UNLEASHING CREATIVITY AND WHY SO FEW DARE TO UNLEASH IT

Breath has a certain tranquil quality. It exudes life and also makes us remember how finite this life is. I have spent years searching for the Truth and I can still say I am far away from reaching it. I have seen various aspects of life and found that they are all temporal. Analyzing life in terms of time, money, career goals etc. is just to complicate life's meaning.  When we find out that what we are looking for and believe in tantamount to nothing in the end it is only then that the true creative spirit is seen.

What is the creative spirit? Why does it exist and why do only so few individuals dare to unleash it? These are questions whose answers lie in the deepest corners of the soul! In short the creative spirit is the foundation of the beauty of life itself and it exists to let us know about our humanity and to remind us that we only exist for a small split second and then fade away into oblivion and what we leave behind is our  expression for humans to take guidance from.

When we ponder that why do few people dare to unleash it then the simple answer is an analogy that unleashing creativity is like getting the genie out of the bottle, only difference being that once out the genie refuses to go back in! Soon this world and the social setup seem meaningless and the desire to keep up socially is gradually replaced by the desire to pursue creative endeavors till there is no turning back. Thus, by pursuing creativity people are unable to "fit" in the acceptable "social" norms, due to which the number of individuals pursuing creativity remains only a handful.

 Sadequain at work (source: http://www.sbp.org.pk/museum/art_Glry.htm)

This following Ruba'I (Quatrain) by the great painter Sadequain sums up the desire for creativity very well:

Phir yeh kia Rangoon ka jhamela mein nay
Is tail say fun ka khael khela mein nay
Is apnay badan ki haddiyon ko din raat
Takhleeq kay kolho mein hai pela mein nay

And then I mix an array of oil and colors
Use that potion in the service of the arts
Then I apply my humble self through days and nights
To spin the agonizing wheal of creative surge

Fun ki chal to rahi hai rerhi yarab
Satrein likhta hoon terhi merhi yarab
Likhtay huey aayat-e-junoon bachpan say
Ab ungliyan ho chuki hein terhi ya rab

I strive to push the cart of ecstatic creativity O’ Lord
Along the way I inscribe straight and crocked lines O’ Lord
By abundance of writing transcendent verses since childhood
Even my fingers have now become crocked O’ Lord

Din raat ho jab shaam ya pow phot-ti hai
Kanni meray hathoon say nahi choot-ti hai
Phir kaam say dukh jata hai itna mera hath
Roti ko jo torron to nahi toot-ti hai

Day or night or at the early break of dawn
Painting instruments are cradled in my hand
Relentlessly I paint until my hand pains so much
That I can not even break the bread with my hand

   (Source: http://www.sadequainfoundation.com/librarys-and-essays/)

THE JOURNEY OF FRUGALITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PART II

This post is a continuation of the previous blog post where we had calculated the monthly survival rate which one needs to pursue his or her dreams. However, what we did not mention in the previous blog was that the monthly survival rate was based on the amount that is based on perceived needs, which can be reduced with effort.

In Part I of the blog, the cash flow requirement (known as the monthly survival rate) was explained as being the numerical total of the following expenses:

-          Rent

-          Groceries

-          Medical Expenses

-          Transportation

-          Clothing

-          Utilities (gas, electricity, internet, phone)

-          Social Expenses (dinners etc.).

Now we will analyze that how much of these expenses are actually needed and how much are the expenses that are based on the social strata to which he/she belongs. The results may surprise you and you will realize that following one's dream is easier than one might think!

Let us briefly analyze each and every expense in detail and see where they can be reduced. The following is the expense wise analysis:

Rent

What is the amount you spend on rental for your home whether it is in the form of mortgage for a home or a tenancy agreement? Do you really need the space according to your family's needs or are there areas where you can reduce the rent for e.g. fewer rooms, moving to a cheaper area etc. If you can make way with the lower rent, then make that move ASAP to reduce the fixed expense load of a rental.

