I am now able to rebuild my life and be creative and this is just what I needed to stop the overthinking and achieve what I want. Thank you so much. PS I actually do have goats and Goat Simulator is pretty mild compared to some of the things they get up to!

[@Manj_J]

Damn I needed this video right now! I'm stuck in an endless cycle of procrastination and perfection, but I think I'm gonna just set a 1 hour deadline every day to write something crappy just so I can actually DO something instead of being stuck in this paralysis all day!

[@nobudgetshortfilms5510]

Great plan, gonna apply it to myself too! Keep grinding!

[@chizwiffle]

I’ve been struggling in a creative block myself that has since morphed into a stallion bulldozing its way through my mental sanity. I appreciate this video so much as offering a different perspective and possibly a way I can try and re-harness said stallion. Brilliantly created, as always. I appreciate you and your work very much. Thank you!

[@vincentp149]

This sums up the last 40 years of my creative life. No joke. Thank you.

[@halahsmith9931]

This video helped me realize I’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis, or state orientation when it comes to choosing a career. I’ve been going back and forth with X makes more money that Y but I’m more passionate about Y but hey what if I did Z!? It’s been driving me crazy but this was definitely helpful to push me in the right path. Thanks Struthless 🖤✨

[@emila732]

I think is a little different type of conflict because is like your brain is fighting with your heart. Is nice to think a little about what you really want to do not what is reasonable because what parents said ,what society thinks plus somtiems things change , a job that is now well paid may not be well paid in the feature. My friends stadied Chinese and back then all were talking how well person knowing Chinese can earn but reality was a little different in the end

[@klauseba]

Young people hop from job to job because they're not really sure what they want, and that's fine. My advice is ask yourself what you like: Working outside or inside, driving a vehicle, working with people, working on a pc, working alone, etc. if you're not sure yet which domain/area you really love. Then the next question would be are you more of a technical person (like to solve problems) or more of a people person/ management (like to work with people and solve conflicts, lead them). Of course this might change over time and after being burned out by colleagues for years you'll love working alone.

[@nef36]

I think this might be the only art block/motivation/whatever video that really got through to me. Every other video I've seen just gives you a routine to follow, usually formatted as a "this is how I got gud" story, with no arguments for why it works other than "trust me bro". Nothing I've seen has really given me basic concepts I've felt like I could work with like this video.

[@sparklypoof]

the mild-mannered teacher in daria at one point told someone in the class "by setting boundaries it paradoxically sets you free!" (I'm paraphrasing here) - and that has stuck w/me ever since. it applies to literally everything you want to do, and I love that you fleshed out a whole system here to encapsulate the what, why, when, how and definition of done!

[@CANCAN-qf9rh]

I can’t thank you enough for creating this video. People like me are lost without structural discipline, and struggle to find genuine council outside of ourselves. The world would be lost without people like you.

[@funnytv-1631]

The godfather of habit building, William James, wrote: “To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions.” Because our time is finite, there is no reason to wait. In fact, there is every reason to begin. When you decide on a change you would like to make, ask yourself: what is the first step? The entire vision of your ideal future is actually a series of first steps. They just happen to come one after the other. These are all moments you initiate. One little step at a time.

[@funfings842]

this is the first video of yours i have seen, i love how you explain things! Suscribed after 3 minutes :)

[@friendsinholyspaces]

You're the only KZbinr whose sponsorships I don't have to skip over because you just get how to not make them cringe. One of the coolest humans on the internet.

[@heawin88]

Printed. Filled out. Thank you so much for practical advice instead of just a wishy washy end. I love that so much about your videos. The practical application is where all the work gets done and some don't know how to start it. Myself, I struggle with this alot. Abstract ideas break my head. I want action, not just someone to say "go outside" and what? Sit? Write? Jog? What works? You take the guesswork out and give us a solid jumping off point. I will forever be appreciative of that.

