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Vera's avatar

Gamblers... Damn, that's a perfect description. That's why it feels like an addiction.

“It’s a game of hope, the most addictive game of all, and it keeps the content flowing.”

You are a magician. You made me think and I highly appreciate it. You've put a pause into my racing brain and that's anything short of a miracle. ❤️

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Philipp's avatar

Reading this made my day, I'm glad it sparked some reflections.

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Vera's avatar

You have a gift and I’m glad you’re sharing it. Thank you for your insight. It’s very valuable. ❤️

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Stuart Found's avatar

Really enjoyed this piece - it's exactly what I needed to hear, because I've been creating on here for a few months now, staying true to my goal, and after some decent growth needed to take things a bit slower for my own sanity 👀 it's a relief to feel like what I'm doing is actually the right approach in the long run 🙏

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Philipp's avatar

Nice to hear you joined us on the slow path.

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Stateless Shaun's avatar

It’s crazy how much energy we waste following the house rules.

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Zeina Zayour's avatar

What a brilliant metaphor, Philipp. I also loved the self-awareness in your line “before this turns into another monster”., if made me smile. I wonder if the card holder and magician could be where the metaphors pause, sometimes adding more can blur what’s already clear. Especially the magician, the sovereign creator stays awake, self-aware, and guided by inner truth, not by mirages or roles that pull them away from themselves.

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Philipp's avatar

Thanks Zeina :) I actually had written the whole article when I realized it's better to make break. You're absolutely right about adding more can blur what’s already clear. I will keep that in mind.

BTW I love how you framed the sovereign creator, who stays awake, self-aware, and guided by inner truth.

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Zeina Zayour's avatar

Thanks Philipp. Your notes often remind me when I forget these very same things I am telling you.

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Philipp's avatar

It happens to all of us.

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Rob's avatar

Great read. Lately I've also been reflecting on the fickle game-like nature of trying to keep up with the algorithm.

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JEN CERERO ✨'s avatar

Phillip, great reflection. One thing that stands is the genius metaphor you have used to explain the rules (the complexity of the creator industry) loved it! I think I can sense it is an honest sharing.

I personally disagree with the cringe part; I think the cringe isn’t necessarily because we aren’t in alignment with ourselves, but because the cringe feeling comes as a way of jumping on the possibility of shame, which is the external approval we are afraid of losing , to break of social contract to belong to what is considered good in the “social norms.” Not sure if I understood this part wrong. :p Anyway, thank you for bringing this conversation to the table and making it so interesting and fun to read. ✨

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Witold Riedel's avatar

What a great article and what a perfect analogy. I am a wizard, not an illusionist. Ha.

My entire practice of ceramics is literally based on a similar story when Sen no Rikyū (千利休, 1522–1591) participated in the huge tea ceremony of Kitano. His master Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉, 1537–1598) had created a place for so many tea masters and he was the one with the golden room. But Sen no Rikyū had a special bowl made that was smaller, more modest. The copy of that bowl led me to a project of drinking tea and led me to the Raku master who taught me how to carve clay. The point is that sometimes an audience of one can bring a higher fulfillment and open more important ways forward than an angry crowd that clicks before it thinks.

Thank you again. Cheers from Lisbon

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