ABOUT MY NEW OBSESSION WITH PLANTS

If you didn’t know. I’ve been obsessed with plants lately. I went over to my friend's house two months ago (they recently moved up from LA) and their house was filled with plants. I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. My friend was also in the middle of “propagating” a plant that day (I didn’t know what that meant at the moment), but he dropped the plant and he freaked out. I honestly didn’t know what the big deal was. “You guys are weird,” I said. And they just laughed. Probably because they knew that eventually, I would be just as obsessed as they were, and this would all make sense sooner than later.

Long story short, just a month later, I have 25+ plants in my room and I’m obsessed with them. I frequent plant shops now, and I know all the best shops in San Francisco. Whether you’re looking for pots, plants, or soil, I know them all. I also know a guy who’s got the hookup for super rare plants if you’re ever on the hunt for, say, a Monstera Thai Constellation. 

But what’s the big deal? Why plants?

I’ve only recently come to realize that I’ve always been around plants. Growing up, my parents always brought me to Home Depot to go plant shopping and I saw my mom working in the garden every week. When I finally got my drivers license at the age of 16, she always asked me to drive her to the plant shops and I’d get so annoyed and frustrated and just say a hard, “No!” (I’m such a bad kid). So I guess in a way, this was all destined to happen. It’s just funny that it’s happening now. 

A little back story.

I’ve noticed in myself that whenever I’m going through a big change in my life, I will go about rearranging my room. And yes, I did this before Marie Kondo came onto the scene. Going through my things and donating large garbage bags of random items to Goodwill was a regular thing for me. Running back and forth from IKEA and measuring all the furniture to make sure everything fit just right wasn’t foreign. I’m a bit OCD when it comes to my room arrangement because I know how sensitive I am to my environment. And granted, since I can only afford to live in this tiny room in the San Francisco Bay, I seek to make the most of it. 

(I probably also get this from my parents, when my college sweetheart and I broke up, my mom asked if it happened before or after I rearranged my furniture - Feng Shui).

Most recently, I’ve repainted my walls white. Before that, my walls were a dark blue. It suited the “dark ages” of my life as I’d like to call it. That was when I was heavy into my series “I think I’m just lonely,” and in the beginning phases of doing black and white video. 

But the past few months I’ve been feeling a change. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve started to spend more time with my friends. A different group of friends. Ones that I feel love and accept me for who I am. Ones that I feel energize me, instead of drain me when I’m with them. I look forward to seeing them. And they look forward to seeing me. In addition to a resurged social life. I’ve also changed my mindset on art, on money, on my career, and myself.

Before, I felt like I had to make money as a full-time artist in order to actually call myself an artist. I don’t do that anymore. I’ve built up a strong enough portfolio to the point where I know, from this point on, whatever happens, I can call myself an artist and have the work to back it up. I can say that with confidence. And that means something. 

Back then, I hated money. I thought it was the root of all evil. But now I see it as a tool to get me where I need to go. There are real money problems in the world. And in order to live the life I want to live and create the change I want to see in the world, I must have money working in my favor. I never actually wanted to make much money because I felt I would become a rich asshole as a result. I’ve rehabbed my relationship with money now, as weird as it sounds. I could probably still be better at it, but we’re good now.

Turning 30 does things to you. It makes you think. Think about things you normally wouldn’t think about, or to put it another way, it makes you think about things that you’ve thought about briefly in the past but now with a little more weight. You feel your mortality a little more. You feel the passage of time more. The wrinkles on your face grow a little deeper. And for the life of you, you’ve got to face the fact that if you’re going to make some real changes in your life, you’ve got to do it now. 

I want to accept myself for who I am. 

I admit. I’m weird. I’m not your typical kid who grew up in the sunset district. I left San Francisco as soon as I could when I got into UCLA for college. I forced my way into the film program and was the only Asian-American man trying to create stories regarding our identity. I moved abroad as soon as I finished college. And soon as that was over, I went out to NYC because I wanted nothing to do with my hometown. For a long time, the place made me sick. For some reason, it represented lackluster, old, thoughts, ideas, and identities that I wanted to get as far away from as possible.

