boost your craft with these simple hacks…
A few weeks ago I recently had the honor of speaking with the renowned headshot photographer Peter Hurley. And like many of my conversations on The MOOD Podcast - this is one reason I started it - I learned something I wanted to share with you...
"If you’re unstoppable mentally, internally, nobody can stop you.”
Throughout my life, I’ve been dedicated to physical health; sports, the gym, and general fitness, even owning some gyms. Often, when traveling or working, a quick workout, run, or walk normally clears my mind and creates space for creativity and thought-productivity. However, despite my commitment to physical strength over the last 30 years, I neglected my mental health for just as many. It wasn’t until I faced bouts of depression in mid-life that I realized the importance of good mental health.
Maintaining a healthy mind is crucial for everyone. It's the only thing we have, after all. It's the emanation of all man-made beauty in this world. And 'mental health' is not just a buzzword or a trend; it’s a fundamental aspect of human well-being that we all need to manage. Some handle it better than others, but it’s a continuous process. Only recently have I recognized how good mental health can exponentially increase one’s productivity, creativity, and quality of output. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Speaking with Peter reminded me of how one’s approach, mindset, and philosophy towards oneself can create real change and impact in their craft.
Many of us face the challenge of balancing physical and mental health while striving to excel in our passions, skills, and professions. The stress of business, travel, and perceived lack of time often leads us to neglect one aspect in favor of the other, resulting in burnout and decreased performance. The fear of not being good enough or not knowing the ‘right’ way to do things can paralyze us, much like Peter’s initial hesitation to pick up a camera despite his interest.
Here are some of the lessons I learned myself along the way, but also from talking to Peter on how to maintain internal and external health, allowing you to perform at your best, especially with something as creative and demanding as photography:
Prioritize Self-Care: Peter emphasizes the importance of self-care in achieving mental and physical health. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, proper nutrition and mindset training are fundamental. By nurturing your mind and body, you're naturally creating a foundation for success, often for free!
Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Embrace the learning process and stay open to new experiences. Like Peter did with photography, start with what you have and learn as you go. A growth mindset helps you adapt to challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth.
Build and Nurture Trust: Establishing trust with yourself and others is crucial. For Peter, it was about creating a comfortable environment for his subjects. For us, it can mean being reliable and consistent in our efforts, which helps build credibility and trust over time.
I hope you found these insights as inspiring as I did. To hear more from Peter Hurley and dive deeper into our conversation, listen to the full episode here.
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Thank you for being a part of my community, and I look forward to sharing more amazing stories and insights with you!
Happy Shooting,
