What is Charisma?

We often associate charisma as a quality only certain people have -- The type of person who "lights up a room when she walks in."

But like a of words in our modern day vernacular, charisma is grossly misunderstood. It's less of an attribute than it is a way of living. 

People with charisma make a concerted effort to put other people first. They make it all about the person they're speaking with and make a genuine effort to get to know the person.

As a result your attention is fully placed on who they are and where they're at in life. The only reason charisma feels like such an elusive quality is because those actions are so rarely taken. 

Charisma isn't a quality. It's a type of focus.

Master that and you'll have all the charisma you need. 

Own Your Weird

Live in New York City long enough and your ability to be shocked by anything gradually dissipates. The city is packed with so many colorful and unique people. Street artists vie for your attention as you make your way to a cross town train, creative marketing techniques are used to win your business, and several avenues make you feel as though you have a front row seat to a fall fashion show.

I think one of the many reasons people love New York is it's a community where people aren't afraid to own their weird. Perhaps it's because most feel there's a prevailing sense of ambivalence of what you're doing anyway, but whatever it is, a sense of originality has been beautifully cultivated by many.

What if we dared to speak the ideas out loud we so fear others would ridicule? What would it be like if we took pride in our sensibilities and predilections? How about if we weren't ashamed of being ourselves in the most compelling ways?

My guess is you may come up against some judgment, but that it would be based on the fears of those doing the judging. Perhaps, your impulse to be uniquely you would ruffle some feathers because your living out what others so desperately want to do too.

In the long-run, other's may not "get it," and that's just fine. On the other had you may start a movement. 

The latter makes it worth the risk. 

Stamina

We all lead busy lives. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. Even in the rare moments where it seems we have a moment to catch up with a friend, or finish up that book something tugs at us, once again demanding our attention.

After completing another week of intense teacher training and still finding some way to pursue my creative projects, I'm appreciating more and more the importance of mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical stamina. 

Coasting on fumes for a while might seem like a nice trick at first, but I assure you it's not sustainable. Your body may be up, but your focus will wane and the quality of your work will plummet. 

Self-care is crucial to the well-being of an artist. It entails eating right, getting enough rest, protecting your mind from a toxic environment, and having a strong "why." The need to take care of ourselves seems painfully obvious, but as someone once said, "What's easy to do is easy not to do."

Prioritize your health otherwise nothing else matters.