Muscle vs. Flow

There is a podcast I absolutely love called the Bruce Lee podcast. It's available on iTunes and SoundCloud if you're interested:

https://soundcloud.com/brucelee

Each week Sharon and Shannon Lee (his daughter) share the lessons and philosophies of the legendary actor, philosopher, and martial artist Bruce Lee. One particular episode entitled, "Be a Nobody," really caught my attention. 

The hosts discussed this culture of "hustle," that is so prevalent in our society today. Check your Instagram, or Facebook page and it's strewn with images of our favorite celebrities screaming, working out, and emphasizing the importance of the "grind." 

I think many of the messages are inspiring and well-intentioned.They simply want people to take action and work toward their dreams, which is a very noble endeavor.

As someone who hustles toward his dreams, I've recently taken inventory of how exhausting it can me to "muscle" through everything. And I'm still not convinced more necessarily gets done by buying into this culture.

What about flow? The idea of moving in a direction with momentum and a sense of harmony. It absolutely does not mean you don't work hard, or won't face obstacles, but rather you have a greater sense of fluidity in your actions and thoughts. 

Think of a stream racing through a valley. Invariably, there will be a rock or boulder in it's way. The water doesn't stop and scream, "Move!" It simply goes above, around, or below. And it somehow does it all seamlessly, while still reaching it's destination. 

There is still great momentum, energy, and effort being expended but in a way that incorporates that resistance as merely part of the journey.

Today, ask yourself if you muscle or flow toward your goals. And how can you incorporate more harmony, fluidity, and exert the right type of energy to get closer to where you want to be.

Strengthen Your Self-Validation Muscle

"I seek neither your approval nor to influence you." - Bruce Lee

"Not one drop of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me." - Quincy Jones

Two inspiring quotes from two extraordinary men. What these gentlemen understood was waiting for permission and validation from others to live a singular existence is a trap because you'll never fully gain it no matter what you do.

It's important to understand the difference between being open to feedback and even constructive criticism, while cultivating the ability to see when someone is trying to project their personal fears and misgivings on to you. 

For people in the arts, this is an especially delicate dance. Because it is arguably the most challenging line of work there is you will come up against many people who tell you what you do lacks meaning, or isn't a real profession. This requires a real mental toughness.

But if you weather those storms than eventually people come around or stop trying to talk you out of it completely. They've accepted the fact you've chosen a certain path which you refuse to be obstructed from. 

In time, you'll develop an even greater gift: you will learn the only validation you need is your own.

It's All Preparation

Last night, I met up with two close friends of mine. Not only have they been incredibly supportive of my artistic endeavors over the years, but they're also incredibly inspiring people. They've worked diligently the past 5 years to launch an App for wine lovers that is soon to take off!

I explained how I was excited to offer value to as many actors and artists in the world by helping them find ways to empower themselves. "The whole mission of, "To the Prospective Artist" is to help actors, artists, and creatives live lives of artistry off-stage," I told them. "So they can enrich the quality of their work on it."

"It's a great mission," they told me. But they sensed that I had some reservations. I explained that I was so passionate about the idea but feared it would take years and years before it finally took flight. "I'm just tired of waiting," I said. "I worked 12 years toward another goal that didn't turn out exactly as planned and now I want to do this. I'm not sure if I can wait that long again."

Without hesitation they told me those 12 years brought me to this point. "Don't you see, you've been preparing for this moment all that time. All those years as an actor, writer, filmmaker, volunteer, and traveler have brought you here. You have to keep pushing because it's going to happen. Actors and artists yearn for community like everyone else. They probably need it more than anyone because it's such a solo endeavor."

I walked away taking great comfort in their words. They were right. They had after all lived it. 

I realized when you set out toward any passionate endeavor you need to look at all the experiences you've had to that point as preparation. If you focus on where you've been and how it's prepared you for what you're trying to accomplish now, you're less likely to get worked up about how long it's going to take to get to where you want to be. You'll marvel at your journey, and in time, begin to appreciate it.

TEDx Talk: 6 Ways Actors and Artists Can Empower Themselves is now available. If you find the talk of value please share it with anyone you think may benefit from it. My mission is to always add as much value to all the actors, artists, and creatives committed to getting their unique voices heard. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSAgO3sPBog