[@jexcalder5466]

Watching this on the day of release or when someone stumbles across your channel 5 years from now during a creative rut at 3 in the morning, you give your audience an authentic, realistic approach to so many thing. I still watch and quote "this is not content" and refer people to it. Keep doing you, sending much love

[@ribena.drinker]

Checking in 8 months later - I needed this

[@coreyroberts47]

Dude. I needed this. I experienced creative angst as a child, I was pretty advanced so I realized at around 8 I could do virtually anything. So… choice angst incoming. Now I’m a musician and novelist trying to make things work at 30. I wrote two novels in two years simply by writing at least five pages every day

[@Nutella0nToast]

Hey, here’s a video idea: Creativity and mental health. I currently have been diagnosed with Bipolar/ADHD and the Pomodoro Technique has been a godsend as those “Keys/Fuel”. It’s not foolproof, but it does help. Speaking of: 5 min are up, back to work! Thanks for your videos!

[@struthless]

Will definitely do! P.S.: I have those exact same diagnoses!

[@emila732]

To what type of creative work do you use pomodoro? It doesn't seem effective for drawing where you need longer periods of concentration and while ADHD make it even harder to get in concenrate state, I feel I will not be able to get to drawing after 5 min break

[@guitarmusic524]

This is stuff I learned in composition class at Butler University years ago "The more boundaries I place upon myself, the more free I become. " - Stravinsky

[@tomrenegadefilms]

Nice video. Very relatable. My problem is always overthinking and wanting to achieve perfect results - once I actually start editing videos I get really into it and it's enjoyable. Definitely will be using that method to kickstart my creative engine in future!

[@stevenjlovelace]

I always have to tell myself, "The Perfect is the enemy of the Good."

[@marlopainter8246]

I love the way you explain things and tie into personal experience. I resonate with your past so much, it gives me hope that I, as well, can get my $417 together in a respectable way. 4:33 - My business closed down about 12 months ago. I was let back into the world with the ability to do ANYTHING. And I did the worst... To elude back to an earlier video of yours, I started laying bricks on the foundation of 25 different houses... However, I somehow was able to focus in deeply on something, and it's been my daily work for the last few months. Once I had a target, the creativity just shot out. I don't have a deadline yet, but that's what I'll think about next. In the medium, I'll start 'coding two crappy pages a day'. 'How is this the best thing that ever happened to you?' You inspire countless creatives to get off their arses. Thank you.

[@bathtubmafia2042]

Exactly, EXACTLY what I’m struggling with right now. It’s like he reached through the screen and said, “hey, I’m talking to you.” It’s difficult because I know all the theory: action-orientation, fail fast mentality, how to overcome fear, etc - but unbounded freedom is a dangerous thing. It creates endless thoughts with no results, the feeling of being productive while producing nothing. Is anyone else struggling with this right now? I’m starting a business and jumping off an uncertain cliff and have been in an overwhelmed state. Who else is struggling with paralysis through your own creative thoughts?

[@oliverlarosa8046]

I'm right there with you. I've got multiple google docs full of a great variety of different ideas: Business ventures, apps, fictions, nonfictions, fanfictions, video games, and more. I've had various versions of these documents for most of my life, starting with torn out notebook paper - covered in chicken scratch - stuffed into blue folders I've acted on none of these ideas in productively substantial ways, outside of the occasional period of excessive brain-dumping

[@dancinginmaltesers]

I’m also here! It’s actually horrible. Also trying to set up a business. I know all the theory but actually have absolutely no constraints and it’s probably the worst thing I could have done. I needed this video!

[@CrispyCircuits]

OK. I've been there and done that. Successfully, not even close to big money, but I survived it. First, if you have decided that you want to do "A" and "B" for your business. Yeah, whatever. You may find that you need to do "C" just to survive or keep things up and running. You may very well hate doing "C", but what choice do you have? Maybe none. But you are surviving and can work on "A" and "B" in the background until those start to work, at least in part. Running your own business is tough. I had to rent two storage sheds out back to pay the electric and all the rooms beside my bedroom inside to buy food and pay the rent. You may need to do something completely different to set the stage, but get that done. Don't think about it, do it. After all, it isn't your goal exactly, but at least it's moving you towards your final goals. You may also need to do some "free" or "volunteer" work to get some work out there and visible to the public. Please note that it isn't "free" or "volunteer". It's a brutal task done because you have to, in order to get something unrelated to that in your future. You may very well have to set some goal like "I'm going to make this much money in this amount of time". I had to retire for health reasons. Now I find myself stuck once again in this very same problem. I have new creative things I want to do that I haven't done before. Now, I find myself stuck again! Learning and thinking a lot. Doing almost nothing. Yuck! This video is very helpful for me right now. Thanks for the video!

