when the going gets tough, there is always enough

when the going gets tough, there is always enough

 * * *  

Recently, I felt unmotivated. I know,... it's hard to imagine that isn't it? Most people see me as such a motivated whirlwind, but it's true. I've had a long period of this recently. I won't go into how long my moment lasted, but I can at least say that I experienced many feelings during this moment of non-motivation. This included a physical feeling of being tired, to the point that I got so run-down mentally I had two colds in two months plus other physical ailments. On a mental plane, I had no desire to complete any of my projects, or start new ones. I didn't want to sit at my desk and look at my computer, nor even my piano. I "maintained" my days with checking emails, replying quickly, and then not really getting my teeth into anything creative or productive. I had no incentive. What was wrong with me?

My direction as an artist, in this big world called the music business, lost its meaning and joy... momentarily. All I could think about was all the negative stuff: how corrupt the music business is, how venues are so tough and disrespectful of artists (not paying, or pay-to-play), how little opportunity there is to truly create a living, etc. I had doubts. Nothing went easily and money became a focal point of my day; how to make more, where to invest it, doing my taxes, running out. Everything became overwhelming with odds. Even having written a book, toured the world motivating other artists, created four studio albums and set up my own record label plus continued to expand Songsalive! with 16 chapters worldwide,... I had lost the spirit of my own advice.

I started to feel my age. I started to look my age. I have always felt young and free-spirited. But I became oddly aware of my real age, my timing in life, and that time was seemingly running out.

I stocked up on more spiritual books by Neale Donald Walshe, Don Miguel Ruiz, Wayne Dyer, Carolyne Myss and Louise Hay. I stopped playing piano for fun. Only at gigs. Even then my fans noticed I looked bored. I stopped painting. I didn't write much (only when a project forced me to). I became disconnected to my purpose. I began to question "Why am I here?"

As an artist, I have always consider myself a pretty focused and creative individual. Finding my purpose in life had never been an issue. I always knew who I was and what I wanted to do. My objective had been based on an illusive, intangible goal of stardom. Yes, I admit,... even with all my writings and workshops, and how I motivate other artists about "living the journey", I was a victim of wanting that "holy grail": stardom-fame-fortune. Of course I had always seen it in a realistic way, because I was so confident about my abilities, I felt it was a given: I was going to be hugely and utterly successful. Fact.

I didn't realize, until recently, that the definition of my success, including the glamour of the Hollywood music business, and yes even including the cool grass roots indie way of doing things in this music business, was really... a lie. I had lived for 20 years towards a goal that in the end is one big fat lie. There is no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow. This music business is rough, corrupt and illusive. It's all about who you know, how much money you have, and how sexy your dress style is. Whether you're a major artist or indie, business is still business. Fact. There is little room for true talent, raw ambition and a global mission for harmony in this music business, because it really is... a fashion business. Take a look at the music videos on VH1 and MTV now. That is, if you can find any, and those you find are full of glossy "pimp daddys" rapping to their sexy mascara-laden girls with big lips, bikinis and big everything else except their waste line. Is this art? You tell me.

I didn't sign up for this when I was eighteen. I just wanted to express myself, through my music and poetry, and let as many people in the world hear it. But I surely didn't expect to have to lie down in front of the corporate world, and 25 year old A&R "dudes" who have no idea what a good song is, to do it.

So I know damn well why I have been tired. I've been tired of the BS. I've been tired of people telling me that you have to do it a certain way to get heard. I've been tired of people telling me that there is no place for CDs anymore, after I just spent 2 years (and the rest) in the studio recording an album, with high definition sound, wonderful musicians, and  heart pouring out with emotion (let alone my pockets pouring out with money to do it.) To see my music, and my art squashed into a tiny mp3 and channeled into an iPod where people don't give a damn about the sound quality, the art work, the concept, the journey of the beginning to end of the CD, ... even the artist behind it... makes me puke. It makes me very tired, and very unmotivated to do it all again.

