Consume or Create?

"If a fire consumes something, it destroys it completely."

Author

Rafa TV
November 11, 2023

(approx. reading time: 5 minutes)

Bon dia, my friends.

Picture yourself scrolling through social media, watching videos, and playing games non-stop. You’re eating and dreaming about the next bathroom break, where you’ll still be glued to the screen.

There is no production of anything. This could be a dystopian future where nobody does anything; we just consume content, energy, time, buy goods and services, etc.

Is this against our nature? Is there a problem with being just a consumer? Could overindulging in consumption and pleasure be the end of humanity? I don't know.

Will creativity be a forgotten art?

I used to feel a bit embarrassed about being so excited about Universal Basic Rent. I wouldn't have to worry about survival; I could just enjoy life.

But everything changed when...

I attempted to stop using my phone from 10 o'clock at night until 10 o'clock in the morning.

Difficult ++.

I tracked how many hours I was consuming content per day.

Oh, holly mama.

I am a digital addict. I am consuming all day long. (Does it sound a bit uncomfortable to put it that way?) And besides, I consume random content when I don't have clear goals for my life and experience a lack of motivation. No bueno...

Some say: In a world where AI rules, where jobs are a relic of the past and money is obsolete, what’s left for us? What will motivate us? What will provide us with a sense of usefulness? A wave of existential crises ensues. We will face a challenging moment of mental and emotional discomfort.

I think the future will be defined by this question: What are you going to do with your free time? Currently, the vast majority of people are enslaved by their jobs, needing to work to survive. This may change in the future.

Automation and AI will change the economic landscape and redefine the capitalist dream.

We will have more time for ourselves. Some people will set new goals, while others might feel lost without their usual roles and purposes.

What will be the new driving force to ensure the survival and well-being of our loved ones when we no longer need to exchange goods and services?

What the fuck does all this have to do with creativity?

What is creativity?

Creativity is not only painting a picture; it is the ability to use our minds to solve current and future problems so we can adapt to difficult situations. Creativity is the lens through which we navigate life, helping us connect with our deepest needs.

We employ creativity in a myriad of different ways in our daily lives: thinking, talking, writing, at work, or playing football. We are creative in our social and intimate interactions; it’s our default mode.

The first years of our lives were super important for us, and creativity played a significant role. It gave us problem-solving abilities, improvement of fine motor skills, concentration, focus, and the ability to create self-confidence to grow through practice.

As children, we were in a constant state of creation, exploring new stuff, playing, and marveling at the world's wonders. Then, for some of us, that creative flow went away, far away.

I’m convinced that, as adults, we need to rediscover this positive and empowering mental state. Everybody has the need to create and reconnect with the children we once were.

Why is it important?

Why did we enjoy creating so much as children? Maybe because creativity is in our genes. Imagine a prehistoric dude consuming all day: eating, drinking, consuming, and using resources without end. Taking shit after shit while they consume media...

We wouldn't have survived on Earth if we hadn’t harnessed creativity and problem-solving. We wouldn't have carved new tools to hunt, devised strategies for wilderness survival, or discovered fire.

We need to be creative to feel mentally alive.

Some people love their jobs, but most do not. Still, present us with problems that require solutions. When we solve problems, we are being creative, and we feel useful. The less a job demands creativity, the more likely we are to despise it because it lacks intellectual reward.

What happens when we don't need to work and don't have a reason to fight? If we don't need to solve problems, we will consume all day. Our minds will always take the path of least resistance, leaving our distressed emotions unaddressed.

Maybe one solution is to turn inward, connect with what makes us human, and explore our creative potential.


In the 16th century, it was said that there are three kinds of intelligence: animal, human (our use of language and express thoughts), and artistic creativity, which involves aesthetic value.

Nobody knows why we are able to use artistic creativity and where it originates. It is what sets us apart from all other animals.

"We’re on the brink of a world where creating isn’t just a hobby—it’s our identity, our purpose, and our sanctuary amidst the AI storm." AI wrote this, damn!

I think that creativity will become the new healthy trend, perhaps even the new "sport." We will force ourselves to create to survive, to feel a bit more human.

We need to feel connected. We need to have fun. We need to experience growth. We need to enter a state of flow and enjoy the act of creation. We need to feel OK, and we need an anchor.

The future is unknown, and we must utilize every available resource. I am trying not to ignore this creative awakening.

So... Here is the kick-off:

Why is creating something so damn difficult to do for some of us? Next week, I'll explain why I've developed an aversion toward the act of creation.

Now might be a good time to welcome creation into our lives and understand the true motivations that drive this action.

Hope to see you soon!

Stay kind.

My news picks

Watch Elon Musk and PM Rishi Sunak's conversation about AI’s future landscape.

A perfect memory is now possible.

Cool tools and more…

  • Nintee helps you break bad habits and achieve personal goals.

  • Chatmind. Watch your mind maps take shape in a breeze. Adjust maps conversationally.

  • Reclaim.ai analyzes where you spend time so you can maximize your productivity.

  • Dot helps you remember, organize, and navigate your life.

  • Recast turns articles into podcasts. Could it be the future of reading?

  • Grok is the new conversational AI created by Elon Musk. It will help you understand the universe, he says.

  • Detangle simplifies the complexity of legal documents.

  • Penny acts as your personal shopping advisor, finding the best deals for you.

  • DebatersAI boosts your insights from debate outcomes.

And that’s all. I hope these insights, news, and tools help you in some way!

Thanks for your time.

Stay kind.

Rafa TV