But I ended up back here. With my parents. With no dollar signs to show for it and just a bunch of artwork that wasn’t generating any sort of income. I kept trying. But things weren’t looking up. Eventually, this past year, I got a 9-5 job. It’s definitely the most uneventful job I’ve ever had. But I also notice the benefits of having the stability of knowing exactly what’s going to happen Monday - Friday, 365 days of the year. I’m no longer stressing about my next paycheck. No longer putting all my weight and success on this next project I’m working on. No longer over identifying myself with my art. And acknowledging the fact that it’s ok to not make money as an artist. It’s ok to do things for money. It’s okay to take a step back and take care of myself, for once.

So, plants.

You might think plants are a lot of work. After all, you gotta water them. They need the proper amount of sunlight. What if they die? Doesn’t it attract bugs and spiders and stuff? None of these things are wrong. They are all things you have to think about when you decide to introduce plants into your life. But one other thing that you also introduce with all those tangibles is the concept of care. More so, the concept of how taking care of plants reminds you of how to take care of yourself. 

You might think to yourself. Wait, if you want to take care of yourself. Why don’t you just take care of yourself? Good question. And it makes me think of the few times when I had to take care of my parent's cats and dogs. For any of you who have ever owned a pet, you know that you need to be on a pretty strict schedule. Take the dogs out for a walk every 3-4 hours. Feed the cat every morning. Change out the litter box once a week. Or to put it simply, you’re placed on a schedule, and the livelihood of these beings are your responsibility. If they fail, you failed.

Not unlike plants, if they die, it’s because of something you did or did not do. So, plants, at least their role in my life right now, is sort of like a mirror. And sort of like practice. By being mindful of what the plants need — the care, attention, and love — I get to go through the motions of helping something thrive. And by going through those motions I also get to mirror those same motions in my life. Seeing how much “light” I also need, how much “water”, how much “love” or sometimes, just how much “alone time” because, yes, plants, too, can die if you smother them too much with your love. 

I find the regular sight of just seeing my plants thriving makes me happy because it’s also a reminder that I am capable of not just taking care of others, but I can also take care of myself. It’s almost as if, without these outside signifiers of what you’re capable of, you, yourself, can forget that you are capable of creating those same positive changes in your life. After all, we are our own worst critics, so maybe it’s a bit beneficial to have something outside of us to remind us that despite it all, and our past, and our traumas, and fears, we’re still capable of helping something thrive. In this case, plants. In this case, ourselves.

So, long story, I know. Plants?? Of all things? I know. But I suggest you try it. If there’s something you’re going through. That’s right. Become responsible for something. Because it places you on a schedule. And it holds you accountable. And it forces you to do things that you might not normally do, like care for something and help for something thrive. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all play a role in our own demise. So maybe it’s also a good idea for us to remind ourselves that we could also play a role in our own success. For you, it might not be plants. It could be a dog or a cat. It could be taking on a new hobby. A new skill. Anything, really, to remind yourself that you are capable. And regardless of all the trials and tribulations that you’ve been through, you are still capable of living the life you want to live. Just one step at a time. Or in my case, one plant at a time. I wish you all the best.

by Jason Lam

WILLY WONKA MIGHT JUST BE RIGHT

"Want to change the world? There's nothing to it"
- Willy Wonka

Sometimes I think the “secret to success” is to not know that something is difficult. Ask anyone if changing the world for the better is difficult and most people will say yes. But what if you didn’t know it was difficult? Willy Wonka might just be right.

by Jason Lam

COMING INTO FORMATION

Just the other day, rapper Bas, just dropped his new single “Fried Rice” using my photo. Granted, they put their own artistic spin on it to have his name on the take out box. No matter. I was hyped and today I wake up realizing how all the random things in my life are coming into formation. From being a confused kid studying screenwriting in film school. To traveling abroad to studying Chinese in Taiwan and deciding to pursue photography in NYC. To getting burnt out and moving back home with my parents and pursuing my personal projects, my style, to Barely Evolved Apes, to feeling lost again and having to find faith in myself again. In me, my signature, and being able to finally look at it all and realize, hey, I’m actually coming into myself. All these random things in my life. The detours. The conversations. The rejections. The ignored messages. They all worked to get me where I am today. And I’m excited. I can only see the vague silhouette of where I’m going to be, but I see it in the distance now, and it’s greater than anything I could’ve ever imagined. 

