Image: From the Lewitt Collection via www.brainpickings.org
I've always loved the Nike statement/philosophy, “Just Do It”.
It cuts through the bullshit—the self-doubt, procrastinations, and the endless excuses to “not do” whatever it is that matters to you.
Seems that American artist, Sol Lewitt, was way ahead of Nike. In this fabulous letter written in 1965 to artist, Eva Hesse, who was obviously going through tremendous doubt about her work, and possibly life, he tells her to cut through the crap and “DO”!
After reading it, I've decided to adopt the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle and...DO.
This is my new mantra.
Here's an excerpt:
“Try and tickle something inside you, your ‘weird humor.’ You belong in the most secret part of you. Don’t worry about cool, make your own uncool. Make your own, your own world. If you fear, make it work for you—draw & paint your fear & anxiety. And stop worrying about big, deep things such as ‘to decide on a purpose and way of life, a consistant [sic] approach to even some impossible end or even an imagined end.’ You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to
DO
I have much confidence in you and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. Try to do some BAD work—the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell—you are not responsible for the world—you are only responsible for your work—so DO IT. And don’t think that your work has to conform to any preconceived form, idea or flavor. It can be anything you want it to be. But if life would be easier for you if you stopped working—then stop. Don’t punish yourself. However, I think that it is so deeply engrained in you that it would be easier to
DO”