This business is still a "hit song" game. If it doesn't hit you in the face immediately, or if it's too long, or if it doesn't have a hook in the first 20 seconds, it's done. "Done like a dinner". If you're not writing with Sting or James Blunt, or you don't sound like James Blunt or Maroon 5 or Mariah Carey (I used to love her songs, now they are just clipped, pitch corrected beats and rap that truly has lost my affection for her), then you've got no chance. If you don't look like a preppy, nerdy, or on the other end, whore-ish" 19 year old, then you're too old. That is, if you want to play with the big fish. I spent hours researching L.A's KCRW's program director list for each radio segment, and sent my new CD to every one of them, with a personal note, and ideas on which songs would fit each program (as my album is as eclectic as their station). PASS. No comments, no "thank yous" just PASS. This is a radio station that used to take unsolicited, interesting music. Are they just like the rest of them now?

Yeah, there's an opportunity to play like little fish in smaller ponds, and that's what I've been doing.... I'm like a hugely known artist in America amongst artists and secular markets, but flying completely under the radar. Yeah, I can earn a living, and be independent, and enjoy my journey, etc. But, is this all there is? Does the buck stop here for me? Am I going to stay in perpetual festival and coffee house land, loved and admired by many, but me doing the same thing over and over again? When can I get some sleep? Doing it "indie" aint "easy".

I have written a book about success, defining it on one's own terms, and seeking only one's own approval. Well I did that. Here I am. I've approved my own art, I've proven myself and paid my dues. What now? Do I spend the next 20 years slogging it hard on the road, going from one hippy festival to the next, like Ani di Franco did and still does? I was just up at Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, Northern California. It reminded me of Woodford Festival in Australia, but way more commercialized. I liked the energy, but there was still beaurocratic red tape and mishaps just to get on the bill. Being on the road is hard work. Sure, you can sell CDs, but it's still a hard life. You either love it or you don't.

I enjoyed touring with Eric Idle (from Monty Python). We traveled U.S and Canada for 3 months playing to 2000+ seater theaters. I loved it. But it was still hard yakka (that's "work" in Awwstralian). We would load in to a new theater at noon, dress the stage (I was the stage manager and a performer), sound checked and performed the show, then loaded out at midnight. We'd hop back on the bus and travel all night to the next town. Load in at noon, and so forth. Fun for me. Consider that a celebrity such as Eric, having been doing this for perhaps 40 years, still has to schlep across the country in a van too. That's the life. It's not as glamorous as you think.

How about radio? It's no use anymore trying to promote to every radio station across the country, if you can't compete with the major artists and the record companies that still buy their way to the top 5 listening spots. It takes money and if you don't have money, there's no point in doing a national campaign. You'll just spend your money just to see a nice rotation report each week that is meaningless if you can't actually be in that small or big town to promote the airplay. Besides, there's more than radio now, what with the Internet, Satellite radio, and the ipods, including podcasting. There is a lot to choose from. Sure, spend every waking hour hopping on to every band wagon to give it a shot. I dare ya. I have. I don't sleep.

How about MySpace? A new internet phenomenon that is taking artists and the general public by storm. If you want to meet people, create your own site, blog and promote, this is a great site. I was told, in its infancy, that the more "friends" I had the better I was on MySpace. Well now I don't know. Alot of these "friends" are other artists, all wanting to be heard themselves. Not everyone likes to communicate online all the time. What happened to picking up the phone?

Gigs. Pay to play is still out there. How do we survive the market and make a dollar doing gigs? When will venue owners start paying a fee for original artists? Why do artists always have to be mini promoters too and constantly have to sell door tickets to get a small percentage of that? Surely their talents should be appreciated and paid for, like any other cover gig that often gets paid somewhere. And what happened to people actually going out and seeing live shows???? I don't think I can push my friends anymore to come see me live. They've supported me enough. I can't abuse that friendship all the time. So what to do? Not play anymore?? I get out of town. I tour. This is a 365 day job.

