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A ruthless art

Sometimes when you are an artist or a writer, a producer, film director, athlete,doctor or professor  you must be ruthless. You cannot cave in or submit to the limits and expectations of others. You must become truly fearless in life, in the way you love, in the way you work, and even the way you play. This does not mean that there will not be times fear will be a very real and present reality, but it does mean that we  let the anxiety or worry stop us from doing what we set out to do. We  move through it.

What does it take for you to be fearless in your creativity and work? How can we become the best athletes we want to be, or cook the best meals we hunger for, or loving others without holding back? For some of us, it might mean shrugging off the expectations and limitations of the market value and commercial expectations and creating from our hearts, making that film or writing that book that speaks from our heart. For others, it might mean leaving relationships and networks that do more harm to our passion and projects than good.

We’ve been thinking about it here at Sherri Rosen Publicity, and here are some practical ways to overcome fear and turn it into fearlessness, to turn your project into a ruthless and beautiful art.

1. Do not make decisions out of panic. Take a moment to breathe, to calm down, to reflect.

2. Reach out to others—for feedback, criticism, and encouragement, especially when you are in an unknown field of work. Ultimately, you might have to just follow what your gut encourages you to do, but the advice of others can be invaluable.  No man or woman is an island.

3. Learn to love with your heart not your head. It takes a lot of risk to love and to trust, but only when we risk are we capable of true and lasting intimacy or camaraderie.

4. Don’t lie to yourself: it will only keep you on the treadmill of dishonesty and repetitious mistakes. Honesty allows us to grow, to reach upwards and outwards.

5. When you make a mistake (and mistakes will come), pick yourself up and try again. Don’t be embarrassed of stumbling and falling. The best artists are still wiping the dust off from some pretty bad falls.  Failure is an option but not a life sentence.

6. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. Vulnerability opens up new horizons and possibilities. It allows us to live a ruthless art.

7. If you have any agendas or calendars that you’ve been packing love into, throw them out. Love knows no limits, no checklists, no appointments. Agendas only lead to disappointment and cluttered expectations. Agendas crash and burn.

8. Make and sustain good friendships with the kind of people who are not afraid to tell you the truth, especially when it is absolutely necessary.

9. Money is important, but it’s not everything. So cultivate a rich life replete with people and places you love, good work and good company.

10. Lastly, love as though it is your last day on earth. Your whole life has led up to this day, this moment. Grab it, and live deep.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Clients, Friends and Colleagues, Industry News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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