The Pursuit of Serenity: Unpacking the Complexities of Curiosity and Anger in Creative Work

As I delved into Dan Hon's candid reflection on his newsletter, I was struck by the parallels between my own struggles with achievement and the notion that success is not an end in itself, but rather a means to succeed again. The weight of implementation pressure grows exponentially with each stage, and it's easy to feel like we're constantly chasing serenity salmon - elusive, ever-moving targets.

Hon's words resonated deeply as I reflected on my own relationship with curiosity. As creatives and strategists, we often laud curiosity as a desirable trait, but what does it truly mean? Is it simply an innate desire to understand how things work, or is there more to it?

Martin Weigel argues that anger is a fundamental component of our profession, and I tend to agree. Anger drives us to question the status quo, to seek change, and to push boundaries. Caring - genuinely caring about the impact we have on people's lives - defines the best in our trade.

But what about anxiety? The part of ourselves that we wish would disappear, except without it, we wouldn't care anymore? The part that makes us question our own life, not just our work? This is the 'inner demon' that can tear us apart, leaving us feeling lost and uncertain.

As I've noticed a pattern amongst creative and strategist types, one topic consistently emerges: frustration. We struggle to find meaning in our work, and we yearn for something more profound. Perhaps this is where curiosity meets anger - in the desire to uncover the workings beneath the surface, to disrupt the status quo, and to create meaningful change.

In the pursuit of serenity, I propose that we acknowledge the complexities of our emotions and desires. We must confront our inner demons head-on, rather than trying to suppress or avoid them. By doing so, we can harness the power of anger and curiosity to drive innovation and positive impact.

For those who seek serenity salmon, let us not be fooled by fleeting moments of satisfaction. Instead, let us strive for a deeper sense of purpose, one that acknowledges the complexity of human emotion and the importance of caring in our work. Only then can we truly find serenity - not in some mythical state of tranquility, but in the pursuit of creating something meaningful and lasting.

Serenity salmon