"The Artist Letters"- Authenticity

“You don’t attract what you want. You attract what you are.”

-wayne dyer

I wrote a note to a talented young artist who had won a meeting with Donny Ienner, a music industry legend who’s behind the careers of Artists such as Mariah Carey, John Mayer, and Bruce Springsteen. I asked if he gave her any amazing ‘life advice’ that she’d like to share, and this was her response to me which prompted the following letter.

Trina,

I'm listening to one of your artist meditations right now, by the way.

The meeting I had with Donnie Ienner was crazy! He was so in-tune and we got right into it "What are you going to do with your album? Tour? Get a label? You should play CMJ, and use this meeting you won, to get meetings with managers". Ahhhh! I came away from the meeting feeling like my music is worthy, and that I'm ready for "the next level", but I also feel like there's so much to do and not enough time to do it while working my regular job. I wish I could afford to quit and focus 100% on my music career. Anyway, I think the best "life advice" I could pass along from the meeting, that applies to everyone, is be authentic. Authenticity wins every time. :o)‎

- J

Dear J,

For most of us, it can be a great gift to receive affirmation from industry people we respect and admire. I can still remember the first time I experienced that with a man named Dan Keen, as a young songwriter. I’ll never forget his exact words to me, “What are you doing in Orlando? You could be in Nashville doing this for a living. I personally guarantee it.”

When I heard those words, a spark went off inside my soul. It’s like my inner ‘knowing’ that had guided me all those years was reawakened. The part of me that didn’t let me get a business degree to ‘fall back on’, that voice that chose to spend a summer studying audio engineering in a room full of old guys, while my friends were partying and making memories, the feeling of ‘belonging‘ that only came from playing the piano.

I moved to Nashville 3 weeks later with nothing but those words, and the belief that I was “ready” for my real life now, my next level. I hear this same devotion and desire in your words. However, you do not want to mistake excitement for being ‘ready’ at this time.

After almost 20 years in this industry,

the one thing I know for sure is when you are truly ready,

the opportunity is there for you, and it feels effortless.

I know this is hard to believe after such an empowering meeting like the one you had with Donnie Ienner, a music legend. But the thing is, your talent and abilities, and your conviction as an Artist, has NEVER been the thing that held you back. You don’t have to be a legend to see that. You have always known this is your gift, and it is yours to share with the world.

So now that an ‘important‘ person has confirmed that for you, you are ready? Actually, now this is the exact thing that is keeping you from being ready! It’s lovely that you walked away from the meeting with the answer to all of this, “Authenticity is the key.” And now it is time to learn what that truly is.

Your authentic self would not see your lack of time as an obstacle. Your authentic soul would not see money or day job as more powerful than your visions you’ve had since you were a child. Do you really think your authentic self believes that any form of God would give you these gifts and desires, without the means to fulfill it?

You are right. It is time to be authentic. You are more powerful than you believe. It is time to TRUST that the Universe will support you if you are willing to surrender your fears of what you think is in your way, and just allow yourself to step into who you really are, an Artist. It is time for you to remember the Power lies within you, not in Donnie Ienner’s belief in you, and certainly not in the money or time outside of you. When you are ready to be authentic, and start using your job to be of more service as an Artist, and not as the thing keeping you from it, your job and money will likely become your resource, not your problem.

Also, we think we know too much. We think we need ‘this‘ job, this much money, and it takes this much time. However, the artists that I know, that are where you want to be, allow their life to work around and within their artistry. You live in a city with millions of possibilities to earn money, not only with flexible hours, but even doing what you love! And yet, you still have a hard time seeing it. We all do. We all have hidden aspects that are afraid of having this much power. But, you are desiring a life, that holds great responsibility, that requires enormous amounts of energy - giving and receiving- and that requires your fullest presence, or it will go away in a matter of seconds. So, your most authentic, powerful, faithful self is essential to make any kind of impact here, and when you step into that space, you will be “READY’.

I understand the impatient ego does not want to hear this. However, that would be you, thinking you know again! You must know this does not necessarily take more ‘time’! You can begin today, by giving yourself back the Power of Choice. My friend, you can choose to see what is in your way, and let that hold you back, or you can be willing to see it differently. God provides all of our needs. It’s us who creates our suffering around it. This is the time to practice trusting, “If I NEED more time, I will be given more time. If I need more money, l will receive more money. And, I’m willing to receive it doing what I love. For when I’m doing what I love, abundance naturally occurs.” If you deeply observe this wisdom for yourself, you may find out that time or money isn’t the real block after all. It could quite possibly be that fear, in the back of your mind. God did not create that either. Intuition (God speaking to us) is a peaceful knowing. Fear is stressful guessing.

I’m happy to hear that your listening to my Daily Artist Meditations. For your spiritual practice is where you are to focus your energies now. For a successful person in this business, does not have true success without one. This is where you will uncover your most authentic self, and this is clearly the key to your “next level.”

Blessings,

Trina

- excerpt from my new upcoming book, “The Artist Letters”