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Christina Barandun. First Aid for the Artist's Soul
FIRST AID FOR THE ARTIST’S SOUL
Table of contents
Foreword
Introduction: Why endure when you can create?
First Steps Towards a Theatre of the Future
What I’m aiming for with this book
Chapter 1: The Theatre – Lots of Potential for Your Health
The Dilemma of the Artist
The Challenging Work of an Artist
The Myth of the Suffering Artist
Is Artistic Freedom Really Without Boundaries?
The Daily Theatre Madness
Workplace and work organisation
Social structures and relationships
Health Protection as an Opportunity
What is health?
Work protection – to help and support you
When stresses and strains overburden our psyche
A great opportunity for artists
Mental Training for the High-Performance Sport of Art
There is No Such Thing as Impossible!
Chapter One: Things to Consider
One last thing…
Chapter 2: The Power of Self-efficacy
Stop Playing the Victim!
The feeling of artistic powerlessness
Between security and artistic recognition
Taking a Stance: The Philosophy of Martial Arts
Budo – the Japanese martial arts philosophy
“It’s up to me how I react”
Assuming Responsibility for Yourself
In the Flow: The Ideal State for Artistic Creation
Be active in creating
The Art of Influence
From powerlessness to self-determination with meaningful goals
What is “good” art?
From paralysing competitiveness to learning and growing
Creating trust
Intrinsic Motivation as the Main Asset of a Theatre
Motivation from within: a precious gift
Feeding the source
Our built-in change engine
Chapter Two: Things to Consider
Next Steps
Chapter 3: Our Brain and its Creative Potential
Tapping into our unlimited potential
Long-term changes must be holistic
An eternal exchange
Neuroplasticity: changeability throughout life
When stress blocks my potential
The ideal stress level for every task
The built-in biological alarm system
The individual assessment is what counts
For new things to evolve in theatre…
Chapter Three: Things to Consider … about further training:
… on how to deal with your own stressors:
… on the subject of creativity:
Chapter 4: Methods for Coping with Stress
The art of mindfulness
What is mindfulness?
Recovery methods: How do I “come down” after a stressful situation?
When you are hyped up…
Active physical activities – bodywork for art
The art of taking a break
Passive relaxation methods
Active relaxation methods
Rest – the anchor in everyday life
Healthy diet
Mental training: How do I rate outer and inner stimuli?
The power of thought
Getting to know our inner critics – and reeducating them
Look for the positives while practising healthy realism
Seeing what’s good in theatre
Dare to fail in order to grow – visions of the future
Seeing strengths
Set yourself achievable goals
Acceptance and courage
Don’t take it personally!
Avoid bitching
Mutual support and appreciation
Planning for the future
Personal superstition
Don’t pursue perfectionism – develop your own thing instead
Keep to and set boundaries
What, no suffering? Discover the pleasure of flow
Maintain a sense of humor
Stimulus management: How do I reduce stimuli that trigger stress right from the outset?
The time stress factor
Where has the time gone?
Clear out
Define priorities
Set up a time window
Say no and set limits
Cultivate your social network
Baby steps
Meaning of life instead of longing for love
Chapter Four: Things to Consider … on the subject of mindfulness:
… on the subject of “recovery methods after stressful phases”:
… on the topic of “mental training: How can I control my thoughts”:
… on the topic of “Management of external and internal stimuli”:
Chapter 5: Appreciative Communication
What is Communication?
What comes across?
Do I mean what I say? – the right choice of words
The great importance of the emotional level
Cultivate an awareness of “communicative fallibility”
Every point of view is legitimate
The soliloquy
Non-verbal communication
The language of the stage is body language
Power of body language
Basic Techniques of Verbal Communication
The communication bridge: the sender side
The what and the how
Only talk about what’s relevant
Reasons
Transmit and repeat important information
Choosing the right time and place
Give feedback
Inner attitude
Feedback rules
Eye-opener in difficult situations
The communication bridge: the recipient side
The art of listening
Active listening or understanding others
Bear in mind the value of the message
Assume a positive intention
Just say thanks!
The transforming power of appreciation
Every emotion is right to begin with
Who started it?
Let tolerance grow
Seeing what’s good or Why is it so hard to praise?
Assume responsibility for your own actions
Communication as a daily challenge
Chapter 5: Things to Consider … on “communication in general”:
… on “body language”:
…on the “sender side”:
…on the “recipient side”:
…on “appreciative communication”:
Chapter 6: Handling conflicts constructively
Conflict as an opportunity
Conflicts built into the structure of the theatre
Conflicts are good
Three steps towards conflict resolution – strategies of self-control
Step 1: Keep Calm
Stable footing
Body alignment and posture
Slow down
Exhale consciously
Step 2: Develop an understanding of the situation
Our constructions of reality
Important signposts: our emotions
Accepting emotions
The power of empathy
Criticism as constructive feedback
Confidently defend your own point of view
Humour
Building trust
Step 3: Finding win-win solutions
What’s most important: Appreciation on a human level
Mustering patience for finding a common path
Being open to new things
Activating creativity
Accepting change as an everyday occurrence
A question of inner attitude
Setting your own code
Positive, solution-oriented basic attitude
Practise wisdom
An eternal process – patience and calmness
Chapter 6: Things to Consider … on “Three steps to conflict resolution”:
… on “Inner attitude”:
Chapter 7: Mastery of the Self
Forging artistic talent
The Japanese tradition of the arts and crafts
Beyond the visible and beyond perfection – yugen and wabisabi
Art pathways
Art as a craft
Practice as a mindset
Rituals as forms of immersion
The “released” artist – a pathforger?
The art of letting go
Chapter 7: Things to Consider
Acknowledgements
References and sources
