Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Jess Eddy Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

It goes without saying, there are ups and downs in life. If there is one thing that reminds me to have empathy for people; especially when they are challenging or frustrating, it’s that everyone is going through something. A frustrating work situation, a disappointing romantic outcome or worse yet, the loss of a loved one or an illness — and these are just the major themes.

Our success in getting through the downs is based largely on how we react to situations, however that can be easier said than done. When feeling down, creativity is hindered, it’s hard to see the positive attributes in situations and environments, and motivation to do anything can be an issue; at least that’s been my experience. While it’s unreasonable to expect only ups in life, it’s very reasonable to aim for consistency — as much as we can — with regards to our emotional stability and outlook on life.

I’ve come across a few concepts from various books and posts that help in staying positive. They’re not new or complicated concepts but when combined, I think can be quite impactful.

1. “Happiness is appreciating the beauty in every moment”

Book: Living Happiness: A Personal Manifesto for Living
Author: Sebastian Kade

It’s so easy to go through an entire day without appreciating anything we see or come in contact with. Remember what it was like to be kid and be in awe of the simplest things? As we get older this part of us tends to fade. It takes real intention to notice the things around us. As designers, we’re tasked with coming up with creative solutions to problems on a daily basis. Being the observer and paying attention to the details of your environment is a great way start to engage the creative mind. New York-based graphic designer José Guízar used intention like this to observe windows in New York and even turned it into an illustration project. http://www.windowsofnewyork.com/

The Windows of New York project is a illustrated fix for an obsession that has increasingly grown in me since I first moved to this city. A product of countless steps of journey through the city streets, this is a collection of windows that somehow have caught my restless eye out from the never-ending buzz of the streets. This project is part an ode to architecture and part a self-challenge to never stop looking up.

While the goal is not necessarily to turn your observations into projects, this is a great example of intentional observation. As someone who likes to take photos, I trained myself to always be on the hunt for them. This got me into the habit of always observing my surroundings.

It’s the mundane things that can bring the most joy — if you let them. The beautiful morning sky, the evening cross breeze and the enjoyment of that first cup of coffee (or third, for some of us).

Challenge: name three things that you take for granted that bring you some joy and happiness during the day.

2. What is the creative opportunity?

Book: Reframe: Shift the Way You Work, Innovate, and Think
Author: Mona Patel

In the Reframe book, Mona reframes “problems” as “creative opportunities.” Reframe outlines methodologies and techniques to apply to problem solving that can help unlock creativity and generate innovate ideas. In Reframe, Mona Patel challenges us to ask “what if?” when coming up with creative solutions. As Mona says: “Design isn’t just about beauty or form and function; it’s about elegant problem solving.”

Asking “what if?” can help us challenge the status quo and get to a place where innovative problem solving can happen.

What if a bank’s app paired with my toothbrush, allowing me to set up a virtual piggy bank or reward account based on tooth-brushing time (e.g., I can set up a savings fund for my son, a family vacation fund, an extra debt payment fund, and so on. For every minute of brushing, a predetermined amount is transferred from my checking account to the designated fund)? — Reframe

The simple concept of reframing problems as creative opportunities really struck a chord with me and changed the way I approached problem solving entirely. In part because I think it’s so exciting and it really gets to the core of what we do as designers. I love the concept so much so that I apply it to various situations in life, not just creative problem solving work. And I am now definitely that person who says to other people, “what is the creative opportunity?”

Scenario: You got demoted. What’s the creative opportunity?
Scenario: You’re not excited by your work. What’s the creative opportunity?

As designers, many of our ideas don’t make it through to the finish line and that’s OK. In part, that’s the nature of the work. However, at the end of the day I’m going to be more satisfied if the ideas I presented that got rejected were big and bold. Someone at work scoffed at your big thinking, well done!

If I can walk away saying I tried my best, I did innovative work and I put forth really interesting ideas then that’s just about all I can do. (Until I learn hypnosis).

Challenge: pinpoint a life or work situation where you can ask the question: “what is the creative opportunity?” — and come up with some ideas.

3. Everything will be OK.

Post: Everything will be OK
Author: Kris Gage

My favorite part of this post from Kris are the reasons she mentions for liking this phrase; that it’s so many things in one phrase: Optimistic, stoic, reassuring and factual.

You’re not the only one going through shit. I know when you’re in the shit, it’s hard to see this, much less care. But you’re not the first person to hate their job, or feel lost about what to do, or lose a loved one, or get rejected. This is part of the human experience — not some interruption to it. Having shit happen that you didn’t plan or want is part of being alive.

As a designer, I’ve faced many challenges that I rarely think about anymore. At the time, they were a very big deal.

I got laid off from my first ever design job — straight out of college
I waited tables for five years while trying to kickstart my design career
I moved to New York (long time ago) with no job and very little savings

I eventually made a great career for myself and started a couple companies. During these times though, I didn’t have confidence as a designer and I didn’t really know where my life was going. Even when you think you’ve made it, more challenges come, but life has taught me to take things in stride. You can control how hard you work and how you treat people, but there’s not much else we can control. That’s ok because everything will be OK.

Challenge: think of someone who is facing a challenging situation and tell them everything will be OK.

3 Concepts to Keep in Mind When You’re Struggling was originally published in prototypr on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

3 Concepts to Keep in Mind When You’re Struggling

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