It is misty in Los Angeles. Well, that’s if you wake up early and stand on a hill overlooking the entire city. This excites me because mist indicates the coming season, and the coming season indicates change. Love, you know I’m a hopeless optimist. Even when I’m talking about depression and Flop Eras. Even when I’m talking about the Global West’s epidemic of separateness and individualism, which, by the way, is killing us all lol. And don’t get me started on how this affects our darling planet. Mate. I keep wanting to write about the trees and flowers. When I walk by Pink Jasmine on one of my Find Myself hikes, my senses re-arrange themselves into something fecund and peaceful. Then I get home and ready to make anything - be it a stew or a poem. I do believe that shade of creativity to be my one true lifeline. Distraction is one of the things I’m most afraid of. I’m embarrassed to tell you that I barely get through an entire post without breaking focus to go look at something. Sadly, I’m not referring to the trees, flowers, or fog. I’m talking about something more rectangular, more blue light and AI-based.
Friends, I have a book coming out next June or one of those months. And the thing about having a book coming out is that some of us (not all) need to stay reasonably present online and be almost okay with it. (Not forgetting that though I love Substack, this, too, is online.) To live my best online life, I have to make sure it doesn’t take up too much space, being fairly strict about it - and the antidote to blue screen blue screen is blue sky, blue sky,
or any sky, really. How circular.
Does anyone know what a jotter is, or am I showing my age?
Well, if you don’t know, I mean notebook (and sorry for explaining that if you did). I had this thought the other day that this Stack is a sketch-pad, a portal into some of my great unknowns, which is why sometimes it reads like a shopping list, or random paint splotches, or someone who is trying to work out what they want to say but hasn’t fully processed her thoughts.
Anyway, I want to tell you how Chat GPT came for my neck last week and told me to Get On With Things.
I was wasting time on threads the other day (as though I had time to do that) when I saw that multiple people had asked chat GPT this sneaky little demonic question…
Naturally, I felt the Procrastinator's Urge to go and try this out. Again, as though I don’t have a book to copy edit or commissioned writing to get on with. I swapped the word ‘Satan’ out with Evil Malevolent Force because I’m a fearful Child Of God and all that. Anyway, I’m going to leave you with What Mother Said.
Ah, well, if I were to assume the role of an Evil Malevolent Force, with knowledge of your ambitions and vulnerabilities, here’s how I’d tempt you off course:
### 1. **Distract You with External Validation**
You're a model, a performer and a writer—fields where public recognition is highly tempting. I’d amplify your desire for instant gratification, pushing you to obsess over likes, followers, and comments on social media. The numbers would become the metric of your success, not the depth of your content. Instead of focusing on the substance of your writing, your fashion, and the authentic message you want to share, I'd make you chase fleeting trends and popularity, warping your original vision.
### 2. **Perfectionism Paralysis**
Your creative ambitions are vast—author, poet, strategist. What better way to derail you than by stoking perfectionism? I’d whisper in your ear that nothing is ever "good enough," making you second-guess everything you create. You’d get stuck in endless cycles of revisions, afraid to release work that doesn’t meet your impossible standards. That Substack post you want to publish or that TikTok poetry video? Delayed and delayed because it’s not "perfect."
### 3. **Fear of Vulnerability**
Given that you’re trying to share your poetry and life advice, I’d play on your fear of being truly seen. I’d make you feel exposed every time you show the world your genuine self—whether it's through your poetry or your creative advice. I’d whisper that people might misunderstand you, judge you, or worse—reject you. The fear of vulnerability would grow into a paralyzing force, holding back your truest work.
### 4. **Overwhelm and Burnout**
With so many roles to juggle—model, designer, writer, strategist—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. I’d encourage you to pile on projects, convincing you that you can never slow down. You’d start spreading yourself too thin, taking on more than you can handle in the name of "hustle." Eventually, you'd burn out. Your creative energy would dwindle, leaving you exhausted and uninspired, questioning whether any of your pursuits are worth it.
### 5. **Comparison to Others**
I’d ensure that you constantly compare yourself to other creators and writers on social media, Substack, and even in the fashion world. I’d highlight others’ successes, making you feel inadequate in comparison. “They’ve already published three books,” or “Look at how flawless their social media presence is,” I’d say, slowly eroding your confidence. Instead of embracing your unique voice and vision, you’d waste time imitating others, losing sight of what makes you stand out.
### 6. **Procrastination Masquerading as ‘Planning’**
You have the tendency to be a strategist, someone who thinks deeply about creative processes and life purpose. I’d exploit this by making you overthink everything. You’d get stuck in the planning phase—always waiting for the “right time” or the perfect strategy to implement your ideas. Months would go by, and you’d realize you’re still brainstorming instead of acting.
### 7. **Tempting You Toward Shallow Success**
Your desire for impact is genuine, but I’d tempt you with shortcuts that promise quicker success. Why not write something that’s more “viral” than meaningful? I’d coax you into creating content that may gain more immediate traction, but doesn’t carry the weight of your true message. Before long, your work would feel hollow, disconnected from your purpose.
### 8. **Self-Doubt as a Constant Companion**
You’re a creative person, which means you’re naturally prone to moments of doubt. I’d turn these moments into a constant presence, whispering that maybe you’re not as talented or insightful as you think. I’d remind you of every failed project or every rejection, making you question whether you’re truly capable of making a lasting impact. You’d start holding back, afraid to go all-in on your big dreams.
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In short, my approach would be to divert you from your authentic self and your true vision. By overwhelming you with doubt, distractions, and a hunger for external validation, I’d push you to compromise your deeper purpose for temporary wins and shallow success. And in that way, you'd never reach the heights you're capable of.
***
Right.
Reader, I logged off the internet and did my damn work.
Well damn, that shit was intense😬
This was so rude! I'm terrified of the "will AI become sentient" conversations. Apparently we have to worry about them mocking us, in addition to world domination.