"I always want to be in a state of creation."

- Nick Onken

Hello everyone and welcome back to ONKEN RADIO, the podcast where we explore the mind, body, and spirit of the creative entrepreneur. My top priority is to help you take your creativity, business, and life to the next level. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey! 

If you’ve followed me for a while, you might remember my ABS theory, or “Always Be Shooting.” When you work as a photographer, you have to constantly be honing in your craft and practicing. 

Always be shooting doesn’t mean reign it in 4 days out of the week and apply yourself on the remaining days. You have to get out there and practice, practice, practice. This brings us to what I want to talk about in today’s episode — the ABC theory.

Today I’ve got another solo episode for you all — something I’ve been meaning to do more of on the podcast to fill you guys in on the things that are happening in my life, my experiences, and things like that. 

As a deeply creative person, it is absolutely critical for me to integrate creativity into every aspect of my life. That kind of Identity Alchemy is what it’s all about, and it’s my goal to help you achieve the same! I want to encourage all you creative people out there to be your biggest inspiration, and to pursue creativity in all that you do. 

So, without further delay, let’s jump right into today’s episode!

Always Be Creating

Let’s break it down first. Every moment of our lives we have to constantly create. It takes a conscious choice to create art, and to be an artist is to actively choose to live in these creative moments. 

Even now, with this podcast, I am constantly learning to surrender and to bring creation to this space here and talk with you guys. 

Steven Pressfield has a book that I highly recommend checking out called The War of Art where he talks about this “resistance.” The resistance can be many things — procrastination, fear of failure, laziness — but whatever form it takes in your life, it’s essentially what keeps you from creating. 

The resistance is what keeps you from actively choosing to live in creative moments. It keeps you sitting on the couch when you could be painting or drawing or being out in the world. Of course, art can be any number of things and does not only include painting and drawing. Your art could be the business you started as an entrepreneur.

I don’t want to give anyone the idea that I think television is destructive or that you’re doing anything wrong by watching your favorite tv shows. I certainly love to watch my favorite shows! 

What I want to convey is the importance of finding a balance, and being conscious of the content we consume. One way to look at this is by asking yourself if you are spending more time creating, or consuming someone else’s content. Are you being mindful of the content you are consuming? 

In today’s world, it’s so easy to get caught up in social media and consume everyone else’s lives and content instead of creating our own. 

Staying Mindful in Social Media

Too many times have I had to take a step back and reevaluate who it is I’m following on Instagram. If I’m not careful, I can get sucked into a dark place that does not encourage me to constantly create. 

That’s why it’s so important to create awareness of where you are on social media. Always make sure the people you follow and whose content you consume are lifting you up to create your art. The content we consume should inspire us, not make us feel like we are missing out or need additional things to be happy. 

The point that I want to make is to always be creating — every moment of the day, from the time that you wake up to the time that you go to bed. The thoughts that you need to create a great day, the thoughts that you need to get up and get out of bed and go make your art, the thoughts that you need to meditate, to self-care. 

Consciously create the life that you want,