thewhyteninja

I feel my progess has slowed a bit, but I try to work out somewhat each day. I am working my core fairly well, but I really want to find someone to work with consistently so I can continue to advance.

I would like to be down another 20-25 pounds by Christmas.

I think stress is/was the biggest obstacle to my progress, and I think I need to work on managing my stress and happiness much more.

Let’s just hope no more exes move down the block. :)

So I was laid off a few weeks back, and I find myself at one of those delightful little crossroads in life.

I really enjoy Improv, and would like to train in Chicago, or at least with some of the best instructors in this form. However, I am wondering if it might be better to move further west to LA where I can pursue studies and see about advancing work as commercial actor.

I am working to make the movie this winter or spring to one of these two places. I am trying to make a concerted goal to move where the best opportunities are for me.

I hope this works out.

I think this has been a major issue to improve on. I have had trouble with being a more active listener in improv and onstage, and sometimes it might be that we focus too hard and end up not really paying attention.

I have had problems in relationships due to this because I am listening for an opportunity to help when someone says she is in bad mood or having trouble. This is rarely what is needed with women. Women tend to like to talk and connect with a person. I think this is a fundamental difference between men and women. Men see communication as task driven, or maybe more direct. Women I think tend to use communication as a more exploratory tool, where the communication is more collaborative.

I think I have only reached out to loved ones to give them updates, feeling like I have to prove that I am working hard or that I am doing okay. Your friends and loved ones don’t need you to win all the time, they love you for who you are—not who you are trying to be. I think this was a major failure with me and Lauren and other girls. I wanted to assure them that I wasn’t ditching them for work or gigs, but that these things were important and would payoff. Talking less about the things I’ve got going for the future, and more about what you have with someone in the now will assure that person how much you care or they mean to you.

Money and work will sort themselves out eventually. The economy is awful all around. Letting a person who matters to you know that she matters first, and then support this with actions more will lead to better relationships. Don’t be afraid to take risks, with the things that we love or especially the ones we love. Well with the ones we love the risk should be showing that they mean so much to us, I am not advocating juggling knives or sharks with them.

If you connect with someone through an art or interest, and they find this an attractive quality in you, or you find it so in them, find a way to make art with this person. Find away to make your interests collaborative. I feel that in an attempt to share I have come off as bragging or made a person unhappy because it made her feel like she wasn’t doing more challenging things. However, you shouldn’t let yourself get down if someone is unhappy or jealous that you have good things going on. If you try to share and reach out to someone, and they resent you—leave.

If someone constantly judges you and makes you resent the things that you love so much—take time away or cut this person out. This person is either trying to control you, or so unhappy that it will pull you down and make you feel the same. It might seem cold, but if someone can’t be happy maybe its best to let that person find his or her own way. Trying to find solutions or help, might make you look self-important or just push this person further away.