So what's the way? What is the path of least resistance with maximum success? What do we as artists need to do to survive the corporate melt-downs, the gruelling indie road, the business corruption, and make a living? How do we find a way to enjoy this journey? The "indie revolution" has certainly been a great leap forward for independent control over our music. The Internet has been a great champion for taking our business into our own hands. But we the artists, having to be everything all at once, cannot possibly take it seriously, or realistically, if we can't make a living doing it and can't enjoy the Process. Besides that, when will indie artists truly get a break, like the major artists, without having to sign with the devil. Is it possible?

I don't know. I just don't know. What I do know is that we, as artists, are here for a much higher purpose. Art and creativity never runs out, even though we may tire with the business end. There is always an abundance of creativity and musicality in us. I don't think I have ever heard an artist say, "oh, I ran out of things to write about," or "all my song ideas disappeared," or "I don't like my guitar anymore." Being artists is innate. It is what fuels us to keep going.

So what IS the purpose of life, after all? Is it to make sure we get to stand on our soap box and collect coins for doing so? Or is it to see who collected the most awards, hit songs, deals and airplay? Is this supposed to be a competition?

Or is it something to do with our inner selves tapping into a much higher mission in life, through our creativity?

I know that there is always enough creativity to allow us to be who we want to be for the rest of our lives. We don't have to rely on the arts business to confirm that, or acknowledge that. We can do that for ourselves.

I already feel motivated because I'm taking the time to write this to you. I have been writing my second book for 5 months now but I took a month off because I was stuck on this chapter (what you are reading). I was trying to work out how I should go about saying what I really felt, and was thinking of subliminal ways of saying it. But in reality, I had to just sit down and write what was truly on my mind. That's part of the process of writing this book. Being truly honest. I have the book title being "Just Get Out There" and yet I am constantly "going within" with my thought processes here. Most of my readers want to know the ins and outs of getting out there with their art and music and they look to me because, in their eyes, I have done so. Yes, I agree, to a certain point. But I will say, that it truly is all about the Process. It IS about going within and tapping into our truer destiny... in order to actualize it in reality.

The process unfolds as we create it, and the process unfolds by itself, without us even knowing it. We are merely playing a part. The cool thing about this, is that while we maintain our lives and careers, plotting and planning, being motivated or unmotivated, being creative or business like, the Process is happening subconsciously and if you truly believe in yourself (THIS IS THE KEY), then it will ALL WORK OUT according to the higher plan... your higher mission in life.

I have quite a few artists ask me often whether via email or in person "how to get out there". They want to know all the steps and often show their frustrations that they don't know the steps to take. But in fact, by making any step, in any direction, will bring you closer to your higher purpose. Just making the step is important. The facts, the direction, the tips, tools and resources come to us in our travelling. We pick up a book, or we go to a website (www.songsalive.org really is filled with resources and tools), or we go to a seminar or class, and we learn something new. We go cybertravelling on the Internet or we look at other artists' websites to get ideas. Ideas come. It's up to us as to how we grab onto them, or let them go if they don't serve us personally. If we are connected to our Process, conscious and unconscious, we certainly will be on the right path. But we are not always cognizant of the real purpose and can easily be sidetracked by the meaningless act of doing. There is so much out there it's easy to be put off, or sidetracked.

So, what if we were able to tap into this unconscious Process and be awake during it? Wouldn't that be even more magical and success bringing? What if we ask for our biggest dreams, truly ask for them, and really tap into who we really can be? (our highest potential).

There is always enough. That means that whatever you want, if you truly want it, you can have. Whatever you don't want, and you focus on that, that will manifest instead. Like spinning wheels. If you just follow all the opportunities and end up in a quagmire of doing and energy dispensing for no reason, then you get... TIRED.

If I'm tired and unmotivated about an area in my life... maybe, just maybe I need to really listen to that as a sign that that may not be who I want to be. I don't have to live a persona just because I started off that way, or others expect me to be that way. I, and you, can change ourselves, our plans, our dreams at ANY time.

