Tag: dreams

creativity

In the pause: When your dream calls, answer

Christa Avampato

“I’d have to be at the interview in two days! What do I do?”

This is what a friend of mine said to me yesterday. She called because a dream job she applied for contacted her. The dilemma? She’d have to buy a flight and be in New York City for an interview in 36 hours. My response? Get on a plane, go to New York, and get that job. Take your shot.

We all have dreams. I want us all to chase them down like the badasses we are and bring them to life. There’s no right time. The world isn’t interested in what’s convenient for us. If we want something, we have to go get it. Now.

Time isn’t ours to waste; it’s ours to use. So use it. Wisely. Passionately. Completely. Create the life you want.

creativity

In the pause: Play the hand you’re dealt

Christa Avampato

“You don’t have a right to the cards you believe you should have been dealt. You have an obligation to play the hell out of the ones you’re holding.” ~Cheryl Strayed

My friend, Joi, posted this quote a few weeks ago and it was exactly the message I needed. Some of us are born with a great talent. Others of us are born into great fortunate. And still others are blessed with creativity, a strong work ethic, and / or a desire to do something that makes the world a better place in some way. Too often we focus on the piece(s) we don’t have instead of the gifts we do have.

We all need something. If we’re meant to have it, it’ll show up. I believe that. I’ve seen it happen in my own life and in the lives of others. In the meantime, our job is to work like hell to do the best we can with what we’ve got. That’s what I’ll be doing this week on a number of fronts.

What are you working on?

creativity

In the pause: Living your art

Christa Avampato

“Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.” ~Oscar Wilde

Yesterday I was clipping along on my book edits and looking at cover art. At the end of the day, I fully realized just how lucky I am to have this time to see a goal I’ve been working to accomplish for years come to fruition. So much of what I’ve been through in my life is packed into this book, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. I turned over every stone. I left it all out there on the page, just like an athlete leaves the best of their abilities out on the field. And no matter what happens, I’m proud of that effort. I’m prouder of that effort than I am of anything else I’ve done in my life. Oscar Wilde’s right. My life has been my art, specifically it’s been this book.

creativity

In the pause: You can do this, whatever this is

Christa Avampato

“Never let someone who has done nothing tell you how to do anything.” ~Al Pacino

If I learned anything from my childhood, it’s this: when the Godfather gives you advice, take it. What you’re trying to do right now is difficult. You’re trying to do something new. Something that matters. Something that has an impact. My friend, Sheldon, once recommended a book to me called The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Hard things don’t have easy answers. To get them done, you have to persist in the face of adversity. You have to believe more in yourself than anyone else does. You have to vault yourself over the endless flow of hurdles being thrown in your way. Be an artful, graceful dodger. Work like hell for what fires you up. The naysayers and doubters are everywhere.Live out loud. Dream out loud. So loud that you drown them out. Take what they say and let their words and doubts make you stronger, more resilient, and more determined.  Watch yourself rise. And take others with you. The world needs you.

creativity

In the pause: Close some doors

Christa Avampato

“Close some doors. Not because of pride, incapacity, or arrogance, but because they no longer lead somewhere.” ~Paulo Coelho

In order to do what we’re meant to do, we have to choose to stop doing something else. This can be easier than it sounds. Maybe we’re leaving a door open out of perceived obligation or because we feel we have no other options. But too many open doors pulling us in opposite directions can wear us down. They can cloud our vision. They can cause us to grow numb to our passions. Closing doors is a part of chasing dreams.

It can be difficult to articulate our dreams; even harder to follow them, especially if the path to them isn’t clear. There will hardships, setbacks, and troubles. There will be joy, progress, and peace. The incredible highs and lows are all part of the journey. Don’t let the lows get you down. We need them to show us what really matters to us. Don’t let the highs make you over-confident; instead let them be a sign that yes, you are on the path that is meant for you. Keep traveling that path with diligence, persistence, and love. Close the doors that aren’t right for you, and close them with confidence. It’s the only way to live the life you really want.

creativity

In the pause: The gift of time

Christa Avampato

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainty.” ~Erich Fromm

I was handed a gift. I didn’t know it was a gift at the time. It was packaged in something that wasn’t so lovely but when I opened it up and looked inside, I realized it was priceless. That gift is time—time to dream, to write, to dare to do something bold and brave and needed. I hesitated for just a moment right before taking the gift. I could feel the weight of it, the responsibility of it, because it is so rare and desired by so many others. And I plan to make good on it. I plan to use this time wisely and wonderfully to make this world a better place. The sun’s shining; I am madly making hay and smiling all the way.

creativity

In the pause: Change your mindset to change the world

Christa Avampato

“There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky. And you ask “What if I fall?” Oh but my darling, what if you fly?” ~ Erin Hanson

Whenever we attempt something new, too often we jump to worst case scenarios. And there’s good reason for that. We are programmed to self-protect and preserve. For our ancient ancestors, there were so many dangers in the world that were matters of life and death. Now in our somewhat civil society (though goodness, are we ever testing the bounds of civility these days!), our old programming is still in place even though we can be much more daring now and live to tell the tale.

