What Tik Tok has taught me about life
Long story short - an invaluable life lesson.
A mere two months ago, I took the bold step into the Tik Tok world and started creating videos. After over two years of telling myself countless reasons as to why I shouldn’t, I finally listened to my gut and posted my first video.
Scary? Yes.
Best decision I’ve made in years? Yes x100.
It feels like I’ve entered into this whole world I didn’t know existed - a world of new friendships with other small content creators, a world of editing videos, a world of idea generation to connect with others, a world of creativity.
To my surprise, Tik Tok is more than just content creators like Alix Earle and Jake Shane. There are millions of small content creators with a few thousand followers sharing 3-5 videos every single day to grow their platform.
Yes, you read that right. 3-5 videos. Every. Single. Day.
What’s surprised me most is that the most prominent feeling cultivated when I’m creating videos, editing content, and posting to my very, very small community, isn’t fear as I thought it would be, it’s fulfillment.
This journey has already been marked successful in my mind - not because I’ve grown my platform to thousands of followers (because I haven’t), but because of the true fulfillment felt the process of posting.
Brainstorming video ideas has me reflecting on learnings from over the last 5+ years of experiences, therapy, and listening to hundreds of self-help podcasts.
Creating videos has shown me a new side to myself - one that is bubbly, one that is creative, one that is living the life she’s supposed to be living.
Editing videos has taught me that I can do anything if I just take the time to learn it properly, bringing an immense sense of pride each day.
This process of brainstorming, filming, and editing has sparked this creative bone in my body that has been stagnant for too long.
The difference in my mood and energy on days when I create videos versus days when I haven’t is palpable - I am the version of myself that I want to be when I create videos. I’m excited, I’m personable, I’m happier, I’m aligned.
These incredible feelings and realizations have led to many reflections - how have I gone so long in my life without creating at this frequency? When was the last time I felt such joy in what I was doing? When was the last time I lost track of time doing something, when I was truly in flow with my work?
Was it when I was a child, drawing a picture for my parents? Was it when my cousins and I would play dress up and practice a show for our families after dinner?
And if it was that long ago, what caused me to lose that spark, to lose that flow that comes with life?
Losing play. Losing fun.
I’ve realized the unfortunate common reality that as I’ve grown up and the world has shaped the person I’ve become, my focus has shifted from one that prioritizes fun and creativity to one that prioritizes productivity and results.
Get into the school. Get into the program. Get the job. Get the promotion.
Repeat.
Until you die.
I now feel that I’m the fortunate one - the one to have stopped this process that near all human beings go through and have realized the hack to all of this - the fact that the point of life isn’t to get the promotion, the purpose of life is actually something that Tik Tok has taught me -
To create.
So now, dear reader, I ask you this - when was the last time you created? Was it last week? Last month? Last year?
I encourage you to genuinely reflect on this, and begin to make an active effort to carve out time for pure creativity in your days. Try it out, even if only for a week and see how your mood changes - allow your child like self to come out in wonder and soak in the emotions of joy and presence that have been dormant for too long.
Creativity is the key, my friends - it is the way to a stronger well-being, a happier life, to a life of pure joy and presence.
P.S. If you’re looking for an incredible book to take you on a creative journey, I highly recommend ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron - banger of a book.