Here’s the original photo, from my series, “Welcome Home”:

by Jason Lam

LIFE LESSON FROM MOVIE CRITICS

Back when I was in film school we often had to put our little films up on the big screen for all to see, and for all to critique.

The problem with most criticism is it’s often given based on the movie others want to see, not necessarily based on the message you want to convey.

Good criticism takes into consideration where you are in your life and what you’re trying to achieve.

We’re all writing our own life stories and taking feedback along the way.

Make sure you’re selective about who you take criticism from.

Most people are just out to craft your story so that it fits neatly into theirs.

Listen to those who take your unique situation into consideration and ignore the rest.

Make your own movie.

by Jason Lam

THE END OF THE RAINBOW

If there’s something you want to do, you’ve got to at least give yourself a shot and try to get to the end of the rainbow. You might find that after reaching the end of the rainbow it’s not what you thought it was going to be. You might find that it’s not what you expected. That in fact, what you found at the end of the rainbow is actually, just so-so compared to what you had in mind and all the stories you've heard. But at least you went out and found out for yourself. At least you gave yourself a shot. At least you tried. The last thing you want to do is to be lying on your death bed wondering, “What if?”. When you ask yourself that question you riddle yourself with all these delusional thoughts of, “If only I did 'x,' I’d be so much better off”. But how do you know that for sure? You don’t know that. It’s all in your head. A figment of your imagination. But if you give yourself a shot at going down that road, you get to find out for yourself. Yeah, it might not be exactly what you wanted it to be, and so damn, you lose. Guess you gotta find something else then. But at least you save yourself from ever having to wonder, "What if?". At the same time, it might actually be exactly what you thought it would be. It might even be better than what you could've ever imagined! So either way, you win! Whether it meets your expectations or not. You win. You don’t have to ask yourself "What if?". You don’t have to have regrets. Every mountain, you’ve climbed. Every rock, you’ve turned. Every idea you’ve had, you’ve pursued. So if you see a rainbow in your life's sky, go ahead and do yourself a favor. Get to the very end of the rainbow and find out for yourself if you really do want that pot of gold.

by Jason Lam

LITTLE DECISIONS, BIG RESULTS

I think it’s a mistake to think that in order to make big changes in your life, you need to make big decisions. I want to change my life for the better! So I’m going to buy a one-way ticket abroad and never come back! You can’t fire me! I quit! Fuck it! Yolo!

Why does everything have to be so dramatic?

I get it. Why shouldn’t it be dramatic? You really think that I can change my life just by taking tiny steps here and there? That’s not what they show in the movies. That’s not what they talk about on all the inspirational videos I’ve watched. I need to take the leap! I need to go all in! I need to hustle!

To be honest, those things do work, but I just want to say that that’s not the only way.

I started changing my life by doing very little things every day. Making my bed. Writing in my journal (3 pages minimum). Counting my blessings (10 every morning) and sticking to a workout schedule that’s very basic and ordinary.

None of these things will win me cool points on instagram. None of these things will garner oohs and ahh when I share it with my friends. It’s so simple and boring that it’s almost as if I’m not doing anything. But that’s a perception I think holds more people back than it helps them move forward.

Human beings are very visual creatures. If I can’t see my muscles grow bigger. If I can’t see my bank account going sky high, I’ll start to think that whatever it is that I’m doing is not working. But let’s also think about all these other things that affect our lives that we can’t necessarily see. Like the effects of being surrounded by people who love and support you. The effect the weather has on you. Or the slow effects of time and how we all grow old. We can’t see any of these things, but they happen. Does it have to be that in order for us to make progress in life, it needs to be immediately “see-able”?

I think we’d all benefit if we can embrace the idea of little decisions, big results. Like driving a car on the highway, you only have to turn the steering wheel ever so slightly to completely change the direction you’re going. Is life really that different? Sure, we’re not moving at 75 miles per hour so it’s harder to see, but we are moving forward nonetheless, and yes, the little tiny decisions you make every day changes the course of your life over the span of a lifetime.

You might not think that journaling every morning can do much. Counting your blessings. Sticking to a simple workout routine. Making your bed! How can that do anything? C’mon man, I need the quick dramatic hit! I need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a life coach! I need a complete overhaul!

Do you?

Or do you maybe just need to evolve a little bit every day? Could it be that tiny steps over a span of a lifetime can take you exactly where you need to go? That progress need not be dramatic? That progress need not even be see-able? Do we really need our friends to see our progress on social media in order for us to want to continue on with it?

