Whether you have a great speech you want to punch up with comedy and make excellent, you want to be funnier and more magnetic in your business, or you want to create a one person show from scratch, I can help. Because I’ve done it. (And I’m pretty darn good Read more…
Do you find yourself repeating behaviors that sabotage your creative work or your enjoyment of life? Self-sabotage started as a coping mechanism that helped us get through something difficult when we were younger. When the situation we were protecting ourselves from chages, we no longer need that coping mechanism. But it can be difficult to see how to let it go.
Think of the most important moments in your life, those that were inspired, those that brought you to a new level of understanding about what life means to you. Was art part of that? Was it something you read in a book or a piece of music your heard? A film you saw? Each of the creators of those works pushed past the internal and external voices that said, “Don’t bother.”
When she worked up the courage to return to the stage, she knew her talent and skill was unquestionable. And if a booker (or audience member, or anyone) ever speaks unkindly again, she’ll know without a doubt that it’s because they had a bad day. And more importantly, she’s knows she’s earned her self-esteem and her place on stage.
Step five: Perform! Take your due on stage, strut your stuff, and tell your story for real–be the most you-est you you’ve ever been, share your story in a way that lets the audience fully see who you really are. (Hint: the less you care how good you are, the better you’ll be.)
I’d like to propose that the people you admire were not actually aiming for Success or Getting Things Right or Looking Good so much as being really curious about and exploring themselves and the world around them. They were becoming themselves, and the opportunities that arose came out of a willingness to take the risk of really knowing who they are. And things “all come together” at exactly the moment when you decide you’re ready for it.
Perhaps you’re a violinist, and you know you want to get more work playing the violin. One possibility branch for getting more work would involve networking with other musicians at parties or at the symphony… Another possibility branch would involve building a website, posting examples of your work online, and attracting customers through internet searches. Yet another possibility branch could be learning new pieces of music and auditioning in different cities.
Your integrity with yourself, that is, your ability to think, act, and speak in alignment with your vision is your magic key to carrying out your vision. When you make an agreement with yourself to do something in line with your vision, you need to guard that agreement with all of your being.
How we present ourselves is a manifestation of how we see ourselves, and a wish for how others might see us. I encourage you to experiment with your appearance. Step outside of your comfort zone. If you always wear suits or dresses, try putting on a crazy hat and wearing your clothes backwards to the park. Creativity is about exploring possibility, and it’s fueled by your willingness to be in the unknown.
Often in America, we shy away from looking at this emptiness and want to leave it as soon as possible. And yet, if we are willing to dive into the center of the “hole” in a safe context, we can come out the other side with our heart’s treasure.