I don’t think I’m going to like My Little Pony: Pony Life.
So the newest iteration of My Little Pony — My Little Pony: Pony Life — was released onto the world this month.
I enjoyed watching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic with my stepdaughter. But Pony Life looks a lot like a ponified version of Teen Titans Go!, which is yet another zany, slice-of-life version of a superior series. But that is a post for another time.
I haven’t seen Pony Life yet, so I can’t judge its quality, but I thought its recent premiere onto the airwaves would be the perfect opportunity to discuss the importance of cultivating one’s passion.
Referring back to that other My Little Pony TV show, aside from the obvious themes of friendship and magic, there is also considerable emphasis placed on the cutie mark – a symbol that’s magically impressed upon the flanks of the equestrian characters. It is such a big deal in the series that it becomes the entire arc for three characters in particular, dubbed the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
One of the neat things about the series was when a character re-affirmed their connection to their passion and what made them who they are, their cutie mark would shine in response. The best example I can think of is from one episode in season 5, when Applejack’s childhood friend RaRa performs at camp and truly becomes one with her singing talent.
I got to thinking about how we as human beings are all born with our own form of “cutie mark”, even though it’s not tattooed on our bodies for all to see. Nevertheless, it’s still a part of us to have a passion, or something we feel strongly about.
Sadly, many of us suppress our passions when we get older, attributing it to lack of time, a dearth of responsibilities, and just a general fear that we are not good enough to pursue what gives us joy. Writers, especially, grapple with this struggle. Many of us are not full-time writers; we have jobs that sustain our income, but we hone our craft to sustain our souls.
When I sit down and write, I definitely feel a part of me is nurtured and fulfilled, not unlike the fictional cutie marks in My Little Pony. In our lifetime, it is our responsibility to tend to what makes us get up in the morning. Even if it will never bring us fame and fortune, nurturing one’s passion is a form of self-care that will pay dividends in our development.
Here are three ways to nurture your passion, so that your inner cutie mark will shine with all the luster it can muster:
Make it a CONSISTENT Habit
There’s that c-word again…
There’s a common misconception that we have to devote hours and hours of our lives to our craft in order to improve. This couldn’t be further from the truth; many of us with full-time jobs and familial obligations don’t have that type of luxury, and may feel discouraged from writing altogether because we can’t make that type of commitment.
Therefore, my advice is to make a promise to yourself to show up every day. It can be for as little as 5-10 minutes a day. It may not seem like a lot but over time, the results will accumulate, and you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Do it for Yourself, Not for Others
There’s a default set path for everyone in life: go to school, get good grades, get a good job, buy a house, get married, raise a family, retire.
It is socially acceptable to believe that if a person satisfies all of these benchmarks that they are a success. But suppose it is not one’s intent to get married? And maybe not everyone wants the same job of their manager.
Despite thoughts of the contrary, it is perfectly fine to pave your own unique path to success. Don’t let peer pressure or the expectations of others distract you from what you truly want to achieve out of life.
Determine WHY You Do it
When we are deep in the reeds of achieving our dreams, sometimes we reach an existential crisis on why we decide to devote our time and energy into our passion.
It helps to take a step back from time to time to remind ourselves why we are driven to pursue what we’re passionate about.
Go for a walk, watch a movie, read a book. Clear your mind and reflect on what you want to contribute to the world. What do you want to achieve? Do you want to inspire? Educate? Entertain? Maybe your purpose is to pen a heartwrenching fanfic about the character Rainbow Dash in the real world — who am I to judge? Get reacquainted with your purpose in order to re-ignite your passion.
So that’s all I have to say about investing in your cutie mark. What say you? Are you taking the time to focus on your passion? And if you had a cutie mark, what would it be? (I’d have a book and a pen, and my pony name would be Purple Prose). Leave your thoughts in the comments below!