Comments on: eric maisel’s book tour: focus for artists

By: eeabee

eeabee — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:21:37 +0000

The part about recovery as a huge paradigm shift in thinking really resonates for me. It’s not that the triggers/thoughts stop being there, just that the triggers/thoughts had to be unlinked from the action of drinking, and I did have to learn to mindfully observe the thoughts and monitor them a bit, and most importantly to teach myself not to think of alcohol as an option even when I feel a wave of thoughts about it.

And the distractibility part is helpful too–it does feel like it functions on all the levels–there can be a somewhat set range (it feels to me) within which we can get ingrained patterns through experience and/or learn to build up our focusing muscles.

By: more emotional health for artists » change therapy - isabella mori

more emotional health for artists » change therapy - isabella mori — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:31:54 +0000

[...] staying focused lastly, in eric maisel’s book tour: focus for artists here at this blog, eric and i talked about how ten zen seconds can help artists stay focused and on task. dr. maisel suggests how to make good decisions about what thoughts we want to entertain, saying that a creative person needs to complete projects in order to feel successful. getting a hold on our thoughts is extremely important – it’s a responsibility that is not to be shirked. [...]

By: Ken Dow

Ken Dow — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:58:55 +0000

Great questions, Isabella! The distinction between traits and states is a potent one – that “in the moment traits translate into states that can be noticed, disputed, and managed”. This is so true. Realizing each moment as a lever and truly seeing the nature our thoughts can soften the grip of habit and allow us to respond in new ways.

By: Brenda Johima

Brenda Johima — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:23:12 +0000

I love these words in your interview with Eric, Isabella, to “get a grip on your own mind” and to get “lost in the trance of working.”

As a creative person working in many different mediums on a daily basis, I agree, that it is the responsibility of each one of us, to have control of our own minds, and to consciously choose our own thoughts, to be the best that we can be.

And I agree that in fact, when focused, without allowing the distracting thoughts, which most creative types have, to take over, one can become lost in the trance of working.

For me, “lost in the trance of working” is when the true gems of creativity arise and great work is accomplished and completed.

Brenda Johima

By: Alyson B. Stanfield

Alyson B. Stanfield — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:02:45 +0000

I, too, was drawn to this quote: “a creative person needs to complete projects in order to feel successful—having a million thoughts but not having those thoughts amount to anything won’t feel good over time.”

Powerful stuff that we forget about. Thanks for sharing, Isabella.

By: Janet Grace Riehl

Janet Grace Riehl — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:00:13 +0000

“A creative person needs to complete projects in order to feel successful” is a building block insight for artists, especially multi-talented ones. It’s a basic human need, I feel, to bring our efforts to fruition.

There’s a tempatation to give in to the excitement of “having a million thoughts” but Eric is so right…if “those thoughts [don’t)amount to anything won’t feel good over time” and we will merely have indulged ourselves in mental entertainment and fantasy.

The work of completion does begin with the work of taming our mind and making good choices for projects that are within our scope to complete, and having completed that one, complete another one. There will always be thousands of projects waiting in the wings of our mind, saying, “I want to go on stage next. Pick me! Pick me!”

It’s our job to be the casting director. Because thoughts move quickly; they come and they go. Once thoughts move into form–whether in the form of a creative project or regular living–movement is slower and more effort is required to move forward.

Janet Grace Riehl, author “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”