[@peachluck1050]

Read “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield.

[@nonameman7114]

I’m willing to bet there’s lot of us. I’m Currently trying to write a horror series and keep swapping multiple ideas and concepts. It’s maddening when you can’t make a clear decision and would rather procrastinate instead. Hope this stallion thing works.

[@TheSocialAIHub]

Something I love about struthless is that he uses real life examples and then almost always offers an actionable strategy. These videos must take a lot of time to script, structure and edit! Appreciate the mahi (work).

[@pipe.dreamss]

I find myself overthinking things! The "life has a deadline" line ... Really got me! Always great content and always well explained. 💖

[@theseanwardshow]

Great video. Entertaining and informative. I'm inspired and motivated!

[@RandomizationShow]

Dang I remember watching your Goblin videos when I was a kid man, those videos had me dying laughing! Time flies man, and it's awesome to see you're still making people laugh years later 😎👏

[@theseanwardshow]

@@RandomizationShow Holy shit there's some world's collide action right there!!

[@RusticRaver]

the internet is full of this kind of crap, I can solve non creative people that think they are creative. I think it's big pile of **** by unqualified people.

[@SimonMacFarlane]

"Thinking about stuff is not doing stuff!" That quote is going up on the wall in my studio! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@aashni23]

This is probably one of the most helpful videos I have ever seen! A concept I've occasionally seen mentioned in passing, but you lay it out so clearly and the worksheet makes it so easy to use. Thank you so much, keep up the awesome work :D

[@RevsPastRedline]

This great video is a practical application of "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Great job!

[@chrisnaish]

A great, under-rated, example of working within constraints is the Raveonettes. The Raveonette's first album is written in entirely one key, with only the same four chords, and each song is under three minutes. It's amazing

[@onceonly1111]

7:40 That bit about Parkinson's Law reminded me that I had to complete a work safety certificate that was given to me a month ago, and it was due tomorrow morning in like 6 hours. It took 15 minutes to complete.

[@BelIa42]

I have always been amazed by this. When I have only one sketchbook and a pen, the sketchbook gets filled. Otherwise, I'm stuck overthinking what to use, what to do, whether it will be a good use of that sketchbook or paint... Currently, I am stuck setting up the new bullet journal for the second half of the year. I took me about 2 hours just to decide on which of the printed images I will glue in because I printed too many... and I printed them because I was afraid of being stuck deciding what to paint or draw... I realize how stupid this is and that there is no bullet journal police that will punish me for using an image I really like just because I have previously used it... While I know this, theoretically, I find myself in this situation so often, that I am really questioning my sanity. So, thank you so much for ending the struggle of deciding what to glue in and finally do what I actually wanted to do... my half-year reset (also, thanks for that concept and document!) Truly, thank you for your work and for the perfect timing and topic of this video! All the best!

[@ZKorvin]

Man this is so true. I committed to creating a bonus tutorial for my Patreon supporters every full moon, on top of everything else I have going on. I dunno how I do it but it always gets done.

[@kingfisher-sv1rb]

I'm only halfway through, but I was just thinking about how your videos are so helpful and inspiring not *just* because of the stellar content, but also because of how you execute them. I love the use of metaphors and examples that feel like they're coming out of left field (e.g. the jam story). It's super engaging and makes a spark light up in my brain. Love it! Not to mention the visuals add to this feeling too. Anyway, off to finish the rest of the video now 😆

[@kingfisher-sv1rb]

Also, I was one of the people who voted on this video being put out next -- so glad it got chosen!

[@andela212]

Your comment explained exactly how I feel after watching this. Stellar content indeed

[@Joeltraylorart]

Thank you for making this video. I've been struggling creatively.... Too much freedom.. And other things. You get it. You really get it. I share your videos often.

[@MindfulCreativeMuse]

Yes! Love Creative limitations + a simple way to brainstorm through the weeds and get unstuck. ✨🥰

[@complexedbrain]

Deadlines make so much sense, everytime I have a deadline I have so much more creativity

[@highsol222]

Main lesson I learned from your recent few videos: Just be some random person doing things. Imperfect action is king. Perfectionism really is destructive fr. Hard pill to swallow, but thank you, Cam.

