Maker Mind

Becoming young.

Hi friends!

This is officially the second half of the year. Saying that the first 50% of 2020 did not go as planned is an understatement. Many of us had goals, dreams, and projects which didn't happen. Many have struggled to just survive.

If you are reading this: congrats, you made it so far! Whether you have achieved your goals or not, whether your projects worked out or not—be kind to yourself. Those are extraordinary circumstances. In such a chaotic context, nobody is expecting anyone to be a productivity fairy.

You might feel older, but this period of chaos may be an opportunity to embrace our inner child, to rediscover the innocent creativity of our younger years—to become young.

This week, we will discuss finding the balance between our inner child and our inner critic. I also interviewed Alyssa X, an incredibly talented designer and developer. We talked about combinational creativity, self-motivation, and more.

Enjoy the read, and hit reply if you have any questions, feedback, or want to say hello!

p.s. Feeling bored? You can watch a video walkthrough of me taking notes.

Brain food

Inner child and inner critic: a battle for creativity
“It takes a very long time to become young,” Pablo Picasso once said. Adults miss the innocent curiosity of their youth; artists strive to reclaim their lost childlike creativity. The creative process feels like a constant battle between an inner child and an inner critic. Can this battle turn into balance?

Interview: Creative challenges with Alyssa X
Many people aspire to launch successful side projects while doing great at their full-time job. This is exactly what Alyssa has achieved. We discussed coming up with original ideas, staying motivated, using social media thoughtfully, the benefits of remote work, and much more.

Quote the web with Quotebacks
A review of a tiny but mighty tool which aims to make hyperlinks smarter, so we can foster transparency and generosity on the Internet.

Brain candy

Unusual applications of spaced repetition memory systems (Andy Matuschak)
“While spaced repetition systems are primarily designed to help people remember facts, their flashcard mechanism can be used for a variety of other purposes.”

What is neuroplasticity? (Positive Psychology)
“In the 1960s, it was discovered that neurons could “reorganize” after a traumatic event. Further research found that stress can change not only the functions but also the structure of the brain itself.”

Digital Hygiene 101 (Onur Solmaz)
“7 rules to help you retain control over your screen time, without having to leave social media for good, ordered from most important to least important.”

Brain trust

Have a sneak peek behind the scenes... Here is some of what's going on in the members area this week:

• Next meetup. Our next meetup will be all about the tension between structure and spontaneity. Register.
• Community. Currently discussing topics such as mental wealth, reading fiction or non-fiction, and interstitial journaling.. Join the conversation.
• Journaling. We had an amazing meetup where everyone candidly shared their experience with journaling.
• Mind Match. Do you prefer 1:1 conversations? All members can fill this form to get matched with a fellow member for a virtual coffee chat.