Speaking from personal experience, these little things that I do every day has changed my life. I’ve become a happier person. I’ve also become a better person to be around. Before I made these little changes, I was in a very dark place and I was not a fun person to be around.

But then I started waking up a little earlier every morning. I started accepting that a boring workout routine is better than none at all. I started journaling. I started acknowledging how my own thoughts and perception of life was what was holding me back. I admitted to my own faults and started making tiny little decisions to steer myself back towards the direction I want to go.

The direction I want to go is a life full of love, fun, and excitement. I want to live every day knowing that I am growing, challenging myself in meaningful ways, and progressing in every way possible. I also want to share everything I learn with others in the hopes that it helps you too. Only, I’ve come to find that big changes like these don’t have to come with big actions.

If you’re feeling like you’ve stalled in life and you need to get back into alignment with yourself, choose one tiny thing you can do today and every day after that to get you back on track. For you, it could be something totally different from me. You might come to find that it’s helpful to make yourself breakfast every morning. You might find that it’s beneficial to go for a brisk walk in the evenings. You might find that sometimes, you just need to sit around and do nothing. Or who knows, you might want to indulge in a little hobby, or you could be like me and do simple things like writing in your journal every day. Throughout a span of a lifetime these tiny actions will build up and if you stay consistent enough you might wake up one day and realize you’re exactly where you wanted to be, even though it seems like you’ve done nothing at all.

Little decisions. Big results.

by Jason Lam

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS WITH MY 1994 MIATA

Lately, I’ve been leaning more towards working on things that have answers.

In art, you never really know if what you’re doing is good or bad. You don’t know if something is right or wrong. Everything’s based on intuition alone and depending on who you ask, some people will love what you do, and some will hate it. 

Sometimes, art just gets way too subjective and you don’t know if you’re making forward progress or back and it can send you spiraling down this rabbit hole of self-doubt, anxiety, and hopelessness.

That’s why I’ve been finding myself doing things like woodworking, carpentry, and most recently, cars like my 1994 Miata.

The 1994 Mazda Miata is not perfect. It’s got its usual bumps and bruises for being a 25-year-old car. There are tons of things to fix and maintain. However, none of it really gives me a headache because there are definite answers. My brake pads are getting a little thin so I just need to replace them with a new pair of brake pads. I know exactly where to buy them, and when they come in the mail, I know I need to use a 14 mm socket wrench to loosen the bolts on the brake caliper and swap out the old ones with the new. 

Additionally, the license plate was a little bent, so I just took it off, flattened it against a ton of heavy books, and there, a straight license plate. Problem fixed.

The windshield wipers were a little wonky. So I bought a new pair at the auto shop down the street from my house and yet again, fixed.

I know I shouldn’t expect art to be as easy as buying new parts and being able to swap things in and out so seamlessly. Part of the allure of art is the lack of answers and definite processes in the first place.

But I’ve spent 10 years making art and I’m starting to find it’s quite nice to have limitations every once in a while. It resolves the “paradox of choice,” it takes away analysis paralysis, and overall, it just helps me be a happier, healthier person.

I know I’ve always advocated for staying true to your voice and going out and living the life you want regardless of limitations. But I’m surprised myself, how a few limitations can go a long way.

If you’ve been caught in limbo, can’t tell which way is left from right, feel stagnant, and almost feel like you’ve lost your way in life, maybe look into doing things with definite answers. It doesn’t have to be a car. It could be signing up for a martial arts class, or deciding to get into plants. Whatever it is, I think it’s important to nurture ourselves as artists. And if that means taking a complete left turn and finding the joy in changing out the engine oil, (Miata’s take synthetic oil 5W-30 btw) then so be it.

Longevity plays such a large role in one's success. I think we all deserve a little pitstop every once in a while to preserve our sanity, take care of ourselves, and allow ourselves a little break from having to create the “next big thing” all the time.

by Jason Lam

10 CREATIVE ART + PHOTOGRAPHY PROMPTS

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with your next photography project idea, so here are some prompts I’ve come up with that could help you:

1. What makes you angry? Anger isn’t the most pleasant feeling, but sometimes, that anger can be used as fuel for your creativity. What upsets you? What do you feel very strongly about? Address that issue. Dissect it. Offer solutions and your perspective on the matter through your work.