[@syzygy4365]

That's a great way to put it. It so how do you get orders if your just a somebody?

[@ignaxing]

So much practical truth in 12mins 45sec!! Thanks for this!

[@maybeitsceline]

I randomly ran across one of your videos earlier last month, and I've been binging your videos and reading your book because your perceptions and journey so far deeply resonate with me. It feels insanely personal, and I am happy that my algorithm worked its way to coming across to see your content. I am a filmmaker who struggles a lot with my mental limitations and traumas, but I'm getting by. I just want to let you know that seeing you create and share your work every time, regardless of the subject matter, feels reassuring and refreshing every time I watch them. Thank you.

[@alexandercharlesedwards-ace-]

I didn't get past the "vehicle, destination, petrol, keys" part. That was all I needed. Thank you.

[@tekilatree]

You’re one of those creators I actually am grateful is out here on KZbin doing stuff for us to get inspired from. Thank you for your work 🙏🏻

[@baboucarrjatta8660]

This is a concept I’ve completely forgot about. I’ve started my own channel and realized I am also going through this phenomenon and think this is a good way to guide my creativity. This video resonates well and feels personal, from one creative to another. Thank you for this video

[@ed-wh8ih]

Thank you for articulating not just this but a lot of very relatable struggles. Been watching you since art college, I didn't pursue art professionally but I still check in when you pop up

[@flory2993]

This is the only channel where I actually enjoy listening to a person sitting in front of a camera. The rhythm of the video is so entertaining.

[@billymills4238]

Gold, this creative discipline discusssion is good, love what jerry says about religion and systematising

[@whyDUSTY]

amazing video! I once did a whole song in 25min - lyrics, recording, all of that - and although it sounds crappy, it's one of my proudest songs. Thanks for the reminder pf the power of restriction and thanks for the inspiration!

[@9Nikko8]

The more I watch your content, the more I'm starting to think you're my favorite content creator. Your issues are so relatable, but above that, the way you put things into perspective and offer solutions is even more relatable and practical. I'm really grateful for your work!

[@r.j.amadeus9128]

Thank you for calling this out, I sometimes wonder am I an Illustrator, a photographer, a cartoonist a creator, or am I a madman? I get swallowed in my thoughts and get nothing done. This. Ales total sense.

[@VladaldTrumptin]

I *HATE* this about myself. I do this to a pathological extent. Every single day. So many shiny things, ideas, interests 💀 And because I’m getting on in my late 30s, and lockdowns ruined me financially (literally poorer, more unstable now than at 19)…things are becoming REAL. So i guess the positive angle on this is that I’m now *acutely* aware of it, so I can change it. Bless your cotton socks for this video ❤

[@RobertoBristo]

I'm such a Struthless fan and this video is exactly why. So much relevance packed into 12 minutes. Good stuff I'll use right away to focus my creativity, but also so many great ideas when I see my students struggling with the same thing...as I often do. Thanks again for putting valuable, relevant content out there.

[@blakesun]

I'm embarrassed to admit how many years I've wasted preparing to begin.

[@Crenshawtutoring]

I'm such a Struthless fan and this video is exactly why. So much relevance packed into 12 minutes. Good stuff I'll use right away to focus my creativity, but also so many great ideas when I see my students struggling with the same thing...as I often do. Thanks again for putting valuable, relevant content out there. 😍😍😍

[@Hi_Im_Akward]

I always functioned better with creative projects when it was a school assignment. The assignment was always exploring a certain medium in a certain style, technique or subject. I usually tried to operate at the edge of those restrictions, my art either coming out as whimsical and strange or with an undrtone of dark humor. Not in school anymore and I've found it impossible to produce anything creative. There is some trauma mixed into this, like trauma that changed me and made me associate the art i normally love making as a reminder of the shitty past. I'd like to get back into it. I feel like I have a much better grasp on myself now. But my perfectionism and over thinking always kicks in. Your videos really help me tbh. You talk about these aspects in ways I don't normally hear people talk about and show the struggles you have too. I haven't been super consistent, but I've been journaling and drawing a lot more and I'd give you a little credit for it. Thank you for your videos. Also green eggs and ham was my favorite book as a kid ❤

[@Scottjazz55]

I have worked with all kinds of deadlines for music projects all my life - some clear, not clear, written in stone (that then gets changed by who ever controls the stone) , you name it. This is EXCELLENT. Wish we had been able to use this as a reference back then. Thanks.

