Artists Passion

Try to think of the most dangerous jobs there are. What do you come up with? Firefighter? Policeman? Construction worker? All deal with an above average level of risk in their normal work routine.

But, there are a group of workers who deal with much more. These are people who balance on wires stories above the ground, do back flips from swings that consist of mere rope and a single rod, and shove swords down their own throats.

Circus performers.

Thanks to my interesting habit of acquainting myself with a host of oddballs around the country, I know a few.

Circus performers work on their craft with little-to-no support or compensation. Whether it be juggling or firebreathing, there just isn’t much demand for circus acts these days. There’s Cirque du Soleil, a few large family circuses like Ringling Bros., and a handful of indie organizations, but that doesn’t amount to much when a kid is trying to desperately learn to eat fire without any guidance besides what he might read in books, glean from the internet, or watch on TV.

My friend, The Amazing Kenny, is slowly making a name for himself in Central Florida, with a variety of juggling and firebreathing shows he puts on. Many are for no pay or tips, making a living through his job at a coffee shop.

In his show, he includes tricks with contact juggling (like in Labyrinth), Chinese yo-yos (like the little Chinese girls in La Nouba), and juggling balls and pins. He includes cheesy one-liners in the act and sets some routines to music. All of his hard-work barely pays off… He does it for his love of the art.

Before the end of Chanukah, I figured I’d include a quick reference to Food History, where Gillian Polack gives a how-to guide for frying foods. Jewish people generally make fried dishes, because the oil has significance for the holiday.

NaNoWriMo crashed and burned for me this year. While I typed out a few of my best writing scenes, they were few and far between. It’s too bad I don’t have a version of this graphic on fire or in ashes; that’s how bad it got this year.

Sometimes creativity is like slogging through quicksand. We can’t get out of the hole we’re in, and when we try, we just keep sinking deeper.

Sometimes anything looks better than the project we’re currently working on. Why not do the dishes? Clean out the kitty litter box? Or, even better, take a nap?

I’ve had paintings languish on an easel at my mother’s house until she’s threatened to reuse the canvas for one of her paintings. If creating is so much fun, why can it be so hard?

There’s tons of psychological mumbo-jumbo to explain why we procrastinate, but the truth is, everyone does it now and again. And, the why isn’t as important as the how. How we can climb out of the quicksand hole we’re in. Here are five hows to get you through.

1. Start a routine.
Routine is the natural enemy of procrastination. Set up a routine schedule and stick to it, even if you have to strap yourself to your chair and stare at a blank canvas/ sheet of paper. Theoretically, you’ll get so bored eventually you’ll start working. This is best implemented in a location without a lot of distractions. For example, strapped into your chair you’d have no problem trolling the internet for hours, if your laptop was in front of you.

2. Make a to-do list.
This one usually saves me. I love checking items off of a list; it makes me feel industrious. Of course, you have to write the list in order to check things off, which can lead to procrastination about the list itself.

3. Work in smaller time increments.
If you have problems getting started for an hour of work, take the time down to 30 minutes. If you’re still procrastinating at 30, move the time down to 15. Even five minutes of work is better than no minutes of work. Set a timer and keep going if inspiration hits and you can’t tear yourself away from your chair.

4. Check your muse.
Do your best ideas come to you on the can? Do they come after watching your favorite horror movie or reading your favorite book? As a writer, it can be strange thinking that part of my job was reading books, magazines, and newspapers. But, it’s true. Allow yourself to do the most important part of your job, sowing inspiration.

5. Take a break.
Procrastination might be a sign you’re burning yourself out, which is the kiss of death to whatever you’re working on. Depending on what you’re doing, take a day or two off. It might give you the rest you need to start up again, this time gung-ho and ready for action.

For me, NaNoWriMo failed this year because I had too much going on in my schedule. I was happy when I could type out an entire scene; all of my writing began to suffer because of the pressure I was under from all sides. Now that school’s winding down, I’m back at the game, better than ever.

I wonder if JM would consider me a writer’s block whiner… Or, I guess, an artist’s block whiner.

As I promised before, I’m going to include tips on living with passion in all aspects of life but with an emphasis on art.

Spontaneity is important not only to an artist’s life, but also the the lives of everyone on this planet. While routine and order can be calming and set us on the path to achievement, it is also important to follow the winds every once in a while. They will take us where fate decrees.

If we don’t act spontaneously every once in a while, we miss out on hidden opportunities. The muse might strike at the beach while we’re holed up in our homes in front of our computers or in a quiet coffee shop while we’re watching TV. When days begin to blend in together, it’s time to put away our ordinary things and do something a little bit crazy.

