Find the Light

No, I’m not quoting Tyra Banks––in order to capture that perfect moment on film, models and actors have to “find their light”.
Imagine if the human collective could find the light, too.
Darkness exists everywhere––if you don’t believe me just turn on Fox News or CNN––depending on the angle you learn towards, you will see a slanted representation of anger, fear-based analysis, exploited “victims”, and sensationalized drama.
Too many people live in fear because it’s what they’re told to believe; conditioned over time to hate and challenge anyone who looks or thinks differently from them.
Now imagine if we (society) started to shine a positive spin on the spin cycle.  What if we took positive action––however small––against every negative emotionally charged circumstance that we are witness to?
In total darkness, even the smallest crack of light is enough to lead us to a way out.

Remember:

When you turn your focus to positive action––you are more empowered and find joy; regardless of the outcome.

Pep Talk

Some days you just need a good pep talk;
Remember:
Life is too short to give a shit what anyone else thinks.
Follow your passion and stay focused.
Face negative energy with a positive action.
Don’t give up!

Escape Negativity and Shine

I have two options:
Fear or Faith.
People can only disappoint you, when you give them the power to.
I need to ask for what I want (which I’m fairly good at) and then move on whether they help me or not (which I’m fairly bad at).
Life is too short to live in negativity.
So I must do whatever it takes to crawl out of the darkness and into the light.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the light switch, but it’s always worth it once you shine.

Suck It Up!

There are moments in life when a person that has screwed you over in the past, reaches out for help. 

In those instances we are faced with two options;

Respond in a positive manner. Gracefully decline or accept the invitation to get "played" again.

OR

Give them a piece of your mind and tell them to F_CK OFF!

I'm proud of myself today-

I took the high road.  As much as I don't enjoy collaborating with lunatics, I realize that an enemy is more manageable when kept close.

So I had to suck it up and smile.

Trust

Gloom and doom is no way to wake.

Today's possibilities are endless!

Releasing the negative energy will allow room for positive action.

Stay focused on the things you can accomplish,

Set aside the problems that seem overwhelming,

And trust that everything will fall into place like it has EVERY time before.

It's cheesy, but true.

Faith always shines through.

Pep Talk...

Come on Matthew, you can make it!
Release your fear and just go fake it-
Don't give in to worry and doubt,
Trust your instinct and knock it out!
[Repeat three times and then release your troubles.]
*Remember:
Positive thoughts and action lead to success!

Focus Grasshopper

It's easy to find your Zen in a tropical paradise like Hawaii-
But to maintain calm in Los Angeles,
It requires a lot of focus!
The toughest part is remembering to let go...
Even when you have a set back,
Like that asshole who cut me off yesterday and almost caused a wreck-
I have to let it go.
The worst is waking up overwhelmed...
I didn't have that in Hawaii, why do I have it in LA?
Oh right, because I'm back in reality.
Ok-
Deep breath in and release.
That problem is only a only an issue because I haven't solved it yet.
Focus on the task at hand, apply positive action, cross it off the list and move on!
The grasshopper is learning.
...VERY slowly!

It's Got To Get Easier... Right?

It never fails-
Just when you think you've got it all figured out... Bam!
An unexpected punch where it counts.
Life is full of ups and downs. I remind myself of this on a daily basis. (Often multiple times a day!)
The fact remains, it's never easy to accept a defeat.
After such a creative month, I find myself scrambling.
The opportunities for creativity still exist. Sadly, the time and resources have disappeared.
I'm doing my best to stay focused and positive- After all, that was the key to my growth and success in 2010 and for the majority of 2011 so far.
So my current situation is a setback.
All I can do is brush off the negative experience and move forward.
I want to complain about all of the "little" things that contribute to a much greater problem-
But I know from history, that positive action has a greater impact than focusing on the things I cannot "fix."
Which is why I'm writing this blog. This is my opportunity to take a deep breath, release the anxiety and doubt and start looking for new possibilities.
I guess deep down I realize: "It" never gets easier.
I've just got to remember that "it" is only as difficult as I allow it to be.

Living The Dream!

I'm fully aware that I have a wonderful life-

I'll take it a step further and admit that this week has been a surreal experience.

A real LA moment! I'm living the dream...

Proof again that positive energy and faith can triumph over fear of the unknown.

On the heels of such a wonderful year in 2010- I've been really struggling to maintain a sense of calm and clarity. After a series of misfortunate events, I was starting to lose faith in myself and the path I was on. This lack of confidence really hit home after an embarrassing audition for a new television show that I had last week.

I was honestly questioning my path. It's so strange how fast confidence can come and go. One minute I'm elated to be receiving glowing reviews for a parody I'm in, and the next, I'm questioning if I'm ever going to work again...

Then, on Saturday while I was judging a talent competition out of town, I received an email for an audition for a new Disney television show. It was a last minute audition to replace an actor who the producers didn't feel was right for the job. The audition was Tuesday, and if booked- I would go straight to hair, make-up and wardrobe and then onto the sound stage to shoot the first scene.

