Few things give me the satisfaction I get when I build something and share it with the world. Yes, I have always loved learning new things via reading, watching documentaries, or looking something up. However, the joy of learning has always been dwarfed by that of producing. I recently came across a powerful quote from Will Durant in his book “Fallen Leaves”: “Let us ask the gods not for possessions, but for things to do; happiness is in making things rather than in consuming them.”

This simple statement hit me like a revelation. In our modern world, we’re constantly consuming—social media, entertainment, products, content. Even what one may call “productive” consumption—e.g., watching educational videos, or reading a cool blog post—is a passive activity whose benefit doesn’t last long for two reasons. First, there is tons of research on how learning by doing is much more effective than learning by watching or reading. Second, you are only benefiting yourself, not others. When it comes to learning a new concept, the irony is we learn it dramatically better if we teach it to others. A valuable habit I have been learning to adopt is whenever I learn something new, I call my Dad or a friend and tell them about it. The effect of this on my learning is magical, and I have in fact shared it with the world. That is why good teachers usually have a fundamental understanding of their materials, and there is a self-sustaining cycle here that ensues: their teaching informs their learning and their learning makes them better teachers and so on.

As you probably guessed, I am writing this post as a way to produce. I could have easily saved this quote under my Moonreader bookmarks and called it a day. Instead, I thought it would be better for me to write about it—also I haven’t written on my blog for about two years and maybe it’s time to get back into it. Anyway, going back to the quote. I cannot help but wonder why. Why do we feel happier when we create something?

What one can do it turn every consume to produce. It is actually simpler than you think. For every consumption act, there is a corresponding producing act that you can immediately jump to. As you produce more, your momentum will be even stronger, and passive consumption will turn into active producing.

Consume (passive) Produce (active)
Read Write
Watch Tell/Share
Listen Write/Tell
Think Code/Build
Learn Teach
Study Create
Observe Document
Research Implement
Analyze Synthesize
Absorb Express

It is not enough to produce; one has to share one’s work with the world. There are myriad ways to do that; even tweeting about it is a form of sharing. Also sharing our work forces us to be more thorough and more deliberate in the process—since others will judge it. In cases when you cannot share your work, you can do it as if others will see it. This mindset of “Talk as if others will listen, and write as if others will read” can go a long way.

What will you create today?