2. What do you feel is underrepresented? As a photographer, you are also the highlighter. You put a spotlight on things that others might overlook. So what are some things that you think deserve a voice but have gone unnoticed for far too long?

3. Look back into your childhood. I know, this might sound cliche, but stories from our past are always rich and textured in ways that looking outward lacks. Dig deep. Look through old photos. Have conversations and revisit old stories from your childhood. I’m sure you’d be able to come up with something fun from there.

4. Choose a lens, any lens. Sometimes I like to shoot a project with only a prime lens. Some might think it’s boring, but I like the consistency and I like how the lack of options can also provide direction and give you a place to go. Sometimes, when you’re stuck and you have no idea what to do, just choosing to go with, say a 35mm lens could be enough.

5. Choose a color, or no color. Do a series in all color, or not. Like the tip above, purposely limiting yourself can be a great way to stimulate your imagination.

6. Remix old work. Sometimes you don’t necessarily need to create new content. Sometimes you can just revisit existing content you’ve made throughout your career as an artist and just repurpose it. Who knows, maybe you can combine your photos and video, or even mix in some sound. New work doesn’t always have to be “new”.

7. Collaborate with a friend. This is always fun. No, it doesn’t have to be epic, what’s wrong with a casual weekend art gathering? I sometimes don’t let myself collaborate with others because I want everything to be too amazing. But hey, sometimes a simple get together and throwing some ink on paper is all you need to get your creative juices flowing again. Plus, it’s a good excuse to see your friends =)

8. Do something totally different. That’s right, don’t try to make “art” at all. Learn a new skill. Take an acting class. Decide to spend an afternoon learning about cars or making beats! Sometimes being creative is hard to do when all you're trying to do is be creative. Give yourself a break and do something totally out of the ordinary. I’ve come to find that the lateral shifts often help inform my work by providing a different lens to look at the world. It can be quite nice.

9. Change up the scenery. Sometimes it’s our surroundings that get us into a ditch. Sure, I like consistency, and I like sticking to a schedule, but sometimes all it takes is to just go to a different cafe for once or maybe sit at a different part of the house. Maybe go a different route to work to spark things up once again. The change might not be monumental, but it might just be the little nudge you need to spark a new flame.

10. Do nothing. I know, it seems like my advice is getting more and more lazy, but there’s a method to my madness. I’ve gotten tired and jaded before. Sometimes, all you need is to take a break. Relax. Do nothing. You might come to find that your greatest ideas will sometimes end up finding you. It’s weird. The creative flame is almost like a cat. Try too hard getting its attention and it ignores you, but leave it alone and then it comes to find you.

Anyways, hope those tips are of use to you. Until next time.

by Jason Lam

EXPOSE YOURSELF

Art can reveal parts of yourself that you yourself don't even know exists. Sure, it can express joy, but most often, we find that it expresses pain. Mainly because it’s often quite difficult to find a safe space to express our struggles without being ridiculed for being weak. So, art, because if you can’t tell so immediately that I am crying, I might have a fighting chance at getting you to actually listen. Dig deep enough into any famous song, movie, or dance, and you will find that there is always a constant element of sadness or longing, or of a void that needs to be filled.

If we do not express ourselves, we are not free. We become trapped by our own silence. If we try to hide or run away, we are only cheating ourselves. Often, we may not even know what is bothering us until we allow ourselves the freedom to just run wild and free and create without inhibition.

I've sort of been surprising myself with the types of photos I've been taking the past couple of years. You probably guessed that I'm talking about @ithinkimjustlonely. I can't help but notice the benefits of allowing myself to express that side of me. It’s like having a container to put all my darkness. I don't run away. I don't hide. Instead, I acknowledge the darkness and give it the respect it deserves. And by doing so I am not trapped by it. I am not paralyzed. Instead, I can harness the darkness to be used for good. Like right now, to spark conversations about the benefits of art, or the ever-increasing problems of loneliness, depression, and anxiety in our world today.

