No pain no gain.

Bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian.

I don’t know exactly when those sayings became known generally. They would’ve easily become a misguided conception on how you should live your live, apart from those who really celebrate torture or took pride in embracing them. That’s an exception.

At some level, people do enjoy the drama in order to attain their means. It’s an energy boost also a pride boost. How many times did people wrote on their social network status, tweeting, and blogging, telling everybody the great effort (or they might want to admit it’s actually the trouble/misery/hardships that they have to endure) to win the desired purpose. To me it’s an obvious s & m, which relatively mild compared to the real term.

Everyone in this planet has it, in varied proportions. It is the law of nature itself. Women had painful births to welcome their newborns. A baby herself had some kind of trauma the moment she was released into the world. How many people do you think ever witnessed a laughing baby the first time they breathe air into their lungs?

However, we strive to avoid pain, misery and all of their brethen by all means as much as possible. Then why some still cling themselves to these rather rash maxims? Are those words a reminder to commend the job well done later on? That would put people on a double standard lifestyle. It’s a dangerous thing to to say, more fatalistic if somebody believes it.

The moment it became a problem is when it’s difficult to distinguish between agreeable and compelled duty. It’s the moment when the adventure begins, all that hovers around some heads is the golden treasure that lies at end of the rainbow, not the excitement that waits around the corner. It’s when sacrifice becomes a heroic ambition. After all, we should know our limits to attain balance of life.

If those troubled things to do as people might judged, for us is an entertaining experience, then it’s not an exertion anymore. How many times a marathon runner take delights in hearing his own footsteps pounding the paths he has taken and forget his breath became shorter and faster, barely aware of the sharp bite of icy cold wind when it’s met with his sweat? How many of them take pleasure of the scenery? Other than only aiming in winning the prize and trophies? People may dismiss the trouble but somehow they still feel the uneasiness. How about focusing on the excitement of running itself? Rather than struggling to keep an even pace and having a strong breathing? Or make a world record? Again, after all it’s only a game.

When pain is no more, then you start to gain.

Hidup senang selalu. (A quote from a practical but brilliant friend)

Don’t they sound much better? More pleasant and uplifting?

One might not depend on a favorable outcome which applies certain style of creative process that other had successfully employed. Each person has their own momentum. My first thought of reactions to this view would be, “Why of course it is”, “Why should it be brought up”, though there is still an ongoing tips of do’s and dont’s about it, or someone asking, “How do you start? Any tips?” See the thing is there is none such tips, because we are individually unique therefore we should find what makes us tick the most by ourselves.

Take an apple that is grown from a particular garden for an instant. It’s generally an apple. But it has different qualities than any apples of the same species that have been grown in distinct vicinities. The factors that determine those qualities should include calculable properties of the soil’s character based on the percentage of minerals, microorganism and worms contained, water absorption, and so on. Adding certain insecticides (if they use one) or biological pest controller and plant treatments for diseases. Plus conditions that involves climate changes. The circumstances mold each fruit into varied and complex characteristic. By this typical qualities each apple has varying measured resistance upon reaction to certain conditions. And what’s great about it, each has a slight different taste although generally it tasted like it should. An apple.

So does an individual has their specific method to achieve his/her goals. Especially those that involves creative purpose. Personally I disagree with certain guidelines in relation to evaluate aesthetic standard. The notion itself is contradictory. Since aesthetic standard for each individual is an individual taste per se. There is no need to find a common ground with already accepted familiar artistic criteria. While it involves a lot of independent emotions, intuitions and imaginations, one should not set an aesthetic boundary for this creative pursuit, if only one resolve to avoid predictability and retain purity in expressing his/her message. It has a definite sincere honesty and humility to it.

You can definitely capture one’s purpose and feel whether it serves to prove him/herself of some worthy goals or a sense of unpretentious genuine affection. Don’t be fooled, I myself has an ongoing battle between the two. It is human.

One might consider applying wisdom to some degree though to avoid certain repercussions. Don’t take this view to the extremes. I don’t wish hearing somebody butchered themselves or someone else for the sake of art.

Therefore it is certainly a challenge to combine both ingenuity and being responsible for harvesting brilliant creations. So, have fun getting your inspirations!