Completing the Hopamine Advent Calendar challenge
Reflecting on 24 days of challenge to move to a more hope-filled agenda
So I did it. With this post, I got to the end of my Hopamine Advent Calendar Challenge. 24 days of writing about whatever came up for me.
Not really the breadth of topics I was expecting. Not quite the mix of media I had challenged myself to. Not quite the random stimulus I was hoping for.
But 'done is beautiful'. And I'm done with this for at least a year.
I'm done in a number of ways.
Resistant to switching off for xmas. Because it's not really switching off at this time of year. And I'm not really very good at switching off anyway.
Maybe it's more of a re-channeling of energies.
I took on the Hopamine Advent Calendar Challenge to explore a variety of topics and practice different creative modalities. I wanted to move beyond some of the “sombre and darkness” I had been experiencing and writing about in recent years and shift toward a more hope-filled agenda. Some of the topics I wrote about include:
The need for higher resolution hope in products and services
Creative success in a capitalist world
Why people seek coaching
How play, laughter, and space can be used to address difficult issues
How I got into coaching
In addition to writing, I also shared some Drum and Bass mixies and experimented with visualizing concepts through sketching and generating images using AI. I also reflected on my own personal experiences with ADHD and my tenth business anniversary.
Overall, it was a challenging but rewarding month of creative exploration and reflection.
Key lessons:
Do in the morning for a daily dopamine boost.
Don't try to synchronise across Substack and Medium - that was tedious.
Write like noone is watching. It’s all too easy to try and check back on any engagement.
Try to find more opportunities to go beyond the writing — like the mixes I did. Those were some of the best ways to tackle my challenge on the weekend.
Don’t try to change the name of the substack on the last day of the challenge. That kinda wasted important hours.
Now, off to some xmas tv with the family.
Hope you all have a great xmas and new year
Connect more with me and my work
I’m Jason Mesut. I help people explore positive futures. For themselves, their organizations, and the worlds they serve. Navigating the uncertainties of their present.
I do this through Creative Coaching, Strategic Consulting, Community Connection, and Shaping Designers.
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