Groceries

What is the amount you spend on groceries? Does your grocery contain various processed or branded foods or a higher meat intake? You can reduce the expense by buying raw fruits and vegetables more and substituting meat with vegetables, which will also improve health and ultimately save health costs later.

Medical Expenses

This is an unavoidable cost and which one should ensure that the best health treatment is obtained. However, to minimize your health costs one should adopt a healthy lifestyle of a good diet and exercise regimen.

Transportation

Analyze your monthly expense in transportation expenses. What is your current mode of transport? It can be any of the following:

-          Walking,

-          Buses,

-          Taxi,

-          Rickshaw,

-          Personal Motorcycle or

-          Personal car

Try replacing your current transport modes with cheaper alternatives for e.g. if your house is near your work place try walking to work or try to use public buses (the cheapest alternative) in favor of Taxi, Rickshaws or personal automobiles. Carpooling with colleagues is also a favorable option to bring down transport costs.

Clothing

This is an area where one can save a ton! Usually we spend a lot on clothing and fashion items which we rarely use in the long term. Thus, buying clothes from Zainab Market (a great place to shop in Karachi) instead of branded outlets can save a ton of money!

Utilities (gas, electricity and telephone)

This is another area where one can save money. Analyze your family's utility requirements for e.g. are you using air conditioners a lot or are you using land-line to dial your mobile phones which can cause higher phone bills? Small changes to the lifestyle can save up on utilities for e.g. reducing air conditioning usage.

Social Expenses (dinners etc.)

This is a huge area where Pakistani society wastes most of its money.  The primary reason for this expenditure usually is to fit in and be accepted in the social circle. Analyze your expenses and see how much of it is wasted and consciously stop these expenses.

THE SOLUTION

Using the revised numbers now calculate the amount that you actually need in order to pursue other meaningful passions and not to mindlessly keep on working for the sake of lifestyle maintenance. The following table will be a good aid to see how much you can save up by changing your spending habits:

Expense type	PKR per month Currently spent	PKR per month needed for suvival	Difference (which can be saved)
Rent	XXX	XXX	XXX
Groceries	XXX	XXX	XXX
Medical Expenses	XXX	XXX	XXX
Transportation	XXX	XXX	XXX
Clothing	XXX	XXX	XXX
Utilities (gas, electricity, internet, phone)	XXX	XXX	XXX
Social Expenses (dinners etc.)	XXX	XXX	XXX
Total (monthly survival rate)	XXXX	XXXX	XXXX

Now this saved amount must be invested to ensure that a stream of cash flows is available for one to pursue his / her dream with a free mind (for a two year period as mentioned in the previous part of the blog). The following are examples of investment options to name a few:

-          Gold,

-          Silver,

-          Mutual funds,

-          Saving certificates,

-          Stocks etc.

Investments will help lock in your savings so that your long term goals can be achieved.

THE JOURNEY OF FRUGALITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PART I

Once upon a time in the capitalist materialistic society of middle class Karachi was a young, innocent boy. Then that young boy grew up into a young man with dreams to follow his heart; however as time passed his dreams started being shattered like broken glass. The young man could not figure out what was wrong till he figured out the answer: he was not frugal enough and was living beyond his means.

The above anecdote is true to many people and all of us feel stuck to a humdrum routine or day job just because we do not have another mode of survival. What if I told you that there is another way out of this and that there is a way of existence that does not need a mentality of living salary to salary and that is simple living and increased savings.

The first step towards winning any war is to calculate your minimum survival rate; the following template is a good start to act as a starting guide:

Expense type	PKR per month
Rent	XXX
Groceries	XXX
Medical Expenses	XXX
Transportation	XXX
Clothing	XXX
Utilities (gas, electricity, internet, phone)	XXX
Social Expenses (dinners etc.)	XXX
Total (monthly survival rate)	XXXX

The sum of these numbers will give you your monthly survival rate. Multiply it by 24 to give you a two year buffer you need to save before pursuing your dream. The two year benchmark acts as the reasonable time period within which one work with a free mind to attain his/her dreams.

Note: The next part will analyze the aspect of needs vs. wants in calculating the numbers for the monthly survival rate.