Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

It doesn’t matter… …Why we got here. …How we got here. …Whose fault it was that we’re here. …What we could have done to prevent us from getting here. …Whether it gets worse from here. None of that helps. The only thing that matters right now is we’re here. Let’s accept that with clear eyesContinue reading “HERE”

“What is the ONE thing you could do right now such that by doing it, everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” – Gary Keller, author of The ONE Thing Apply that question to all aspects of your life. Health, Family, Art, Work, Finances, Service, Fun, Etc… Apply that to your current states and feelings.Continue reading “The Magic Focusing Question”

Time is your most precious asset. Everyone’s vying for it. Especially the media right now. For more on this, read here. Guard your time with your life. How? Be intentional. Ask yourself…”What do I need to do right now (especially self-care)? What change do I want to make? What art do I want to create?Continue reading “Intention Is The Antidote”

Fast forward one, three, six, twelve months from now. Assume things are relatively back to normal. Ask yourself how you spent your time prior to then. What did you do? Who did you help? Are you proud of the thoughts you had? The actions you took? Were you strong and resilient in the face ofContinue reading “Look Forward To Look Back”

The word decision is derived from the Latin word, decidere, which means “to cut off.” When you decide to do something, you cut off all other options. That’s it. You’re all in. To quote the Irish writer, Frank O’Connor, you “throw your cap over the wall.” Right now. Make some decisions. Decide we’re all gonnaContinue reading “Throw Your Cap Over The Wall”

“Choose not to be harmed and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been.” -Marcus Aurelius Stop searching for certainty outside yourself. It’s not some ethereal thing. Certainty comes from within. From your own power to choose. Choose connection. Choose strength. Choose resiliency. Choose flexibility. Choose generosity. Choose optimism. Choose to makeContinue reading “Searching For Certainty”

Was reminded today of the stunning poem, Berryman, by the Pulitzer Prize & National Book Award winning poet, W.S. Merwin. Merwin was a seventeen-year-old freshman enrolled in John Berryman’s creative writing class at Princeton. A lifetime bond was forged. It’s incredible advice to any artist. I encourage you to read it again and again. TheContinue reading “Berryman”

Replace fear with action. Replace worry with presence. Replace panic with generosity.

I’m guessing you entered the arts because you wanted to connect. You wanted to reach people. You wanted to open their hearts. Maybe even get them to rethink their convictions and make a change for the better. Your gift is your desire and ability to make that impact. Great stories produced with excellence and generosityContinue reading “Connect”

When you make art, you have no idea how it’ll turn out. And that can be stressful. But you believe it will work out. Even though you have no evidence to support that belief. How can you? It’s brand new. It’s art…You just do. It’s a feeling inside. You believe in yourself. You believe inContinue reading “Belief & Action”