Please don't think I'm bragging. And no this is not an attempt to get likes and followers. It’s my attempt at sharing an idea that’s been very beneficial to me, and I hope it can help you too. Keep creating and allow yourself to be free.

by Jason Lam

PORTRAITURE

There was always a big part of me that absolutely adored portraiture. In my eyes, the tallest order of what defines you as a great photographer is your ability to take a great portrait. After all, if you take a great portrait, you can look at it for the rest of your life. A great portrait is not just a symbol of who you are, but a nod to who you were, and an acknowledgment of who you intend to be. It’s the past, present, and future all compacted into one two-dimensional frame. 

And then, there’s me.

In the beginning, I often tried to take photos without putting too much of me in it. I was a big fan of documentary photography and I always found it quite peculiar how one can capture great photos while being a “fly on the wall”. However, after creating my own documentary projects, I found out that being a fly on the wall is a myth. There’s no way you can be a fly on the wall because you are physically there in the same space as your subjects and your mere presence changes the way they behave.

So then, what’s the role of the photographer?

Much more than just taking the photo, that’s for sure.

The photographer is equal parts magician, chef, therapist, a loving parent, coach, and so much more. But I think the most important role of the photographer is of acceptance and encouragement. As a photographer, you must welcome your subject into your frame with open arms, as they are. Furthermore, you must encourage them to be not just who they are, but who they intend to be. The photographer, in a way, is a sort of archaeologist, digging into the essence of who you are and what you represent in order to capture the raw essence of you. 

And then there’s me, again, the inescapable me that just has to be in the photo.

But the question is, how exactly am I inserting myself in there?

And the answer: I insert myself in the photos with my values and what I believe to be not just a good portrait, but a good life. 

I aim to take photos of people that are raw, honest, but most importantly, empowering. For you to feel confident for who you are at that very moment. For you to feel safe. For you to feel that wherever you are in your life, that’s exactly where you need to be. Wherever you want to go, you have it in you to get you there. I aim to take photos that speak to the most authentic parts of you, as I believe we live our happiest most fulfilling lives when we are able to not just truly express ourselves, but to be witnessed and accepted for everything that we are, and everything we will become.

by Jason Lam

THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE IS A GIFT YOU GIVE TO YOURSELF

I've been thinking a lot about the gift I wanted to give myself for turning 30.

It's something I've been thinking about for the better part of the year and I'm almost turning 31 so I better hurry up!

At first, I was set on getting an Apple Watch. Then my friend got me one as a thank you for officiating his wedding (it was nerve-wracking, btw). So then I had my eyes set on a cool little sports car from the 90s. After all, it’s a teenage dream I never got around to fulfilling, but the search became ever longer and the more time passed by, the more I had to admit to myself that as cool as it is, it won’t make me any more happy.

So what was it? What did I truly want?

As some of you may know, throughout the past couple of years I've been struggling with an identity crisis. I've been struggling to make ends meet as an artist, as a photographer, and I've tossed in the towel at least 3 times by now. Once, by just trying to be someone else and hide behind the name, @ithinkimjustlonely, and another time, doing a 180 and becoming a YouTuber under Barely Evolved Apes.

But something was still missing.

What was it?

And the answer has been staring me right in the face every day.

I wasn't being myself.

Better yet, I wasn't allowing myself to be fully myself.

Instead, I was only taking half steps. Just kind of doing everything. But never fully committing to showing my face and standing for something.

So my gift to myself as I turn 30 is to start allowing myself to be fully myself, which I've come to find isn't as easy as just a one-time decision. It’s an everyday endeavor to remind myself to stop hiding, to take space, and to be proud of what I've done and what I will continue to do.

I'm an artist. I like to dance, travel, write and take photos. Sometimes I go off on tangents and create new brands like Barely Evolved Apes. Other times I go interior and get sucked too far into my emotions like @ithinkimjustlonely. Sometimes I want to conquer the world! Other times, I like to just do nothing, whatever it is, this is all of me. My name is Jason Lam, and I’m an artist.

by Jason Lam

3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD "JUST DO IT"

Nike has a great slogan:

JUST DO IT

But let’s break it down a bit. Here are three reasons why you should “Just do it”.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll define “it” as the life you’ve been wanting to live.

1. Just do it - Because no one's going to ask you to do it. No one is going to magically show up at your door one day and be like, “OMG! So there you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” and present your dream life to you on a silver platter. It seems to happen a lot in movies, but that's about it.