Instantly my mood shifted. No matter how tired I was from sitting in a dark theatre critiquing the stars of tomorrow, my heart began to race at the thought of booking a Disney show!

I reminded myself (like I've done for the past fifteen years of my life) that "this could be the one!"

I arrived at the Hollywood Center Studios, in Los Angeles around 9:15 am. I auditioned along side four other guys that the producers and director were considering for the part. Once each of us had auditioned we waited in a production office and the producer called each actor in one at a time to find out if they were the lucky guy that booked the part...

Because I was the third guy called into the office, I assumed I didn't get it... However, to my delight, they offered me the part on the spot!
The next thing I know I was off to hair and make-up and then into my costume!
By 11 am, I was shooting my first scene on the new Disney show KICKIN IT!

I spent the entire day in heaven. I'm at the point in my life when I realize these jobs don't come around that often... so when they do, I want to make sure that I'm really getting the whole experience!

For me it's such an accomplishment that I was able to book a job on a television show so early into the year! Of course it's what I hope and pray for everyday- so when the circumstances actually arrive, I'm grateful to "live" in them fully.

And I did! I spent every moment on that set soaking it up!
And to be honest, I received all of the validation I needed to realize that this is my path.
I just have to remain true to myself and follow my dreams.
I've already accomplished so many of my goals in life- that occasions like booking a Disney job when you are least expecting it, is extra icing on my cake!
P. S. Don't you think I make a great Disco Dude!?!

Relentless.

Once I get something in my mind,

all bets are off!

I'll do just about anything to make my vision a reality.

At times I may seem; overbearing, adamant, feisty, pushy, and high strung-

I admit I have type "A" personality traits.

I'm doing my best not to strive to be such and overachiever.

I'm no longer a perfectionist, instead I aim to do the best I can with each project so that I can release it into the universe and make space for a new dream.

Yes, I may be annoying at times.

But always with positive energy and a motivative smile!

I'm relentless- and proud of it!

Releasing the Fear. Again.

I'm not sure where all the emotion is coming from lately?

I'm not experiencing any major life dramas.

I've managed to make it through this year without a lot of the fear and self-doubt that I've placed on myself in years past.

I know I'm not anxious about money or work, I've succeeded in staying out of debt and I have great jobs directing and choreographing theatre lined up through next summer, both despite this awful economy.

My relationship is thriving. My career is on track, and I feel like I've grown as an artist and a person in 2010.

Yet I cannot shake this uneasy feeling in my stomach.

I've spent the better part of this year doing everything in my power to move through the setbacks, negative energy and fear. I said yes to whatever adventure came toward me, and because of it, I found myself working with creative people on television and film.

My partner and I created a hit YouTube parody that caught the attention of the Bravo network and one of its reality stars.

I've stayed healthy and in shape- Plus, I continue to "check in" with myself; who I am and what I want to accomplish.

Nevertheless, I still feel like I'm not doing enough!

I'm positive this feeling should be categorized as "Fear and Self-doubt." Even so, I maintain the idea that I should be doing more.

Over-achiever? Perfectionist? Realist? ...or am I just another victim of the conception that you can never rest.

I don't want to go through life always thinking I need to do more, more, more! I hope to enjoy the fruits of my labor from time to time too. I guess my fear is that, if I don't push myself daily, I will float through life, and turn around at seventy years old, wondering why "it" never happened.

So I'm forced to constantly remind myself that "it" is happening everyday, and has been my entire adult life. I'm aware that I have a wonderful life. I've enjoyed an amazing career up until now, and I don't take that for granted.

This year especially, I've witnessed the power of positive energy and action. I made it a point to release the doubt, by focusing on an action that could change the path that the fear was headed. In every instance this year, it has worked.

Moreover, the bold steps in allowing my authentic (for lack of a better word, thanks to Oprah) self to shine, has reminded me that who I am is what makes me special. Something I've always felt inside, but with few exceptions, been too afraid of what others might think to unleash it.

What was I scared of? Standing out? Isn't that what I've been working so hard to do?

I guess I'm feeling so uneasy now, because a part of me wonders if I'll be able to continue this inspired state of mind into the new year. If I did so well in 2010, will I be able to top that?

But even as I write the words, and hear them bouncing around in my head, I see how ludicrous this notion is.

Everything in my past has illustrated that my life as a person and artists continues to evolve. There will be setbacks, I'm sure. How I respond to them is up to me.

There's a dark voice that plays in the back of my mind from time to time saying, "What if you don't book another job? What if you don't make it? What if you're forty-five and broke?"

For too long, that voice held me back from unleashing my true potential.

But the spirit inside of me is a fighter, and the flame that was re-lit in my soul is doing everything in its power to reach the darkest crevices in my subconscious- to shine that light and blind the self-doubt that serves no purpose.

"Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you" -Marrianne Williamson

Beside, the only thing in life to fear, is a missed opportunity!