The following are writings and thoughts by Jordan Serna
SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
I've spent the last 4 or so years trying to discover myself. Taking note of my weaknesses and fears and working to overcome them. I am in every sense of the phrase, work in progress, and always will be. But it's up to me to further myself in every way possible while I'm here.
2015 has been one of my most critical years in my life. This was the year which tested my ability with such stress that I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Although I am appreciative that I have experienced such hardship in such large quantity and short time frame for that it has shaped me for the better. Without the hardships I went through, I most likely would have never made the initiative to jump into photography in the first place. The memories and moments which have resulted through photography I will forever cherish.
JANUARY 17, 2016
I just want to create something that will live beyond my lifetime. To leave a mark on this world and call it mine. It's such a beautiful feeling to know you've impacted someone in a positive manner such as inspiring them or motivating them. To feel you played a part in revealing someone's true potential to themselves that goes on to to inspire more along the way creating a endless cycle. I've come to realize that you shouldn't just strive to create art to live beyond yourself, but to influence those around you which in turn results in unseen potential being awaken through many generations past yours. You could be dead and your influence will have created a tree of influence for centuries to come.
FEBRUARY 7, 2016
Raw emotion is the purest form of art. To be able to convey your feelings through art is a masterpiece in itself
MARCH 11, 2016
If you have the chance to help someone with potential, the best thing you could do is help them in anyway possible. Whether it be emotional support or motivation. Be there for them. A soul with potential should never be wasted due to circumstances out of their control. The most beautiful thing in the world, being able to see a flower grow and shine through your seed of support or motivation. To witness it, to be a part of it, this is true beauty.
APRIL 8, 2016
You may not know it but there is a flame inside of you. It's waiting to burn like a wildfire. It's waiting to burn the way it deserves to burn, you just have to discover it.
DECEMBER 28, 2016
Pursue the act of doing everything with drive. Do what you love with drive, be with who you love with drive, go to the grocery store with drive. It all begins with the one act of drive that then flows into a habit of everything else you do. Everything you love to do or are depended on to do, you begin to give care and drive to those tasks. Eventually that drive will lead you to elevation.
DECEMBER 31, 2016
I may have found my path but it's still a constant battle. Depression and anxiety still linger. The difference from there and now though is I'm choosing to live in the present, to focus on the love for what is the art and people that surround me. To discover, embody, and elevate myself. To inspire and create. To offer art, a vision, and a perspective to those who will live on long after I have passed. I will continue to fight on for the sake of achieving these goals and to experience life for what it is and what it will be. I will continue to fight for the sake of myself and others. To help people, to connect with people, and to remind myself that we all have our struggles. That we must not let social boundaries or conflicting emotions hold us back from achieving the ability to express ourselves. Because at the end of the day we are all fighting and living on. You are not alone, so don't fight alone.
JANUARY 1, 2017
We as humans and souls all have our struggles, our ideals, our thoughts, and our perspectives. The only way we as a whole can progress is through expressing our beings with those we meet throughout our lives. Learning from those we meet while offering something for them to learn from us. To acknowledge that we are all living and thriving in our own ways, and to know that it is ok. Because we only begin to progress when we begin to accept those we encounter throughout our lives.
JANUARY 2, 2017
You are the embodiment of everything you've experienced in life. To say you do anything without a reason or inspiration is illogical, nothing comes from a black hole. What moves you, what inspires you, all the moving parts of you come from somewhere. Inspiration is a ever moving domino effect that has made its way through since the beginning of time. It has made its way to you, and it's up to you to accept that. To discover what moves you and what inspires you. Once you discover what moves you and inspires you, everything will become clear therefore increasing your drive. Increasing the efforts in all that you do. Because now you know who you are, all that's left now is to embody your new found discovery of yourself and everything that you encounter in life. To elevate your soul, your being, and progress to what it is you desire.
JANUARY 3, 2017
It all doesn't matter if you don't take a second to acknowledge your progression, your surroundings, and your thoughts. You begin to in a way discuss with yourself internally what you've learned and how you've changed. It also helps to keep you grounded. Because you can get lost through it all if you don't pause every now and then. Both lost in terms of who you are and what you represent, as well as your sanity. You must adhere to your progression and remind yourself why your doing this in the first place and what you represent. If you do this, your art and self being will progress beyond attempts of conformity that may come your way, keeping you true to what brought you here in the first place.
