In Greek, the word "enthusiasm" means to be filled with God. You don't you have to be religious, or even particularly spiritual to appreciate the notion of living with vigor, passion -- a sense of zeal.
But beware. Regardless of what path you embark on you will undoubtedly come across "enthusiasm bandits" -- people committed to stealing your spirit. They may even do so inadvertently or without knowing.
The trick is to protect your enthusiasm. You can do so by sharing your greatest dreams and aspirations with a community of like-minded folks who will support you. You needn't say a word to those who will scoff, snicker, or criticize.
Another approach you can integrate is to regularly check in with your, "why." If your reasoning for pursuing your creative ambitions is so strong and embedded in the the DNA that makes you who you are, it will be more difficult to be ruffled when someone doesn't support your dream.
Protect your spirit as best you can. You'll need it.
Showing posts with label protect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label protect. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Protect You Dream
Saturday mornings have seldom, if ever, been a day of idleness in my life. And today was no exception. I left the house just before 8:00 am and headed over to San Francisco, grinning from ear to ear as I crossed a nearly empty Bay Bridge. My friend Julie was hoping to get together so we could catch up after several months apart. She also wanted me to see her son, who somehow, was already two years old.
As the three of us constructed Lego cities and pushed trains along a windy track, we talked about what people tend to talk about: work, family, and the future. Julie was one of the most successful people I knew. She'd attended Ivy League schools, was thriving at her law practice, and married an ideal partner. And now, she also had a beautiful son.
Despite all of that, she confessed to still feeling a certain level of angst and judgement from her parents about what she could be doing better; a confession that completely confounded me. What could they possibly have to gripe about? I thought.
I then began to think about my own life and the many friends I had back in New York and Los Angeles; actors that had experienced the same protests for pursuing unstable and profoundly difficult careers in the arts. Admittedly, I'd felt the same worries from my own folks from time to time. Though they were patient and supportive in many ways, they didn't fully grasp their child's desire to live life on stage, or in front of a camera.
It dawned on me that good parents, friends, and colleagues would always offer feedback, which would sometimes take the form of criticism. As earnest as someone's intentions can be, it's often just a projection of their own failures, or regrets for not chasing their own dreams.
As an artist there are countless challenges you will face, including the inevitable, and sometimes very loud call to conformity. This morning, after realizing that even conventionally successful people experience the same strain, my takeaway was this: be grateful you have people in your life who care enough about you to offer their take then hug your dream even tighter, protecting it at all costs.
You're the only one who needs to understand why you do what you do.
As the three of us constructed Lego cities and pushed trains along a windy track, we talked about what people tend to talk about: work, family, and the future. Julie was one of the most successful people I knew. She'd attended Ivy League schools, was thriving at her law practice, and married an ideal partner. And now, she also had a beautiful son.
Despite all of that, she confessed to still feeling a certain level of angst and judgement from her parents about what she could be doing better; a confession that completely confounded me. What could they possibly have to gripe about? I thought.
I then began to think about my own life and the many friends I had back in New York and Los Angeles; actors that had experienced the same protests for pursuing unstable and profoundly difficult careers in the arts. Admittedly, I'd felt the same worries from my own folks from time to time. Though they were patient and supportive in many ways, they didn't fully grasp their child's desire to live life on stage, or in front of a camera.
It dawned on me that good parents, friends, and colleagues would always offer feedback, which would sometimes take the form of criticism. As earnest as someone's intentions can be, it's often just a projection of their own failures, or regrets for not chasing their own dreams.
As an artist there are countless challenges you will face, including the inevitable, and sometimes very loud call to conformity. This morning, after realizing that even conventionally successful people experience the same strain, my takeaway was this: be grateful you have people in your life who care enough about you to offer their take then hug your dream even tighter, protecting it at all costs.
You're the only one who needs to understand why you do what you do.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Protect Your Time
Years ago my father told me a story about a visit to his dentist's office. My dad had scheduled an appointment to get his teeth cleaned several weeks before, and when the day finally arrived, he showed up on time ready to go.
As he sat patiently in the waiting room, a receptionist poked her head out to ask, "Mr. Maccarone, would you mind waiting another 15 - 20 minutes? The doctor's busy." My father replied, "Absolutely not! My time is just as valuable as his."
He told me his dentist then came running out as if he'd been chased by a pack of wolves. "Great to see you," he said. "Come on back."
It was a lesson I never forgot about the value of time and how we should always make an effort to protect it. It's all we have and its supply is finite. Once it's gone you can never get it back.
As he sat patiently in the waiting room, a receptionist poked her head out to ask, "Mr. Maccarone, would you mind waiting another 15 - 20 minutes? The doctor's busy." My father replied, "Absolutely not! My time is just as valuable as his."
He told me his dentist then came running out as if he'd been chased by a pack of wolves. "Great to see you," he said. "Come on back."
It was a lesson I never forgot about the value of time and how we should always make an effort to protect it. It's all we have and its supply is finite. Once it's gone you can never get it back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)