Here's the magic part about this: nothing in this business is real. It's an illusion. But this illusion is based on our own perception, our own reality. So everyone can see it and use it for their own purposes. You don't have to do this the way anyone else has. Just because one artist goes the major record deal route, and another uses MySpace to do grass roots tour hopping and fan collecting... doesn't mean you have to follow any of that. How you work it for your benefit is up to you. Artists are imaginative. We have the great opportunity to use our gifts to come up with "out of the box" creative ways to get our messages and music heard and our art seen and felt.

If you want to change something, the minute you think it, the Process will change in accordance to that. Let your conscious and subconscious thoughts and mind work together to bring you success, peace and joy.

The minute you think there is not enough opportunity, creativity, people to share with, money to have, that's the moment the Process stops working for you. Believing in the "not enough" is based on fear and feeling like we have to just try and survive. Believing in "I can, and I will" is all powerful.

That being said, I can and I will go pour myself some of that nice red wine and listen to the crickets.

Until next time, love, truth and peace

~ gilli moon

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See where all our friends are on my Friend Map!

gilli moon started a Friend Map on Frappr so your friends can all see each other on a map. Come put yourself on the map! To see gilli moon's Friend Map, click below or paste the url into a browser: http://www.frappr.com/?a=myfrappr&id=982274&iv=1&hash=q26r0

It ALL is all of me

Something about L.A..... this city tricks us into thinking we have "got it going on" but then we could really be spinning wheels.

 

This city makes it really difficult to concentrate on just one thing. You end up spinning plates, which is not a bad thing. I've always talked about 'diversifying talents' in order to gain opportunities in this business. Spinning those plates means several fingers in several pies. It all tastes good... just... maybe I should go on a diet.

 

There are so many distractions; so many projects; so many people. So much to do, so little time. Ha ha!

 

I sit here, in my quiet paradise in this city of angels, with my lava lamp on, paintings around the room, cool groovy music playing, and a huge pile of unfinished business in my computer inbox, plus a stack of papers and projects cluttering my desk and floor, staring at me saying "start me gilli, fire me up; work on me gilli, i'm going to make you millions; write me gilli, i'm your next important creative project..". These projects plague me so much I feel guilty, as if I haven't handed in an important assignment or essay to my teacher. But the only teacher here is me. I'm placing pressure on myself and I feel bad that I can't get to everything.

 

I'm happy though. I feel like my piles of to-dos are company for my restless mind, ready, willing and able to just fly into any territory and conquer. I am a servant to my creativity. I have no problem with creative flow. I know so many people have read Louise Hay's "The Artist Way" to help them unblock their creativity so they can be prolific in their art, or writing. As for me, I have it going on too much. I am a "yes" girl, and love to want to start new projects all the time. But then I have a laundry list of them to complete.

 

It's funny how we think we know who we are, that we have it all worked out in our minds, and we know what we want. Dreaming big, visualizing and then planning it can be daunting to most, but not to me. I'm a huge dreamer, and a great planner. I love to plan. I love getting the calendar out and plotting out my course of action. This month I'll prepare, record, write. Next month I'm off to Ireland to mentor budding songwriters at a songwriters retreat. Plus I have promotions to do for the new album. Following month, a big cd launch in Hollywood, then off to Texas to speak at a music conference and perform. By June I will have released the new Females On Fire compilation of thirty female artists, started writing my musical film script and recorded a whole album for my new Warrior Girl Music artist, Holly Light. Then more dreaming, visualizing, plotting and planning. This is all true. This is my life for the next three months. I have a full-on creative schedule called "my life".

 

I dream of lying on the beach with a margarita in my hand, contemplating how many sand particles are in between my fingers as i dip my toes in the warm ocean.

 

Life happens when you're not looking. That's what my friend and music artist, Max Sharam, said to me once. It's funny how weeks go by, even months, and sometimes you can't even remember what you did. In this city, it can be because there is SO much to do, and we do SO much, that it's hard to remember what we did yesterday unless we write about it.

