PSYCH OUT: Different Strokes

 

Psych Out is an ongoing series on the topic of fear & creativity. It evolved in response to many of our readers expressing that fear often blocked their creative flow.

In this edition of Psych Out, Seymour asked a few entrepreneurs and artists from Seymour’s creative community to share, ‘off the cuff’ their gut advice on to how they get over anxiety and self-doubt in order to find the strength to move forward with their projects. You’ll notice that their responses vary extensively, a good reminder that different approaches work for different people. We hope you find one that helps you.

 

 

Different Strokes

 

ROMEO TIRONE is a director and cinematographer whose most recent work includes the television series Dexter, and True Blood.

 

Perfection is the greatest flaw. Go with your first instinct even if you might end up being wrong, because momentum is everything.

 

 

 

ROMY TRENEER is an English professor at Sciences Po in Paris and the founder of  English à Venir.

When I’m freaking out that all my projects and ambitions seem greater than I can manage, I remind myself of two things:

1. Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat.

2. There are many successful people in the world who aren’t as smart and creative, and if they can do it, why can’t I?

# 2 is perhaps more conceited than # 1, but will work in a pinch.
 

LESLIE O’SHEA is Senior Vice President & Director at Brown, Harris Stevens Real Estate.

Here’s what works for me:

A) Do an hour of intense Cardio plus weights 6 days a week at 5:30 am.

B) Meditate 35 minutes a day — studied it at Weill Cornell – life changing – like having an emotional moat.

C) Turn my blackberry off and make sure I get enough sleep.

D) Have a trusted board of directors.

E) Set boundaries so that other people don’t make their issues my problem.

 

BRIAN ROSS is a documentary filmmaker and photographer and the founder of Photo Safari Hawaii Ecotours. He is also the author of Lunch With Krishna.

I recite my mantra: ‘I am Holy. All is Well. You are Loved. It is perfect.’

It helps me to connect with my divine purpose which is: ‘The desire to receive for the purpose of sharing.’
Practicing this helps me to remove my ego from the situation and strengthens the awareness of being in sync with the universe.

I believe fearlessness comes from fidelity to the divine, and courage comes from the heart.

 

CLAIRE GLORIEUX is an artist, videographer and filmmaker. www.claireglorieux.com

When I am about to give up and succumb to the idea that it would be wiser to stop because it’s just ‘not working’; when I get tired of negative responses or feel worn out by the deafening silence I sometimes come up against when I reach out to contacts, or apply for residencies & exhibitions~ I think about Van Gogh, and the countless other artists who didn’t need validation or fame in their lifetime to continue working, to create, to produce. I think about the fact that he sold only one painting his whole lifetime, and yet today he is the one of the most expensive and celebrated artists in history. Without comparing myself to his genius, it helps me to find the strength within myself to press on without seeking public recognition.