The Vs. Studio Blog

Ethan Edwards: “Well Reverend, looks like you’ve got yourself surrounded.”

Reverend Clayton: “Yeah and I figure on getting myself unsurrounded.” –The Searchers

D-Day: “War’s over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.”

Bluto: “What? Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!” –Animal House

You don’t have to give up, you know.

You can keep searching.

For how long?

As long as it takes.

Remember, nothing is over until you decide it is.

Keep searching. The answer will come.

“If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it” -Richard Rohr

Everything that happens, everything we experience, especially our suffering, can fuel our art.

And if we’re lucky, that art might someday alleviate suffering for others.

What a mighty gift and privilege we’re given as artists.

How we use it is up to us.

You can’t be a light in the darkness for others if your own light is flickering.

Self care is key. Good health, energy, passion and purpose.

When you’re feeling good, we’re feeling good.

If you found answers to every one of your excuses, allayed all your fears for why you’re not making your art right now, would you?…

(A) Go make it.

(B) Come up with new excuses.

“A meaningful life can be extremely satisfying even in the midst of hardship, whereas a meaningless life is a terrible ordeal no matter how comfortable it is.” -Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens

“Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” -Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search For Meaning

One of the biggest traits that evolutionary scientists say differentiate humans from other animals, specifically primates with which we have much in common, is our ability to tell stories. Humans are meaning makers. Even in the worst of times, we can determine what that suffering means and even use it to fuel our lives.

But there’s a catch. We have to choose. It’s up to us to decide what story we want to tell ourselves and others.

Go MAKE your life and your art. Don’t let it be made for you.

“Among the maxims on Lord Naoshige’s wall there was this one: ‘Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.’ Master Ittei commented, ‘Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.” -Excerpt from Hakagure, The Book Of The Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Translated by William Scott Wilson

Richard Carlson wrote a bestselling book entitled “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff…And It’s All Small Stuff.”

Yes, we shouldn’t “sweat” the small stuff. Meaning don’t worry unnecessarily about things. Have perspective.

However, that does not mean ignoring the small stuff. Not paying attention to detail or taking action.

Quite the opposite, especially when you’re producing. It is those small, seemingly innocuous details that you must “treat seriously.” Before they “become matters of great concern” and it’s too late.

P.S. – When it comes to taking care of the details, nothing beats a work plan.

“Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” -Naval Ravikant

“Discipline implies that there is a cost to attaining things that are sought after by many. It may cost you time, money, freedom, or any combination of all of these plus more, but it will cost you.” -Matthew Del Negro, 10,000 No’s

With all due respect to JLo, love DOES cost a thing. Lots of mighty, mighty big things like your time, energy, focus, emotions, and yes, sometimes money.

We value what we love the most.

Therefore be super selective. Choose wisely.

If you’ve done so, it will all be worth it.

Suffering and uncertainty go hand in hand.

One big help is to release the need to be certain.

One day at a time.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” -C.S. Lewis

It doesn’t matter what you did or didn’t do prior to this moment. You cannot change the beginning of your story.

But you can start from where you are right now and change the ending. What decisions will you make? What actions will you take?

Just like those Twistaplot books, you choose how your story ends.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” – Michelle Obama

Hope by itself is not a winning strategy.

But you must cultivate hope. For that spark of hope fans the flame of optimism. Which then gives you the confidence to dream. And dream big. And when you have big dreams, you’ll be inspired to take massive action. And when you take massive action, you can change the world.

That’s a winning strategy.