 

So write about it. Write about what's going on with your creativity. Purge it out. Write that to-do list, like a big fat note on your bathroom wall. Then start crossing off the superfluous stuff: the tasks that you don't need to do. Eliminate the extraneous and get down to the nitty gritty: the truly important stuff.

 

When we begin to see differently, we think differently and we do differently. Just because everyone else out there is spinning their wheels and pushing along till they burn out, doesn't mean you have to. One amazing project might be better than a thousand little ones that don't get your full attention.

 

My whole philosophy of surrendering to the universe is really working. Lately, I've been listening to what I want to do "in the moment", rather than let my scattered mind control me and leave me restless. When I truly listen to my inner self, I start to see the divine plan.

 

It's stranger still when I realize that the most amazing accomplishments are ones that didn't get on my to-do list. They are the little things that sneak in when I'm not looking, and end up being champions. I signed up as the Director of a summer music camp for kids. I thought it would be a quick summer project later in the year. Little did I realize that this project is becoming a lifelong dream fulfilled, to share and nurture children in the most beloved area I know, music. I am so excited that it has consumed my attention for three non stop weeks as I've been hiring my teaching staff and promoting the camp for student enrollments. I literally dropped everything off my list to concentrate on this. It was a natural choice. Unbeknown to me, when it comes to kids, I melt. I've spent my whole life dedicated to education and I didn't even realize it. I even have a Bachelor of Education and thought I'd never use my degree. I've spent the better part of the last ten years, while pursuing my own music career, also conducing workshops, speaking on panels and now writing my second book, all about educating and empowering youth and young adults. I just didn't realize it was such a strong passion inside me, until I saw these kids jamming on stage the other day at the Camp Open House and I realized... gee Gilli.... this is who you are too.... a teacher.

 

When I wrote my first book, "I AM A Professional Artist" I was on the speaking circuit and did many media interviews, but all through that I denied I was actually an "author". I just thought I was a musician/artist who happened to write. But I get so many letters from people who've read my book, or seen me speak, or come to one of my workshops, and for some, it has changed their lives. They feel empowered, and invigorated after reading my writings or attending my workshops. The teacher in me is probably as strong as the artist in me. I didn't plan this. It just happened. Coming to this realization, and accepting this, is powerful for me.

 

Listening to our higher destiny is crucial for our happiness and ultimate success. As you know by now with what I write about, success is defined by you, on your terms. So when you begin feeling fulfilled and you know that you are on to something satisfying in every way, creatively, financially, and more, then you know it's right. That's success right there, when you've found your niche.

 

Pushing in several directions is ok, but when you stop pushing, and you allow it to come naturally, you'll find it all becomes a lot clearer. It's becoming clearer for me. I have nothing to prove anymore when it comes to being an artist. My fifteen year over night success story is simply this: I've come to understand who I am, and I'm confident in who I am. I'm talented, happy and much wiser today than yesterday. Everything I know, I'm willing to share, because there is certainly enough to go around.

 

You don't need any credentials to know who you are. Just faith. Faith in yourself and the confidence to go out there and put it all into practice.

 

What would you do if this was the last year of your life? For one, you'd delete all the little stuff and get on with what matters the most. Secondly, you'd probably not be so concerned about being famous. Fame is fleeting. What's much cooler is the art of doing.

 

My boyfriend, who is a very talented artist, and I were talking about music demos we did when we were young on cheap 4 track machines. We shared a common teenage-hood of staying up till the wee hours of the morning tracking seemingly amateur songs and beats, loving the process of creating. It wasn't about the big record deal or being famous, it was about getting through the night and creating an awesome song. Listening back to our demos, we both reckon some of them are better than the expensive recordings we've outputted today in our respective studios, for big albums. There was more creativity and uniqueness flowing in our demos that is inspiring us more right now than anything we've heard! I wrote more songs before I was 22 than I've done ever since. Isn't that wild? I was a creatively flowing tap, never ceasing. Same for him too.