Spontaneity is also a path towards creativity. In a previous post, Anjuelle wrote:

The mind likes order, as it should. Spontaneous occurrences disrupt the routine flow of things. But creativity is about messiness, abrupt changes in the moment.

If spontaneity is so important, how can we begin to embrace it in our lives? By taking small steps.

For some, deciding at some random moment to go skydiving is a regular part of daily life, but for the rest of us, such extreme measures aren’t realistic. Embracing spontaneity can be as simple as singing along with the radio, kicking off our shoes in the park and dancing, or lying in a grassy patch of sunlight. A next step might be taking an afternoon to go to the beach or teaching a child how to whistle. With each new step, the extraordinary becomes ordinary, and we open ourselves up to new possibilities.

Watching children feed ducks might lead to a new short story or a weekend silent retreat could become a tranquil oil painting. The way we view the world changes with each new experience; it’s up to us to cultivate these experiences to make an interesting whole.

by: Liane Schmidt

…everyday.

by: Liane Schmidt

Some Say I’m a Dreamer - but I’m not the only one.
IMAGINE: John Lennon

Today’s article is about what you can do today to make this world an even better, more beautiful place right this very moment.

Many charities ask for a small donation and even if it is only five dollars, it can wear on your pocket if you are living paycheck to paycheck as many of us are. (As a starving artist, I know this very well.)

And, even if we aren’t feeling the strain of cash flow, many of us find that we hardly have time in the day to remember to buy groceries, let alone the time to even begin to think about donating to a charity. It might be a fleeting thought after we see a commercial flash by or a street representative asking for our generousity, but then our minds are back to trying to remember what we just forgot.

Whatever the reason, life happens. We are all human, we all deep down inside want this world to be as beautiful as possible, no matter what position we are at in life.

Now, giving to charities has been made easier than ever and our pockets do not have to feel pained in the process.

The “One Click” charity organizations are exactly that. Just click once on their link and a donation will be made toward whatever given charity you clicked on! Some allow you to click once a day. It’s truly, a miracle.

Below I have listed some charites that you can begin supporting and clicking right this very moment. (I have also added a few that you can learn more about by simply visiting their sites, if interested.)

“Click and do some good today.”

“God bless us, everyone.”
-A Christmas Carol.

The original one click site:

Click candle and aids research receives a dollar.

by: Liane Schmidt

In life we are all doing the very best we can given where we are from, everywhere we’ve been, from all the experiences we have gone through. At this very moment, we are the very best we can be; and everday we are learning how to become even better, how to believe in ourselves more, how to love ourselves more, how to get to a better place in our lives. This is a life long journey.

The following is a collection of many articles that I have written that cover everything from dreams and success to health and alternative ways of thinking. Enjoy!

Perfect Health

Therapeutic Visualization Healing

“If You Can Dream It You Can Do It!”

More great reading:

Health/Energy/Alternative
1. B12 Shots: The Newest Energy Booster
2. Improve Your Energy Levels
3. Hemi Synchronization
(The Incredible Power of Sound)
4. Visualization & Euphoria
5. Healthy Lifestlye
6. Mind Over Matter

Inspirational/Dreams
1. Live Life to the Fullest!
2. It’s Never Too Late
3. Life Without a Car
4. Infinite Beauty
5. Manifest Your Dreams
6. Dreams are Everything
7. Inspiration in Every Moment
8. Create the Life of Your Dreams
9. The Power of the Mind
10. All Things in Life Happen for a Reason
11. The Value of True Friendship
12. Your Dreams - The Law of Attraction

Success
1. Tips to Keep You Motivated
2. Brian Tracy’s Million Dollar Habits
3. Thinking Defines Who You Are
4. The Key to Success
5. The Value of Keeping a Diary
6. Staying Focused
7. Success is a Matter of Choice
8. Mission Statement: Your Life
9. Honesty: Is it the Best Policy?
10. Discipline

Please feel free to add: ArtistsPassion.com

by: Liane Schmidt

Everyday we encounter more choices, more options, more things that can potentially steer us away from our dreams and goals. Do not let this happen for you.

The quote: “Jack of all trades master of none” rings true for a reason. Now that’s not to say that if this is your dream or goal it is not okay. If you simply love doing many things and don’t care whether you truly excel in any, more power to you. But, if you want to master a field, you must not let anyone stand in your way. You will only be the happiest you can possibly be if you stay committed to what makes you happiest.