[@pridefall3304]

this is so lovely and its exactly true that creativity needs boundaries and focus. too bad whenever I set any kind of deadline for myself my brain just ignores them :/

[@Ari-Artform]

😂 me2

[@HinataElyonToph]

Same 😭

[@parisbreakfast]

ADHD

[@Kononekaya]

yeah same... we might need some other Brain-Trick for that 🤣

[@theaanch]

You sir, are doing the creative community a big service. Thank you for breaking this down. It’s a start to getting my creative brain in gear. 👊🏽

[@freebirdarts]

I'm just starting the video but I just wanna say that based off of how this video is going, this information would really help me figure out myself creatively while being more realistic. I'm an artist who loves working with watercolor and inks but I also love writing stories, poetry, doing story boarding, photography, videography and video editing. Though I'm not a professional with the majority of these things, they are things I love to do and I'm passionate about. What to do? Where to go? How can I be creative and make a living off of it? Still trying to figure it out without spreading myself thin. Stay tuned!

[@freebirdarts]

Update: my conclusion to the video is to take advantage of the art of limitations / constraints. Too many options will hinder or more often prevent you from starting, continuing or finishing something. It's not bad to like many things like I do but as mentioned, I shouldn't allow it to stretch myself thin. It would be better that I implement constraints to avoid losing to the paradox of freedom. I read a quote from another comment under this video by @sarahs1368 that says, "Quantity over quality. Creativity will come." I believe this quote helps break out of the perfectionist or "everything I do must be good" mentality. Thanks for sharing that, Sarah. 🤗

[@sacredxgeometry]

this video faucking rules man, I've been sitting at my desk for 5 days in my boxers, having a bit of a grapple with deep depression. Not putting life into perspective enough and challenging myself to really "accept" what's in front of me. But this video did help even if maybe only 5-10%. When I can truly digest it later on, I know this will become a serious part of what I do every day to keep myself in check in terms of artistic creativity. Having a SYSTEM is super important, something rigid, for my mind, and I don't have that with this sudden time off. So it's been great to interface with content that unapologetically gets to the bottom of how this feels, and doesn't ask for much in return. That's why your channel is great, you're presenting a corpus of honesty to a lot of people who might be lost or misguided or confused. Cheers x

[@gaminggreat]

Alternate title: How the internet ruins your life.

[@WassimElSabeh]

This is video is pure gold for anyone who needs this info. Thank you!!

[@niharikaawasthi9238]

Creativity responds incredibly well to structure

[@foxxify1]

I love reading the comments, they're as full of interesting discussion as the videos! And this one is one that I've definitely needed for a while. I'm starting to realize the limits of limitless creativity, and am now carrying out the required steps to focus my creativity into my projects. Thanks sooo much!

[@PrimeStories1]

This is the CONTENT ❤. what i learned : "Done is better than perfect" Thanks for putting time and effort for this amazing video full of wisdom. LOVE YOU BRO

[@sichemrizo8496]

What a great video! I found myself trapped on this weird stressful cycle of overthinking, now I understand the reason and a way to find an exit. Thanks for inspiring ✨

[@birtarb07]

There is a panel where George R. R. Martin and Stephen King sit together and George asks King how he writes so much/fast and King answers that he writes 6 pages a day! Not perfectly or fully edited, but they are there on the page to be edited later

[@Cederlof_Ink]

Im a freelance artist and woodworker, and this video seriously resonated with me mate. Finding that focus to funnel all thay creativity down is great, love how you broke this down. Cheers!

[@connectropy]

I'm smiling through this, so thankful for all the snappy humor and timely relief, and then some. Thank you, thank you. "Stallion Theory," 👏🏼😘👌

[@partygirl5698]

Watched this video a couple of days ago, and wanted to report back on what i've experienced: that lil piece of paper is the s***. Granted, I've only really been following it for 3 days, but in 3 days I've written 3 songs - more than I've done in half a year. I've also acted for the first time in MONTHS. These past 3 days of action and "tight briefs" have given me more creative freedom than I've had all year and it is mindblowing. Maybe this will only be a another phase but i cannot thank you enough for even THAT. It's giving me some of my self-confidence back. So THANK. YOU.