 

Since those years I have always been creative, but I've also become a producer of projects, and a teacher, and an author/writer, and a business owner, and continuing as a performer. It ALL is all of me, and I'm joyous in that. I might have a lot on my plate, but it's only because I've put it there. I don't have a boss adding tasks to my inbox in a job I don't enjoy. I'm lucky. I'm my own boss. I might be a little hard on myself, and push myself a little for many reasons (to achieve personal best, financial security, project deadlines). But at least I look at a view of my backyard and can wake up when I want to.

 

Whether you do a lot, or you do a little, it doesn't matter. It's ALL of you. You can be a consummate artist, prolific in your writing, or you can be choosy and selective, outputting seldomly.You can work part time, or full time for someone else, and still be a professional artist pursuing your creativity. You can run several businesses, or none at all. You can do whatever you feel is right for you. It doesn't matter. There is no blueprint you have to follow. You are the master of your own destiny.

 

So do it, do it, do it, or don't. Whatever, you do or don't, enjoy the process.

 

Be the Bag - surrendering to intention

Sometimes, we want something to come to fruition so badly, we push so hard it hurts us. Sometimes, even with all the pushing, the drive and the effort, we don't even get what we set out to achieve.

 

Why is that so?

 

I was brought up to think that if you work hard you can make anything happen; that if you put in the required effort, and you stay focused on your end goals, everything will happen.

 

When we set out to do what we want to do as artists in the entertainment business, many artists feel that they cannot let anything get in their way of achieving their desires, ambitiously keeping to their life purpose . Actually music business representatives (labels, managers, producers, etc.,) tell them they need to be like this too. Then, they take on a pit bull like determination, with a "never give up" attitude, often sacrificing personal joy. I know that many have seen me this way in my life. I'm always seen as joyous, but certainly with a determined streak! They notice my unsurpassable resolve to stride forth, take on many challenges, and make mountains out of mole hills. I've always seen myself as highly ambitious, determined and a super achiever. I remember being told by quite a few "know-it-alls" in the business that I had to "choose" what I focused on for my career. I had to be totally dedicated and committed to being a music artist, and not let anything get in the way, including personal life (that cut out relationships or having a family), or other career options. "You gotta be in it to win it," they would say.

 

For the last ten years, I dedicated my life, every day, to my music career. I have been extremely committed, changing continents, moving to the heart and center of the music industry, L.A, to achieve my dreams. I have conquered so many hurdles to be here, including immigration papers, making money, getting to know the right people, everything. I won't say that I "sacrificed" alternate options of life (leading a quiet life on the beach could have been one of them), but I certainly remained focused on my mission in life. True - this is always what I've wanted to do. I was never the type to do a nine to five job or marry young. For me, performing, entertaining and making albums was everything , and I took on a ruthless, "go get 'em" mentality to achieve my dreams.

 

I have achieved my dreams and I continue to live my dreams on a daily basis. But I have expended a lot of energy in my past that quite frankly could have been better served if I had understood my intentions more, if I was more clear on my mission. I have done a lot, tried many things, achieved much, Mostly with trial by error. But many things I did was because I didn't know what I truly wanted. I knew the overall idea, but no specifics, and I often focused on a big picture outcome (the big dream), based on some idea of commercial success that the industry has drummed into me as being the only way, rather than building blocks one step at a time on my own terms.

 

There are no complaints from me though. I certainly have achieved many things and continue to. But more recently I've begun to believe that it's not about the work nor the effort, and definitely not the push. It is more about intent. It is about dreaming, about thought, about visualizing and about surrendering to (and enjoying) the journey. I have learned to define success by my own terms and live more in the moment: connected to my journey as an artist.

 

I remember watching the movie, American Beauty, starring Kevin Spacey, where the boy next door filmed his favorite home video and he showed it to his girlfriend. The video was of a plastic bag, just a bag, floating in the wind. It drifted here, then there, and up, down and over. It drifted with ease, it was light and in his mind, the most poetic and visually pleasing subject.

