The Vs. Studio Blog

“Art is hard. It never just comes to you. The idea of effortless inspiration is another romantic myth. For amateurs, making art may be a form of recreation, but no one, amateur or professional, who has tried to do it with any degree of seriousness is under the illusion that it’s easy. “A writer,” said Thomas Mann, “is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” More difficult, because there is more for you to do, more that you know how to do, and because you hold yourself to higher standards.” – William Deresiewicz, book The Death Of The Artist

“The endless cycle of improvement means that every innovation that raises the average creates the conditions for a new sort of excellence. Using these tools, a new standard setter can find a different way forward and create a different way to raise the bar, one that seems obvious after the fact.” -Seth Godin

If you want to be the exception–the rare person who makes a decent living doing what they love–then strive to only make exceptional work. Especially if what you love is in the arts. (And unfortunately that’s no guarantee, as artistic and commercial success are rarely correlated.)

Even if you could make a living doing mediocre to good work, would you want to?

“Finding a rhythm with people is important, especially if you’re performing or brainstorming or looking for good conversation.

And what’s a great way to get a rhythm going? The golden rule of improv is to always say “yes, and…” to accept and build upon the ideas presented. This creates a positive and collaborative environment, whether you like or agree with what’s been said or not! So, no matter what the other person on stage says, the response must always be “yes, and…”

Isn’t that true?

Yes, and…

The same rule can also be applied to our daily lives, especially when it comes to the people we surround ourselves with. For example, imagine you’re brainstorming with your team on a new project. Someone suggests an idea that you’re not entirely sold on, but instead of shutting it down, you say “yes, and…” to build up from the bad idea. By doing this, you’re able to turn a mediocre idea into something great that the entire team can get behind. And that person doesn’t feel personally shamed or attacked.

Still tracking?

Yes, and…

When we surround ourselves with successful, positive people who embody the “yes, and…” mentality, we create an environment that encourages growth, inspiration, and innovation. Being around people who are always open to new ideas and who embrace challenges can help us adopt a similar mindset and push ourselves to achieve our goals. On the other hand, when we surround ourselves with negative people who shut down our ideas and discourage us, we create a toxic environment that can hinder our progress and stifle our potential. Take note of how these people and their responses affect you… it’s draining!

Instead, seek out people who are enthusiastic, supportive, and excited about your crazy ideas, and who are always looking for ways to grow and improve.

Does that make sense?

Yes, and…” -Jesse Itzler

“The spiritual gift of discernment shows how seemingly good things can be recognized as sometimes bad things, and seemingly bad things can also be seen to bear some good fruit. Darn it! This kind of discernment invites people into yes/and thinking, rather than simplistic either/or thinking. This is the difference between merely having correct information and the true spiritual gift of wisdom. Once we have learned to discern the real and disguised nature of both good and evil, we recognize that everything is broken and fallen, weak and poor—while still being the dwelling place of God: you and me, our countries, our children, our marriages, and even our churches, mosques, and synagogues. That is not a put-down of anybody or anything, but actually creates the freedom to love imperfect things.” -Richard Rohr

Everywhere you can, substitute “Either, Or” thinking with “Yes, And…”thinking.

See how much your art, your relationships and your entire life will change.

I’ve always said the best training I’ve ever had as an actor was improvisation. (Regardless if you’re in the arts or not, everyone should take an improv class. It’s a lot of fun!) It forces you to drop your ego, your fears, your pre-conceived ideas, whatever’s in your head, etc…and instead, be present, listen to the other person, and go with whatever just happened.

If you don’t, the scene will die.

If you do, the scene can soar.

P.S. – The long quote above was taken from Jesse Itzler’s Free Swim weekly newsletter. Some great personal stories and gems in there. You can check it out Here.

“Instead of asking, ‘what do I feel like doing?’, substitute ‘what is my purpose now?’ -Patricia Ryan Madson

“What’s the ONE Thing I can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” -Gary Keller

“We can easily do two things at the same time…What we can’t do is concentrate on two things at the same time. When I talk about being present, I’m not talking about doing only one thing at a time. I’m talking about being focused on one thing at a time. Multitasking itself is not the enemy of Essentialism; pretending we can ‘multi focus’ is.” -Greg McKeown, book Essentialism

“Suppose you are drinking a cup of tea. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, and you become fully present. And when you are truly there, something else is also there–life represented by the cup of tea. In that moment, you are real, and the cup of tea is real. You are not lost in the past, the future, in your projects, in your worries. You are free from all of these afflictions. And in that state of being free, you enjoy your tea. That is the moment of happiness, and of peace.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

How do you win the minute, the hour, the day?

You continuously ask yourself and then FOCUS like a laser beam on…

What’s

Important

Now.

“Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” -Gustave Flaubert

“The greatest fallacy in, or rather the greatest objection to, teleological thinking is in connection with the emotional content, the belief. People get to believing and even to professing the apparent answers thus arrived at, suffering mental constrictions by emotionally closing their minds to any of the further and possibly opposite “answers” which might otherwise be unearthed by honest effort — answers which, if faced realistically, would give rise to a struggle and to a possible rebirth which might place the whole problem in a new and more significant light…The non-teleological picture… goes beyond blame or cause. And the non-causal or non-blaming viewpoint… arises emergently from the union of two opposing viewpoints, such as those of physical and spiritual teleologies, especially if there is conflict as to causation between the two or within either. The new viewpoint very frequently sheds light over a larger picture, providing a key which may unlock levels not accessible to either of the teleological viewpoints.” -John Steinbeck, Log From The Sea Of Cortez

Be focused and disciplined and practical.

So that you can be open to the wild and mystical and magical.

To do anything sublime, you need both working together. The practical and the mystical. The conscious and the subconscious. The light and the shadow.

Center marks the spot.

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain’t satisfactionin’ me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart -Elvis Presley, song “A Little Less Conversation”

As I walk through this wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity
I ask myself, “Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred and misery?”
And each time I feel like this inside
There’s one thing I wanna know
What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding? Oh-oh
What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding? -Elvis Costello & The Attractions, song “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding”

We could all use ‘The Understanderer’ in our lives….

The power of art…engendering more empathy and understanding.

Go make it.

“The mystique of rock climbing is climbing; you get to the top of a rock glad it’s over but really wish it would go on forever. The justification of climbing is climbing, like the justification of poetry is writing; you don’t conquer anything except things in yourself…. The act of writing justifies poetry. Climbing is the same: recognizing that you are a flow. The purpose of the flow is to keep on flowing, not looking for a peak or utopia but staying in the flow. It is not a moving up but a continuous flowing; you move up to keep the flow going. There is no possible reason for climbing except the climbing itself; it is a self-communication.”
― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

A truism I’ve found that applies to the arts, athletics, or really any activity…

The only way to stay in the flow is to not be aware that you’re in the flow.

Flow is elusive and ephemeral. Once you notice or desire more of it, it’s gone.

One small example…

The next time you watch a basketball game and an announcer says “Heat check!” for a player who’s made several shots in a row and now attempts an even harder shot–one that’s not in the flow of the offense–see how often that shot goes in.

Or a personal example…

Every single time I’ve felt in flow when acting on stage–I’m thinking character thoughts, the lines pour effortlessly from my mouth, I’m deeply connected to my acting partner, the audience is especially attentive and responsive–as soon as I become aware and think, “Hey, this is really going well. Wait ’til this next line. This will really slay”…

Crickets.

The only way to stay in the flow is to not be aware that you’re in the flow.

P.S. – “Let it rain!”

“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.”
― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life someone else will.”
― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.” -Anne Dillard, The Writing Life

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” -Samuel Beckett

Greg McKeown in his excellent book Essentialism, urges us to ask three questions to best figure out how to spend our time. And ultimately, our lives. They are as follows:

“What do I feel deeply inspired by?”

“What am I particularly talented at?”

“What meets a significant need in the world?”

The first question is probably the easiest to answer. It just requires us to notice. To pay attention to our feelings and what lights us up.

If you can’t answer the second question, ask some close friends or family members. Just be open to what they tell you as you might be surprised by their response.

The third question…While there is significant need everywhere, in order to figure out the intersection of our passion, talent and need, it might require some short-term experimentation. Try and fail. Learn. Iterate. Try and fail again. Learn. Iterate…Eventually you’ll figure it out.

When you do, everything else is cream cheese.

“Bit by bit, putting it together…
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art.
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part.
Having just the vision’s no solution,
Everything depends on execution,
Putting it together, that’s what counts.”
― Stephen Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George

First, you got to step back and see the dots.

Then, see that all the dots connect.

Last, go connect them. Make it happen.

Once you do, your life’s masterpiece will emerge.

The saint and ancient mystic Francis de Sales taught a centering prayer that regardless of religious belief or faith, can be applied to our day to day living. It’s especially helpful before engaging in an activity. Or transitioning to a new one.

It’s a three step prayer that goes like this…

Step One: ASK…For whatever you’re about to do, ask for God’s (or the universe, the great force, etc.) help with said task. This will focus you. To ask for help, you need to know exactly what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

Step Two: OFFER…The time you’re about to spend on the activity, offer it up as a sacrifice of some sort. Make it bigger than just you. Want the time you spend to benefit or be of service to others.

Step Three: ACCEPT…No matter the outcome of said activity, accept it. Let go. If it went like you thought or even better, be grateful. If it didn’t go well or was a disaster, be grateful. You learned something. Trust that either way, it went how it was supposed to go. Move on to the next activity.

You can do this all day long with anything you’re about to do. Give it a shot. Let me know how it goes.

One way to tell the difference between a dream and a goal…

For a dream to be achieved, external factors, things beyond your control, often have to break just right, in your favor.

For a goal to be achieved, it’s all up to you.

An example…

Winning an Academy Award. That’s a dream.

Becoming the best artist you can be. That’s a goal. (Or a process.)

So, dream big.

But take small, consistent action.