2. Keep doing it - Because after you've summoned up the courage to start, you will find that it’s much harder than you thought. You might get lonely, depressed, and lose motivation. Remind yourself to keep going because no one is going to tell you to keep going either. You need to be your own motivation. Find ways to keep yourself engaged, and just keep doing it.

3. Don't forget why you’re doing it - After you’ve pushed yourself further than you ever have before, you might feel like there’s still no hope. You might start thinking that it's time to quit. And maybe you should! But before you do that, remind yourself of why you got started in the first place. It could be that you're exactly where you want to be, and you’ve just forgotten why you came all this way in the first place. If after doing so, you still feel it's time to pursue other endeavors, so be it, at least it was a well-thought decision. But you may also find that you will want to keep going. That perhaps, you didn't want to quit, you may have just needed a break, to recalibrate, to get back to your sense and remind yourself why you started doing it.. and then just do it, again.

by Jason Lam

CURATE THE STORIES YOU TELL YOURSELF

Life is a series of repeated stories, isn’t it? And life proceeds to go the way it goes based on the stories we choose to repeat to ourselves.

There’s a big difference between:

I’m a shy insecure artist and I will never amount to anything.

VS.

I’m a shy insecure artist, but I am working on it and one day I will be great.

Based on the story you repeat to yourself, your behaviors will change, the way you interact with others will change. And you guessed it. Your life will change. So given how potentially helpful and harmful the stories we tell ourselves can be, why not curate the stories we tell ourselves? That’s right. Curate your stories like how one would curate the art coming into the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. Reject stories with pride. And protect the good stories with all your might. Keep the good, helpful stories on display. Remind yourself of it every day. Come up with a curated playlist of stories you repeat to yourself so you can stay on track and achieve what you want out of this lifetime and leave the rest out in the dust.

by Jason Lam

THE SECRET IS THERE IS NO SECRET

The secret to your success is that there is no secret. There isn’t any one person out there who has all the answers to your life’s questions. There isn’t any one person who has all the answers, to begin with. All you have is your own willingness and courage to move forth despite not knowing it all; not feeling the most confident, and understanding that you may not be the most qualified. But so what? Right? Don’t let the fact that you don’t know “enough” prevent you from getting started. If I did that I would’ve never became a photographer. I would’ve never traveled the world. And I wouldn’t be writing to you now. Let the haters keep talking. You just gotta keep going.

by Jason Lam

HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL EVERY MORNING?

You can't make progress if you don't have a target to aim at, thus, this question, to help us create that very target.

I want to wake up every morning feeling like I am doing something meaningful with my life. I want to feel like I am making progress every day, and I want to feel like I am using my time wisely.

Of course, all those things are subjective. You get to decide what you want to feel. You get to decide how you get there.

I like this question because it gives me a reason to get out of bed every morning. Instead of thinking to myself, “Ugh, here we go again…” I’m thinking to myself, “Awesome! I have a fresh new 24 hours to make a positive impact on this world!”

I've tried ditching my target, and I lost my way quite fast. No more reason to get up every morning. No motivation. No clarity as to what I should do and how I should spend my limited time and energy. Just... wandering. Which has its benefits in itself. Often, you can come across some rather interesting things that can add to a rich life, but I miss having a target, and at this point, I realize I need it more than ever.

The great thing about this question is it’s not material. It’s not limited by your age or where you are in the world or what money can buy. It’s attainable by everyone. So, go ahead and ask yourself, “How do you want to feel every morning?” If you’re lost in life I've come to find that this is a good starting place.

by Jason Lam

24 HOURS

Everyone has a vision, but what have you done in the past 24 hours to achieve it?

Ouch. Reality check. Truth hurts. So if your answer to the above question was, "Nothing". Let’s dive deeper.

Why not? What’s holding you back? Is it resources? Time? Beliefs?

I know we’ve beaten this topic to death already, but it’s usually due to our beliefs. And maybe due to an inkling of perfectionism and a fear of failure. But hey, even if that’s the case, that’s progress still, because at least by asking yourself this question you get a clearer picture of where you are weak. And by identifying your problem areas, you can better figure out how to be strong.

Everyone has a vision, and you can do at least one tiny little thing in the next 24 hours to achieve it.

Start small. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Make it happen.

by Jason Lam

MARIE KONDO YOUR PORTFOLIO

Sometimes you just need to let go. Sure. You may have spent countless hours on a project way back when. But that work may not represent who you are anymore. If anything, it might just be serving to hold you back.