 

Be the bag.

 

There is much to read into this simple, small piece. In my mind, being the bag is about surrendering to the journey. Letting the wind, and the universe, provide our path, and trusting that path. It means that the outcome, the goal, is not so important. Yes, it can be a guide, and sure, stay ambitious, but if we are attached only to our end destination, and not about the journey, then we may only be disappointed. You see, life delivers us amazing things, but the most amazing are along the way, not necessarily at the end of a long hard journey, nor should we work ourselves into the ground along the way.

 

I notice that the more I am in touch with my inner intention, that indefinable force that attaches to my dreams and thoughts, things come to fruition more quickly and effectively. Large efforts or hard work are certainly great personal growth processes, but not necessarily goal realizing. While it's important to have a strong work ethic on the outside, it's the work I'm doing on the inside that is really allowing me to master my Art and my life, with freedom and joy. This all comes down to the powerful word of "intention".

 

Whatever I focus on, whatever I give attention to, whether I want it or not, I will create. This is where is gets really awesome for artists. As we are creative more often than not, our thoughts, desires and dreams build most of what will happen artistically and opportunistically in our lives. You get what you think. So if we focus on doing a lot of "hard work", we get a lot of "hard", a lot of "work" and a lot of "hard work" back. If we focus on a positive action or creative outcome, it will occur positively. But more accurately, if we focus on something we want... and then let go of it... and surrender to the universal forces.... it will definitely occur, and with great results, because not only are you giving power to your thought, you are also allowing the universe to share the power and help realize your dreams, plus provide you more freedom to truly create what you want and who you want to be.

 

Remember that saying, "if you love someone, set them free". Well, this is true also for your art. If you love your art, set it free. Don't cling onto it, push it, force it. Surrender to the universe and let it be. It will feed you abundantly if you find the freedom. This all starts with intention.

 

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, author of "The Power of Intention", and whom I mentioned briefly before, has dedicated a book about intention, about how to make your dreams come true, about freedom and about surrendering. His writings are one of the new approaches and philosophies that has brought me to a new attention about fulfilling lifelong dreams. Ever since I saw the movie "American Beauty", and since reading many Toltec philosophy books, some by Carlos Castenada, Dyer's books and Don Miguel Ruiz books, I have come to a better understanding about the art of "letting go" and allowing the universe to show me my true path.

 

Dyer, like Castenada before him, sees intent as "not something you do but a force that exists in the universe as an invisible field of energy". It means, in a nutshell, that we don't have to do anything to create intention and any action and goals following that, but instead "allow" it to happen, almost as if there is an invisible force field manifesting our dreams for us.  It means connecting to our natural selves and letting go of total ego identification. Dyer expresses four steps to intention:

1. Discipline - training ourselves to perform as our thoughts desire. When our bodies are healthy and connected to our mind, the whole body can take on anything.

2. Wisdom - wisdom combined with discipline fosters our ability to focus and be patient as our thoughts, intellect and feelings work with our body.

3. Love - loving what you do and doing what you love. I have always believed that you need to be passionate about your art for it to come to fruition.

4. Surrender - my favorite part, for the exercise of this chapter: your mind and body let go of being in charge, and you move more into intent. When you surrender, you lighten up and be more in touch with your inner truth, and it will take you wherever you feel destined to go.

 

I am fascinated with Wayne Dyer's words and although he focuses on life development, it is equally fitting as a focus for you as an artist. I'm sure I will touch more about intention as we move forward in this book.

 

What is the opposite of surrendering? Clinging on. Attachment. If you are attached to the outcomes of something, so much so that you push for it, you will only meet with resistance.

 

So in summary, as we navigate through this book discussing all the cool ways to "just get out there", remember that it all starts with your intent, your intentions: what you really want. From there, everything is possible.

 

When I say "just get out there" what I really mean is "go within." Ooh, now we are really getting somewhere!