250 Milliseconds
In a fraction of a second, you can make a change. Just a slight adjustment in your step or direction can make it possible for us to share the sidewalk. Our minds, and by extension, our eyes, hands, and feet move quicker than you think.
Don't you think it's worth spending that tiny amount of time – one quarter of a second – to make your world, and mine, a little better?
The Easy Way
I hear this all the time: “What’s the easiest way to [do something]?” And it makes me cringe every time. Here’s the thing – the right way is rarely the easy way, so that person is really asking “What’s the wrongest way I can [do something]?”
The only easy way something can be done is by not doing it at all. Otherwise, you can do it the wrong way or the right way – seems to me, there is a clear best choice.
Less Forethought
I see people doing what they call ‘multitasking’ everyday. People think they are getting more done by trying to multitask. Well, they aren‘t – they are forgetting, missing, tripping, burning, slipping, dropping or spilling their way through a task. This is no way to carry on.
You may think you’re multitasking, but really you’re just doing more things slowly, sloppily and with less forethought. You just might get more done – and done well – if you try focusing on one thing at a time.
State of Mind
We all have the ability to affect others. It's happening whether you realize it or not. Obviously you can affect others by saying or doing things, but I'm talking about something rooted much deeper. Your energy.
Your state of mind has a lot to do with the energy you put out. Staying in a calm, level and balanced state of mind will cause others to react to you in a similar way.
Not So Common
There are two things in our society that aren't as common as they used to be: sense and courtesy. I say we bring them back. Let's work common sense and common courtesy back into our lives each and every day. I bet you'll have the opportunity, just don't let it pass you by.
Make a Choice
You do have free will and you can make a choice. We can choose to allow our feelings to have us or to simply have feelings.
Experiencing emotions and feelings is human. We can't turn off our feelings. What we can do is control the way we react to having those feelings. You will feel anger, but you don't have to act on it … you can choose a different way. The more you do, the easier it will be.
The Good With
Focusing your mindset on positive things can be practiced over and over until it becomes habit. This is a great thing, but that's not the hard part.
The hard part is learning to quickly filter everything that comes your way—the good with the bad—and immediately know what to keep and what to throw away.
On Understanding
noun: empathy
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
One of a designers best tools is empathy. You can practice with this tool everyday in hundreds of ways. On the sidewalk or on Twitter, in the corner bodega or in a restaurant. Before that knee-jerk reaction to point a finger and complain kicks in, try to understand.
Understand people's feelings and choices and actions. Understand why your favorite brand of whatever makes the choices they do. The more you practice empathy, the better your designs will become.
Adjust Your Attitude
As much as it may seem to be, our circumstances do not determine our happiness. It is our attitude during our circumstances that determine our happiness.
Your heart, your mind and your mouth have enormous power. Will you wield that power for good or bad in your life? Make your choice with the words that come out of your mouth.
Misery is an Option
But why on earth would you choose misery over happiness? It's not only your right, but your responsibility to enjoy life.
The thoughts in your head are very powerful. How do you spend your time thinking? "I'm not. I don't. I won't. I can't."
Easy fix: "I am. I do. I will. I can."
Your Words Matter
Complaining, murmuring and finding fault is a bigger problem than we realize in our society. Do your part to put an end to knee-jerk criticism and stop pointing your finger at others.
You can choose to be a shining light among the darkness. Be a good, solid example to others to avoid creating suffering in yourself. Your words matter, start choosing them with purpose.
Change Your Mind
Regardless of what you want, no matter how badly you want it, it will never come to you as long as you focus on the fact that it's not here.
It is impossible to live in victory while thinking in defeat. Negativity, bad attitude and resentment fills your life with the same. Where the mind goes, the man follows. It's that simple.
View From You
Try to realize your view of things is one-sided and skewed. Unless you take the time to consider things from another persons point of view, you're not seeing the whole story.
Empathy and self awareness provide clarity in social situations. Keep this in mind while you speak and move and plan and work and create and consume … when you do, our world will only get better.
The Little Things
A genuine smile and a pat on the back; that friendly wave from a neighbor; a sweet kiss from your lady. It's the little things we can do for each other that add to our happiness.
It's in our DNA. We are hardwired to empathize with others and are built for cooperation. The more we do it, the happier we will be.
Worth Doing
Focus, constraint and attention to detail all contribute to the quality of what you create. But, only after you've taken the time to clearly define what you are building and for whom it is designed. Nothing sucks the life out of creation faster than doing it wrong. It's worth doing right.
Society is You
It's not the movies you watch or the video games you play, it's not the Internet you surf or the news on TV, it's us. Society is you. If you want change, make it within yourself.
Fresh Eyes
Remember to step back from your work & use fresh eyes to see. You'll be amazed at how much you actually know. As much as that is though, it doesn't compare to how much you don't.
Exercise objectivity. Never stop learning.
Open Your Ears
Every now & then I hear a seagull … and just for a moment, it feels like I'm not in a Brooklyn ghetto. Those brief feelings of place can bring long periods of clarity and perspective to your point of view. This is a good thing … don't dismiss it as ‘nostalgia.’
Switch Off
You'd be amazed by what your mind can do if you let it work. Stop streaming and talking and tweeting and checking in and liking everything. Switch off and just sit quietly with yourself.