Did you know? If snakes fail to shed their skin, they die.

And sure, perhaps that’s a little too dramatic but the concept is still the same.

If you fail to let go of old work you never get to grow into the greater version of who you are meant to be. Instead, you hang on for dear life. Clinging to your old work in the hopes that it will get you where you want to go. When in reality, you need to be a little more like Marie Kondo.

Acknowledge the work for what’s it’s done for you in your life, both personally and professionally. Acknowledge the fact that since the work has already served its purpose, it’s ok to let go. By letting go, you create space, and with that new space, you finally give yourself the opportunity to become who you were always meant to become.

A badass muthafuckin artist.

by Jason Lam

TWO QUESTIONS TO HELP FIND YOUR DIRECTION IN LIFE

Every time you do something ask yourself these two questions:

1. Did it drain you?

2. Or did it energize you?

Do less of what drains you.

Do more of what energizes you.

by Jason Lam

I DECIDED TO BE MYSELF

I decided to be myself. And it was kinda scary. Because I always felt like I was a pretty weird guy. But I’ve also tried being like someone else and none of those identities I tried on worked. So even though I still feel at times that maybe I’m a little too weird, this is also where I’m most comfortable. I don’t have to worry about whether or not I’m making so and so happy. I’m less stressed. Less anxious. And for the sake of my health, for the first time in my life, I feel like I could relax a little bit. Because stress and anxiety have always played such a large role in my life. I always wanted to “be somebody” and as cliched as it sounds, I eventually decided to just be myself. It’s hard though, because, how do you know what the “self” is unless you first try out a ton of other identities, right? So, as ironic as it sounds, it’s almost as if you have to go out and do all the things and be all the things you think you want to be in order to come back at the end of the day and truly appreciate who you are. Like traveling. You don’t really ever appreciate home until you’re on the road living out your backpack for 6 months straight and then you come home and you’re like wow, I kinda like it here. That’s how I found myself, at least. 

by Jason Lam

LAY DOWN AND DO NOTHING

The do nothing approach is a piece of advice I often give to my friends who do too much and often feel burnt out. It’s a technique I’ve been implementing in my own life and it works quite well. Oddly enough, it’s not easy, and it requires practice. But here’s an easy way to start.

Lay down and do nothing.

To make things easier for you, I recommend laying on something comfy like a yoga mat, and to make it even better, put on some music you like. Something a little downtempo, to help your mind relax. Now breath. Stretch out your arms. Stretch out your legs. You don’t have to lay neatly on the floor. Allow yourself to be messy. Don't think about your past. Don’t think about your future. Don’t think about all the goals you’ve yet to achieve. Don’t think about the failures and the mistakes either.

This will be hard. After all, our minds are built to think.

If you find your mind is still cluttered with thoughts, try to take a step back. And by a step back, I mean a mental step back. Get outside yourself and realize that you are not your thoughts. Instead, the thoughts you are experiencing are merely the multitude of scenes that play out in the theater of your mind. It’s not you. Watch them pass by like you’d watch clouds pass by as a child laying on the lawn. Notice the detachment. They come. Then they go.

Keep breathing. Laying down. Doing nothing.

Doesn’t it feel good? To have this one moment for yourself? To do nothing else but to breath?

From that point on I’d say to start doing that every night before you go to sleep. Too often we’re left staring at our screens right before bed. Checking up on our latest social media notifications. It’s extra stimulation we do not need as it adds little value to our lives and does not aid in our sleep.

Once you get into the habit of that, then try applying it to other parts of your life.

No, you don’t have to lay down every time, but see if you can find other moments throughout your day, or just your overall life where you can just do nothing. Maybe, you don’t have to be so strict with your workout routine. Maybe you don’t have to work so hard to meet those deadlines. Maybe it’s okay to just stay in on a Friday night and draw in your sketchbook for no other reason but the fact that you enjoy it.

Who knows, take an 8-month sabbatical. Stop working. Stop trying to create the next thing. Stop trying to pitch to clients. Stop updating your portfolio. Stop trying to check off all those boxes on your list.

I’ve been implementing these techniques in my life for the past few months. And it’s been doing great things for me. I hope it does the same for you as well.

by Jason Lam