That's right. Stop trying to impress those around you. Stop trying to get your "sempai" to notice you. Real innovation comes from real struggle, and real adversity. As long as you care about what others will say/think/feel nothing you create will have any real impact... and if it does, you are one of the rarest of the rare. The popular opinion
Creativity and Innovation come from Adversity
Without the struggle, our driving force is empty, it doesn't matter. The struggle is what pushes us to create and think and innovate that previously not thought of, not imagined, not created.
So how do you drop the plastic facade and start doing things that matter? It's simple really, stop thinking of yourself first. Stop thinking of how you can game the system, how you can add a few extra centavos to your pocket book. Start thinking, what are the real problems affecting me, affecting those around me, that I care about.
Ok So I've identified a passion problem, what now?
It depends. Do you have the time/energy/expertise/charisma to take this on yourself, grow a movement against protest and ignorance, or would it be simpler to illustrate and make others aware so that those with those capabilities can pick up your torch and carry it on for you?
I don't have the time/energy/expertise/charisma, what can I really do besides bitch and moan on deaf ears?
Write a paper, draw a picture/poster/grafitti, strum out a beat. Do SOMETHING, but while doing it, focus on the emotion, on the problem, on the issue. Pour your heart into whatever medium it is and give everything you can to it, lace it with your blood, your sweat, and your tears. Make the readers/viewers/listeners hear that emotion, understand the issue, and most of all want to take up action for the cause because they can feel the struggle.
Don't think of who will view it, read it, listen to it. Instead think of how meaningful it is to you. Don't worry about what others will say about your creation, just pour everything you have into it and say IDGAF! Make it your ultimate swan song as if it were your end of days, pure passion. This is the most important part of all.
If we are always thinking about who will think or say what about this or that we live in a comfort zone of complacency. A bubble where nothing of any value is ever actually created and we only see regurgitated bullshit re-worded and twisted for this fallacy or that. Stop giving a fuck. Focus on the issue, the problem, the improvement, the struggle. Focus on what is real to you.
Stop seeking upvotes and resteems from strangers that have no understanding of your struggle. Start creating for you, for your passion, and let it take you where it'll be. It won't happen over night. It might not happen ever. But pour everything you have into something, and it will all have been worth it, because *at least you did something.