[@storytimewiththecrimsondm1318]

i think this explains a lot of why I've had issues with creating lately. I got the whole world open to me for story telling, and get stressed out and overwhelmed too quickly. thanks for the vid, this helped a lot

[@ink.marvin]

Done is better than perfect. Thank you. I finished a painting that had been looming over me for months literally after hearing that. Keep posting, you have helped me a lot in my journey. I'm extremely grateful for you and your content! x

[@saber_tooth_tiger]

I've been stick on writing my own book for like 8 months now. Thank you so much for this, your work is very much appreciated.

[@absol3441]

i started writing a poem and publishing that weekly to a substack for about a year now and my writing has improved so much. It is also one of the things that i genuinely feel very proud about because of the consistency

[@MrPatch821]

I like how you breakdown the entire situation. One thing that I have been struggling with is freedom. There are two types of freedom: "Freedom to" and "Freedom from". Too much additive freedom, the freedom to perform and create, causes me issues. Subtractive freedom, the freedom from, has helped me via the use of frameworks and questions. Wonderfully put, I'm glad this video found me today.

[@MATroiano]

I love how this feels like a continuation of the Ibis conversation. It's cool seeing how those ideas marinated for 3 years and brought you here.

[@MillillioN]

Awesome, I've downloaded the sheet from your link. Great video.

[@natwhocares]

Learning about poetic theory got the idea of how creativity needs routine and structure click for me. It seems counterintuitive at first, but after the initial hesitation, following the meter basically makes the lines flow on their own effortlessly. And if it's true for the form that is considered extremely artsy and whimsical, it must be true for other art forms, I think.

[@zoe_bee]

This is geuninely one of the most helpful videos on the platform right now. Actually fits really well in conjunction with Jane McGonigal's "Imaginable" - just thinking in concrete, detailed terms about your goals (and what specific actions can get you there) can literally be the thing that gets you to your destination!

[@FruitSnackMatt]

This is pure gold and exactly what I needed to see today. Thank you!

[@ozgoldtimes]

I've been stuck with creative block lately from too much freedom and then BAM your video pops up on my feed like it was a sign from above! Fastastic video man it really nailed what I'm currently going through thanks for making this also been subbed for a while really dig this channel cheers struthless

[@whiteknightgfry]

this is another analogy for creativity that I like: imagine you're given 1,000 different colors to paint a picture. it seems like a dream come true for an artist, as you would have essentially every color imaginable at your disposal to create whatever you'd like. Theoretically this would increase creativity, but it actually is detrimental compared to an artist only given 3 or 4 colors to paint with. The limited colors of paint force restrictions on your creativity --though not TOO restricted-- which in turn makes you think outside of the box. It seems so contradictory, yet placing restrictions or giving structure to your creativity actually increases it rather than being diminished it. Thank you for this inspiring and provocative piece, you have added a new realm of depth in my mind as well as I'm sure in others watching this.

[@RedDescent]

You just clearly verbalized something that I have been struggling with for YEARS. One of my friends asked me to DIY paint her clothes, but she gave me a specific/well-developed theme. That was the most fun I had designing something in a hot minute because, although I had a constraint, my idea generation was so focused and efficient. Now, that same friend has asked me to paint a new article of clothing but, this time, I have no constraints. The theme is so vague and she has asked me to make sense of it for her. I haven't moved on from the brainstorming phase and the art is due next week 😅.

[@lanabee2732]

As a writer I've come back to this video so many times now and it is incredibly helpful! 💙

[@davemeyers9425]

Fantastic, great job! There is so much good helpful things to think about here! I like the idea of taking the pressure off by writing 2 crappy pages a day. I also like done is better than perfect. I have heard a saying “don’t let perfection get in the way of excellence.” Thanks for sharing! 🙂

[@davidvonallmen19]

Wow, man, such a great way of thinking about this. I'm a fiction writer who has had a lot of success in the past but have been struggling to produce lately. This video really clarified some things for me. Really appreciate you making this and putting it out there.

[@GaruxPuru]

This is exactly the sort of advice I needed to see today. Thank you. I always thought about art as this delicious elixir that you brew, but unless it's put into a container will just spill out in every direction and be completely undrinkable.