So how do you stay focused? How do you not lose sight of your dreams and get mixed up in the woes, excuses, or bad habits some people find themselves inextricably tied up in?

Trust your instincts.

If something feels wrong, it probably is. If you are not sure about something, give yourself time to figure out why that is. Do your best to be patient with yourself. If you have children would you rush them to start driving when they did not feel comfortable? There are times, however, when moving forward when you feel unsure are okay, but once again, your intuition can best determine those moments (i.e. you want to apply for a job, but you are nervous).

It is also important to make time in your day to slow down and reflect on your life. This time needs to be alone. It can be as little as five minutes or as long as you want, so long as you take it. It is imperative to your overall well-being. We all need time everyday to be able to take in the day, really think about what we want, interruption free. It is crucial to the ultimate goal of reaching the highest attainable avenues of happiness.

And, as always try your best to only allow positive, supportive messages, people, etc into your life. These will help keep your spirits high and keep you moving forward. Just think of how many hours a masterpiece painting takes. It can take days, weeks or even years of painstaking emotion, tears, and struggle. This is why the carefully crafted finished product becomes such an amazing, exceptional feat and a timeless, beloved piece of artistry. The Great Gatsby was not written overnight.

You can and are making all your dreams come true.

by: Liane Schmidt

…from one of my favorite authors, self-made millionaire Brian Tracy!!

“Everything counts! Everything you do helps or hurts, adds or takes away.”

“You have the capacity to become very, very good in anything that is really important to you.”

“Be selective about what you see, watch, hear, and listen to. Keep your external influences predominately positive.”

Anything and everything is possible. You CAN make all your dreams come true!!

by: Liane Schmidt

The only way to make anything work is to not give up when times get tough. This applies to anything you want.

If you want something enough, you can make it happen. The key is perseverance.

In my opinion, I believe the only way to persevere is to love whatever it is that you want completely, with everything you have because there will be tough moments. There will be times that you want to give up. There will be times that you will question the choice you made. But when you love something with all your heart, you will do anything for it. You will fight for it, you will sacrifice for it. You will do all of this because you know that it is worth the world.

And, when you love something completely, it doesn’t matter what anybody says about it. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks except you. Yes, sometimes in your weaker moments a criticism or two can weigh you down more heavily than other times, but in your heart you know that these comments are insignificant in the overall picture of the life you want for yourself. You will not settle for less.

You will not settle for less.

Persevere. Your dreams are worth every sacrifice in the world.

by: Liane Schmidt

Give and you shall receive.

Like energy attracts like energy.

Put out into the world what you want back; what is truly best for you. If you want the person of your dreams, BE the person of their dreams. If you want a healthy life, live a healthy life.

It is that simple.

Yet, if we are not careful, sometimes other variables can come to play that make this equation complex.

Everyday I work as hard as I can to eliminate all excuses, the fears, and other such obstructions that hold me down and make my path to all my hopes and dreams seem too difficult or complicated to achieve.

If you want something with everything in your heart, there is nothing else you can do, but go after it with everything you’ve got.

If you want to do something - hey Nike’s not making hundreds of millions for nothing - “Just do it.”

“Just do it”.

No more talking about it. Just lace up those running shoes and hit the pavement. Done.

Time is precious, there’s not a moment that’s not.

Take it all in. Feel every salty wave that stings your eyes and makes you remember to be more careful, but makes you feel alive. And, when the water calms, float lightly, bask in the peace, bask in the nourishing rays. Just remember, just keep in mind: there will always be waves and you will be just fine.

by: Liane Schmidt

by: Liane Schmidt

Starving, striving, working, dreaming…

by: Liane Schmidt

There is no more need to put off what you have been dreaming to do. No more excuses, nothing left to stop you, except yourself. That is how it has always been.

Tomorrow is not promised, today’s a gift…yes, yes, you’ve heard it all before. But there is a reason it still rings universally true. Because it still is true and will always be true.

Everyday we create our lives, our destiny, our happiness. We control it, create it, make it, shape it. Every decision we make is like a building block to what will come into our life next or what will stay out of our lives.

For this very reason it is of utmost importance that you take the time to really think about the picture you want for your life. Is the picture in your mind hazy, hopeful or clear? The clearer the picture, the more you will be able to manifest the life you want because you will have a distinct direction to go toward.

Many people will often fight this simple principle by arguing that they don’t know what they want, so how can they even take the time to come up with a picture? But, deep down inside us all, we know what we want. We have always known, but for whatever fear, lack of confidence, etc we have made excuses.

Today, you can stop these excuses. Today, you can and will continue forth to steadily make all your dreams come true.