Joey O'Connor's Blog, page 8

Amanda Palmer and The Art of Asking

I’ve always told my kids, “If you never ask, the answer is always ‘no’.” I’ve also met many, many artists who are afraid of the art of asking. Asking for the sale. Asking for constructive criticism. Asking for the deal. Asking for assistance. Asking for the interview. Asking for some outrageous type of help from someone far more famous or important than them. As an artist, how well do you excel in the art of asking?

In this insightful TED talk, controversial artist and musician, Amanda Palmer...

Amanda Palmer & The Art of Asking

I’ve always told my kids, “If you never ask, the answer is always ‘no’.” I’ve also met many, many artists who are afraid of the art of asking. Asking for the sale. Asking for constructive criticism. Asking for the deal. Asking for assistance. Asking for the interview. Asking for some outrageous type of help from someone far more famous or important than them. As an artist, how well do you excel in the art of asking?

In this insightful TED talk, controversial artist and musician, Amanda Palmer...

The Challenge of Staying Spiritually Awake

One of the greatest challenges facing followers of Christ today is the challenge of staying spiritually awake. I believe it is the core component to cultivating a beautiful life in Christ. Personally, when I strip away all the layers, conflicts and issues I face, staying spiritually awake–yes, alive and aware to the living, loving presence of God–this is the great challenge to my spiritual life in Christ. I recently wrote about my new favorite book, An Unhurried Life by Alan Fadling. In his r...

The Art of Letting Go

I am slowly learning the art of letting go. In the past month, my oldest daughter Janae became engaged to the love of her life. I’m learning to let go of my daughter. After three months of hard work cutting down avocado trees at The Grove, I now have weeds to cut and lemon trees to prune! I’m learning to let go of the idea that my work on the property will ever be finished. I am also in the midst of difficult business and creative challenges. I’m learning to let go of certain things I have no...

What Haven’t You Done in a Long Time?

What haven’t you done in a long time? I recently asked myself this question. I surprised myself with what popped into my mind. I haven’t been to the mission in a long time. The mission I’m referring to is the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Founded by Fr. Junipero Serra in 1776, the “Jewel of the Missions” has long held a special place in my life. It is a timeless place filled with beautiful gardens, amazing old architecture and ruins, quiet fountains and high-quality art. It has been a central...

Have You Seen The Grove’s New Website?

For the past eleven years, I have led a ministry called The Grove Center for the Arts & Media. I have the incredible privilege of working with a lot of creative and amazing artists: writers, filmmakers, musicians, singer-songwriters, visual artists of all kinds, poets, dancers, photographers and just about every kind of artist imaginable. The mission of The Grove is to cultivate the spiritual growth and creative work of artists. We do this through Grove Gatherings, Getaways, and Generosity.

He...

Art Has Failed to Humanize Our Country

I recently read A Global Perspective, a fascinating interview in the LA Times with theater director, Peter Sellars. Sellars is an UCLA professor of world arts and culture where he teaches Art as Social Action and Art as Moral Action. ​

When asked, “You’ve said that ‘art over the past 25 years has failed to humanize the country.’ How do think it can accomplish that?”​ Read on…

Sellars offers a fascinating response regarding the humanities, justice, creativity, making powerful transformations in...

Do You Have a Lurking Dream Killer?

Then they said to one another, “Look, this dream is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit…We shall see what will become of his dreams!” Genesis 37:19-20

The Sixth Commandment says, “Thou shall not kill.”

Do you have a lurking dream killer in the darkened closets of your heart and mind? The voices of well-meaning (and not-so-well-meaning) parents, friends, colleagues, and critics who squash your artistic dreams in favor of pragmatism.

Beware the lurking dream kill...

Are You Leaving All Outcomes to God?

In my desire, struggle and journey to cultivate a beautiful life, one of the most helpful things I’ve learned to bring me peace is this simple truth: Leave all outcomes to God. In our work, life and relationships, if we want peace, we need to let go of our illusions of control and leave all outcomes to God.

Thomas Merton, one of my favorite spiritual writers, drives home this point when he writes about work and play. Read on…

In a letter he wrote to a friend, Merton said this…

Do not push too h...

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

What you believe matters and what you believe can lead the way to cultivating a beautiful life. If you want to lead and inspire others to action, you need to revisit “Why” you’re doing what you’re doing. Read on…

Here is a wonderful and inspiring TED talk by Simon Sinek. In this 18 minute video, he shows how Steve Jobs, the Wright Brothers, and Martin Luther King, Jr. became great leaders based upon the “Why?” of what they were doing.

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy WHY you do it.” Simo...