Whenever I’m starting something new, I think of Eric Hanson and his beautiful poem. We feel so trapped in situations that don’t make us happy, but truly, we can set ourselves free. I’m not saying that it’s easy, or that there isn’t an ample amount of fear and worry associated with freedom. Friends, freedom isn’t ever free, but my goodness, is it ever worth it to try to do something that we’re passionate about. Something that matters. Something that makes a difference in the lives of others.

Yes, you may fall. Lord knows I fall every day in one way or another. I have failed miserably at things I wished so much to succeed at. But I learned. Damn, did I learn. And those falls make me tough and resilient, and they also make me empathetic and kind. I get up again, and little by little I steady my gait, get set, and try to fly again. I know that someday I’ll be soaring. You will, too. You’ll see if you just give yourself the chance. You are so much greater, so much wiser, and so much more capable than you ever give yourself credit for. So here’s your credit – it’s yours for the taking. Go do something wild and wonderful with your life. Be it small or great, let it fill you to the brim with joy and happiness, hope and purpose. The world is waiting to celebrate the beauty that is you. And so am I.

creativity

In the pause: Don’t let money run the show. At least not at the beginning.

Christa Avampato

On Friday, I was talking to a friend about a new business she’s thinking of starting. She reached out to another friend of hers to ask for advice. Though she has a lot of passion for the idea, she wasn’t sure how to monetize it. Her friend, a very successful entrepreneur in the financial services space, said, “Don’t worry about monetization right now. Just build what you want to build.”

That might sound like odd advice, especially from someone who works in finance. Aren’t we taught that to build a business we must think about bootstrapping or raising capital and an exit strategy? Doesn’t it all start with how to get money in and then how to get your money back out? This is where a lot of ventures fall down – they worry so much about the money at the start that they lose sight of why they’re building a business in the first place. It starts with passion and heart.

At the beginning of a business idea, you’re experimenting and testing. You’re trying to figure out what you can do and who you can help. To do that, you build the smallest possible piece that you can with as little money as possible for a very small number of people. Go ahead and dream big, but build small. You don’t need to save the whole planet in the next hour. All you need to do is make one thing better for one person. That’s the seed. Start there and see where the path leads. Stay curious. Stay hungry. Stay alert. Pay attention. Listen. Try, fail, and try again. Right now, that’s the only work you have to do.

creativity

In the pause: Not getting what we want can be what we need

Christa Avampato

Sometimes not getting what we want is exactly what we need. Last year, I almost bought a home in D.C. Three times. Each of the deals fell through for different reasons. After the outcome of the Presidential election and the uncertainty in the future, I couldn’t be happier that I didn’t get what I wanted even though I felt defeated each time. Those momentary disappointments turned out to be incredible gifts that I didn’t yet understand. If you’re currently facing disappointment, and wondering why what’s happening is happening, I hope my home-buying situation is a comfort to you. Rest assured that eventually it will all make sense; the universe protects us in ways we can’t even imagine.

 

creativity

Wonder: It’s always a good time to pursue your dream

Christa Avampato

“Hold fast to dreams for it dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams for if dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow.” ~Langston Hughes

The guy I’m meant to be with believes in dreams as much as I do. On Sunday I went on a date with a new guy. He talked so passionately about food policy and public policy, the field that he studied for his PhD so I was surprised when he said he was an examiner at the patent office. I asked him why he wasn’t pursuing his passion around food in some way, even through hobbies and in his free time, and his response bummed me out: “At this point in my life, I’ve accepted that the best I can do is have a job I don’t hate.” Ouch! This person will never possibly understand me or appreciate my belief in dreams.

I’m a firm believer in the idea that we come across the people we do, when we do, for a very important reason. Though this guy and I are roughly the same age, we are miles apart in terms of how we think about life, our dreams, and our purpose. His response made me believe in my path more than ever, and strengthened my resolve to find someone who see dreams and life the way that I do. I can’t imagine ever giving up on my dreams. Even if I don’t achieve all of them, the pursuit is more than worth it. And so is yours. Please don’t give up. We can all do better than just having a job we don’t hate.