#17 | when we say it out loud

life's frustrations and insights when speaking aloud + Inspirations, updates on social media, and an AI app to improve your photos

Jul 28, 2024

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💡 If listening to music helps you focus, you can listen while reading:

10 Pieces by Ludovico Einaudi \ Relaxing Piano [1 HOUR] 🎧

The other day, during a therapy session, I had one of those moments. You know the kind—when you say something out loud and, for the first time, the realisation hits you hard? It was like that.

I was talking about frustration and the exhaustion of having so many things to do. Work, projects, exams, social life, routines... things I usually want to do (some not so much...), but when life's energy is low, I tend to question why I’m doing them.

And then I start eliminating activities. And that's where the things I want to achieve, but don’t know exactly why, are in danger. Recently, I realised I was ignoring the effort beyond the time things demand from me (and everyone is different in this regard) – physical, mental, and emotional energy.

In the list of essential things, activities that seem just a result of excitement and might not lead anywhere are usually left out because they don't seem worth all the effort.

As if excitement were a small thing.

But then I said it out loud and felt a deep sadness. It seemed that, at that moment, I understood that sometimes, we don't want to give up on something because it’s deeply connected to our values. The enthusiasm comes because it awakens many things within us. It’s connected to immaterial things that give life meaning, things only we understand and value. Things that, when we talk about them, our eyes light up and our heart races. Things we can’t explain, but once we start talking, we can’t stop.

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

And I realised I was constantly disregarding all this. But the funny thing (more sad than funny, to be honest) is that, somehow, I always knew this because I never wanted to abandon them.

In my case, one of these things is my master's degree (and the reason I’ve been quite absent from social media lately). The master's was something I took a long time to attempt but always wanted. I finished university over seven years ago and always knew I wanted this next step. Something about being in an academic environment, the opportunity to teach, and the chance to study topics that genuinely interest me. I knew I wanted it someday, but I was never in a hurry. This year, the desire came, and everything culminated for it to be the year.

Then, the IELTS appeared as the first step on this journey, and the unexpected happened in a way I anticipated, but not like this. I didn’t yet understand the specific effort on various levels that things demand; unfortunately, just because we want something doesn't make it easier to achieve. So, I failed, not just once. And failing again affected my self-confidence and made me question once more if it was worth investing in something even if I couldn’t see an immediate material reward.

I know that, in this case, it might even bring future benefits, but that wasn't what motivated me to want it. In the logic I was in, it was always easy to doubt these things I did because the main reason was the desire. Easy to doubt myself, doubt if I knew what I was doing and if I wasn't wasting life force on a random want. But in that session, I realised that the master's was one of those things connected to many others: it makes sense intellectually, in experience, in dreams, in goals, in challenges. It makes my eyes shine, and I talk non-stop about it.

And I need to embrace my desires more. So, I decided to try again. It’s difficult, now knowing the energy everything demands, but sometimes we have to follow the voice that knows what it wants and not let fear question everything. Not give up on everything that’s ours as a first impulse when everything seems to accumulate, but just organise more wisely how we’re going to do these things we want so much.

So, I scheduled another test. And I’m going to try again because I want this. And I’m writing this newsletter because I really wanted to and missed talking to you and telling you how life has been a bit insane lately. But I'm still trying.

Sometimes we need to say things out loud to understand.

And you? What is that thing your heart keeps calling for, the one you’ve grown used to ignoring because you thought it wasn’t worth it, even though deep down you always knew it was?

✨ To be inspired! Things I've seen around...

→ I'm obsessed with his videos

→ If you like packaging, check out The Dieline - with the most creative and impressive designs in the field

→ For about 10 years, I’ve been watching this video on a loop

⭐ Social Media

Since we haven’t talked about social media for a while, I took the opportunity to update myself and share some interesting information that can help you create more strategically.

Social Media and Trends Report

Metricool has released its annual report of trends and comparisons with 2023: download here. Full of interesting insights, it's worth reading!

Summary of the 2024 Social Media Study

Facebook: Engagement dropped 56.55%. Reels continue to be well-delivered thanks to integration with Instagram.
X/Twitter: 8.85% increase in interactions but a drop in likes, mentions, and reposts. This indicates a shift towards content that encourages participation through responses and citations, highlighting the need to create posts that inspire debates.
YouTube: Videos with good storytelling and high-quality increase retention and engagement.
TikTok: Reach has doubled. Authentic and fun content is essential to engage a young audience.
Twitch: Despite a 40.82% drop in subscriptions, smaller accounts are gaining traction with live streams.
Instagram: Although engagement rates have slightly decreased to 4.30%, visually appealing content and the strategic use of stories and reels can still boost user interaction.
Pinterest: User engagement remains healthy. Create visually impactful pins and use rich pins to increase visibility and interaction.
Google Business Profile: Optimised profiles attract local customers.
LinkedIn: Professional content and industry insights increase interactions.

🔥 Extra Tip for Instagram

Use new features strategically!

Sticker Reveal: Post hidden stories that can only be viewed if followers send a DM. This helps increase engagement and improves your content delivery to your audience!

Tap the stickers icon and then "Reveal".
Type a hint about the hidden content.
Preview the story to see how it will appear.
Followers will only see the story if they send a DM.

🤖 AI Photo Correction App

Lately, I've been using a very simple yet powerful app called "Retake" – a photography app available on the Apple Store and Google Play. No need to worry about getting the perfect photo on the first try anymore; "Retake" is excellent for saving those images where everything is great except your face has a strange expression. You can use several features for free, including facial correction. I use it all the time and highly recommend it. It’s not perfect every time, but it helps a lot!

📢 Latest Updates Around Here

On pause on other platforms (master's degree is on the horizon 🤞), but if you want to check my links → My book (: • Instagram • TikTok • Etsy

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