WiP #04: Roll with it

Let me start by wishing you a happy new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I'm sure you're pondering your resolutions right now (or should I say goals/systems HI JAMES CLEAR).

I am currently in New Zealand visiting family and the time difference + turn of new year is giving me a bit of FOMO. I am ready to work, but I'm on holiday.

Feeling guilty about missing last week's newsletter, in 2023 I vow to never miss sending one. Whilst I may have had a few cocktails by the pool today - I am ensuring this goes out. And most importantly, I'm hoping to make it useful.

In October 2021, I attended my first acting lesson and it was in a class with about 20 people. The first ever scene I did in my class was horrible.

I had to perform improv with someone who had clearly been to stage school for many a year. We stood up and she screamed at me about our imaginary horse.

"BABY! I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE. I JUST CAN'T. WE BOUGHT THIS HORSE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO WIN ALL OF THE HORSE PAGEANTS BUT HE IS JUST SO USELESS".

"We don't have a horse" I replied.

The teacher interrupted.

"Okay class, here's the first rule of acting. We always say YES AND. Meaning, if someone offers you a prompt, you never reject it as that's where the scene always dies. Ian, you should accept the offer she made and build on it.

So for example, you could say - honey, I know he's useless now, but we could try hiring a trainer - what about that?"

It was my first lesson, so I was nervous as hell but it was a quick learning.

And I think Yes and applies to all things creative.

If there's one thing I can give myself credit for, it's trying new things and saying yes to new challenges even though I think I'll be S*** at it.

So for my first newsletter in 2023, I want you to set the intention of a 'YES AND' mentality.

This doesn't mean accepting boozy social events all year, and saying yes to things you don't want to attend.

It's about thinking freely and trying to switch off the ego-infested perfectionism voice in your head which holds you back from giving things a go.

If you're sitting at home and you feel like picking up your iPhone and filming yourself rant about something... do it.

If you're thinking about writing a LinkedIn post...do it.

If a naughty beat comes on your Spotify and you feel compelled to try and rap a freestyle to it...do it.

The only way to explore your creativity is by acting upon your random impulses and seeing where it takes you.

It's a shame when you hold yourself back and prevent your inner-child from playing.

“To stimulate creativity one must develop childlike inclination for play and the childlike desire for recognition.” – Albert Einstein

So roll with it, adopt the yes and mentality and lean in.

CREATIVE CHALLENGE

This week's creative challenge is about writing something completely random for no other reason than to just roll with it.

Let's keep it simple.

You've just won a game of Monopoly, and you have a mystical prize.

A genie pops up, and tells you that you are able to download three new skills into your brain that will be remembered forever.

Let's practice

What do you choose?

What three skills would be most important to you? Peeling a banana with your toes? Self-defense with your pinky? Cooking in 5 minutes? Salsa Dancing? Crocheting?

Choose three random skills and spend 5 minutes justifying each skill you choose. The more random and useless the better.

The point is to have fun and see where your randomness in writing takes you.

Enjoy.

Share with me.

How did you find this challenge? Let me know how you got on via e-mail at [email protected]

Good luck and look out for the next activity this time next week.