JANUARY 7, 2017
Truth is many people are blind to the potential of their own growth. People stick to their bubbles of fate, sticking to their circle of friends refusing to expand their mind and experiences beyond what life offers them. You can only be as great as the person you offer yourself to be. You offer yourself limitations, you don't choose to offer yourself so much more. And this exact thing is what holds so many back, the idea of staying in your 'comfort zone'. Not only does it have effect on you but on others who desire to expand. People wish to expand themselves to you, instead you hold back in some form hindering both your growth and theirs. We must for fate of all that is life and love on this world not let something as simple as fear of stepping out of the known stop us. Step into new experiences, meet new people, create new moments, discover new light. Because if we all pursued what makes us alive and the idea of progressing into something greater without fear of the unknown, not only will you experience limitless potential, but so will the people around you.
Progression; The state of being which ignores conventional living and pursues something greater than any of us. The idea of manifesting into love. Love for everything that is, for art, for people, for places, for all that we love. We must surround ourselves with that love for everything in order to manifest to something greater. To elevate our souls beyond what is known. To take our discovery, embodiment, and elevation. To take all knowledge and love. To take everything we know about growth of the soul and state of mind and go beyond that. To go beyond what is known for the sake of yourself and the future of others. To take everything you've experienced through it all and share it so it may be used for reference by others beyond your lifetime. Experience all that is life. All the emotions, all the moments, all life. So when death knocks on the door, you let him in. Because you experienced life to the best of your ability. You discovered, you embodied, and most importantly; you progressed.
JANUARY 24, 2017
I am the embodiment of everything I've experienced.
FEBRUARY 28, 2017
Everything I do is done with passion and a lot of what I do is for others. From the art I create to the discussions and thoughts had, all of it is for you, to help you, to inspire you. While all this is done for others, I do very little for my own well being. To think in a world full of self priority that I struggle with being too self-less. One as such must find a balance between living and thriving to help others while also keeping in mind ones well being in order to sustain drive, happiness, and mental stability.
MARCH 7, 2017
There are moments in life when you are so focused on doing what you love that you forget about yourself. It feels like for a few moments, you become your passion; Leaving your individuality and manifesting into an energy that can be felt by others.
MAY 2, 2017
Live thoughtfully and intelligently, rise to the demand to be informed, alert, and responsive. Be able to make a sound case for a choice of values and goals. Have integrity to continue living thoughtfully and intelligently and have determination in seeking to achieve your values and goals.
JUNE 7, 2017
What and who you surround yourself with will affect you. Do not be afraid to rid of all that could be considered poisonous for your well being.
JUNE 15, 2017
To progress, to love, to embody, to inspire; its what I live for.
APRIL 12, 2018
You cannot overcome suffering if you refuse to look at it.
May 15, 2019
I’ve had multiple periods in my life where I would contemplate suicide. Opening the window and jumping. Rationalization is the only thing that kept me from doing so. I now have the pursuit of friends, love, and passions that keep me going. I am thankful to be alive and to be able to experience every fleeting moment life has to offer. Even at the darkest, there is still light.
December 31, 2020
A silver lining of what could be considered a lesser year for many; A wake up call of sorts, to look 10, 20 years ahead and envision where I want to be, to set forth it's foundation with resolve. Once one to embody the present and occasionally the nostalgia of the past, I find myself cementing a path for the future, while still holding onto my love for the present and past in a attempt to find balance. No matter where I may be; My love for creation, my desire to embody, and my drive to inspire, will live on.
March 31, 2023
Despite the tribulations and heartache, we must continue forward, to grasp our goals, our desires, our yearnings for expression, love, and time, with all of our might. Despite the feelings of malevolent others may attempt to corrupt our soul with, we must stay aligned towards our moral compass, towards improvement of oneself in order to support and care for our family, friends, and potential partner. We’ve overcome too much to stop now.
April 12, 2023
The pain we overcome shall provide us with strength to achieve prosperity.
May 31, 2023
As I get older, I've learned to value ego. As many things in life, it's all a balance. Like Icarus who flew too close to the sun, ego in excess can be dangerous, resulting in arrogance and narcissism. Ego in deficiency is also detrimental, resulting in complacency and depression. Ego when balanced with self awareness allows you to better understand your strengths and weaknesses to then improve and become a better person. No one in life can truly let go of their ego as people claim to be able to. Ego when used right propels people to growth. No one should solely rely on ego, but we also shouldn't demonize it.