I don't allow memes, quotes, or videos in my groups.
I absolutely love memes and quote cards, but I noticed a disturbing pattern over time.
Memes are fun because they're relatable. They capture the essence of something that a lot of people feel or identify with, so they get shared a lot. I like sharing all kinds of resources with my audience - the more ideas, the better! [3/5 Mental Projector here if you’re into Human Design.]
But memes and quote cards encourage us to be lazy thinkers and discourage creativity.
I noticed it became easier to share a meme than to think deeply about why the meme was interesting to me, contemplate it, and then write about it from my perspective.
So much faster to rely on someone else's words and imagery than to make our own, yeah?
Yes, and the price we're paying is higher than I realized until a couple of years ago. When we quickly forward a meme it’s as quickly forgotten. We’re like, “Yeah! They nailed it!” And then the inspiration fizzles away because it bounced off the surface of our brains. We didn’t really take it in and transform it into anything truly useful.
I saw this pattern repeatedly: I knew something about a person based on their meme sharing, but I couldn't really know them because they weren’t present in the sharing. Their heart was missing, and their passion was absent.
Over time, I have felt a sense of loneliness in the world. A lack of connection due to this reliance on what almost feels like fast food information. It’s funny, I relate to it, but it’s also like people are hiding behind all the memes and it has become unsatisfying.
I banned memes in my groups for the reasons above. We need more creative expression, not less. We need more of your presence, opinions, and ideas.
I don't want other people's words and images. If you're working with me, then I want you to think through the material and create your own interpretations.
I want to hear your take on things, your opinions, how you're applying it to your life.
At a minimum, I want your creative expression added to something Beyoncé or Abraham Lincoln said that struck you as important.
Why does that meme or quote have meaning to you?
What’s inspiring about it?
What is it connected to?
What makes you click like and share?
What stops you from adding your own thoughts, or even better, not sharing the meme at all and straight up expressing your own words and feelings about what you read?
Do you think because someone famous said it, it has more validity than your thoughts about it?
Sometimes, it can help to share a quote by someone with a reputation or clout, and also, you can still add your own words about why it matters.
I recently shared a quote by Ernest Hemingway that I love and put on the Train Your Body to Write group's banner. It made sense to me to use this quote as an anchor as that's what our daily practice will be: a process, some questions, 1 sentence, and nervous system tools. It makes sense to universalize what we’re doing by referencing someone most people who are interested in writing already know.
“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” – Ernest Hemingway
Why does it matter? Because one sentence is enough to get started. Why does it matter to the program? What's different?
It matters because the one sentence we're writing is from the Body, not Mind. Where that 1 true sentence is coming from is my take on writing and the connection to our nervous systems - why it's hard and what we can do to make it easier to stick with.
When introducing a concept, starting with a quote like this can help. It’s a known factor, But don’t stop there—introduce the known and then quickly add your info to it.
This is the creative process. So much of the world hungers for the expressed essence of you. I’d love for you to set a table and serve up your creations, whether that’s words or some other media. Just one sentence, yeah?
Next time you want to hurry up and share a meme, take 5 and contemplate why. Put it in your own words, let your ideas take center stage for once. Hell, go for broke and grab a Canva image to use while quoting yourself!
XO,
LMW
Love this Laura - I totally agree. I do sling memes out but I am aware that I really want to create my own stuff with thought and insight - a work in progress. I love your writing 💕x