Seven states for 2017

My next year isn’t so much about accomplishing things, or reaching goals. Because goals are apparently about creating habits. Do the right things and stuff gets done.

Well, I’m dialing it back slightly. Next year for me isn’t about goals. It isn’t even about doing. 2017 for me is about spending as much time as possible in the following states.

Monotasking
I get distracted easily, and so stuff takes longer than it ought to. My plan is to spend more time doing things singly and completely. And just be present. Focused. It’s amazing how much stuff gets done when there’s deep, uninterrupted focus at work.

Meditation
Basically monotasking for mental space and breathing. I’ve been meditating intermittently in 2016, and it’s great. It’s basically being bored for a bit, but in a relaxing and planned way. In an age of overstimulation, where every spare moment I click the button my phone just to see what stray impulse might get into my awareness, choosing to unplug is a small sanity-saving act of rebellion.

Presence
I’ve got a baby, and it brings my tendency to be scattered or check out mentally into full awareness. As she gets more and more switched on, I’ll need to match her. Plus, it’s pretty cool to have my baby just look into my eyes and smile. I need to be able to do the same.

Daydreaming
Having said I need to be present, I’m still on top of daydreaming. such a great and important thing to be doing. It’s the reason I keep a notebook in my pocket. For the drifts. Making space for ideas. With a job and a baby, it’s hard for me to find time to not do anything. But not doing anything is something important.

Sweaty
I’ve taken a few hot yoga classes this past month. It didn’t totally thrill me — it just seems like regular yoga with the temperature turned up — but I did appreciate that feeling of being sweaty. It also happens when I play football or go jogging. Being sweaty is something I want to do more of next year.

Challenged
I dabbled in some cool things this year. Acquiring new skills and doing things I’m not good at. Or just feel scary. I’ve still got a long way to go before I’ve got any level of competence in one of these areas.

magic
harmonica
singing
sailing

Completion
I’m blocking out my second solo storytelling show and am almost done editing my first book. Getting these finished, polished and out into the worlds are daunting challenges, for both personal and time management reasons. But I’m not backing down. Again: this isn’t about doing, this is about being in the state of getting shit done.

By Ryan Millar|2017-09-14T08:43:34+00:00December 29 2016|

“Ryan is a natural at teaching and you get the feeling he puts his heart and soul into helping others. I look forward to doing more workshops with Ryan.”

Shauna, Tunbridge Wells

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Anonymous, Impro Hotel

“I’ve learned so much from you and thank you for giving me that nudge to get out of my comfort zone.”

Imaan, Amsterdam

“Ryan is an incredible teacher. He took a straggling group of beginners and turned us into a viable company of improvisational actors who regularly perform together – in front of actual, paying, repeat customers.”

Carrie, Brussels

“Ryan really made the most out of the workshop. No time-wasting. He gets to the point quickly, in a clear and effective way.”

Pedro, Lisbon

“Ryan seemed to know just what to do to get the best from everyone. I would jump at the opportunity to do another workshop led by him.”

Calum, Brighton

“I loved loved loved your workshop. I liked the way it was structured and meaningful. Time flew unnoticed. I liked the shortness of the exercises, the surprise and fun, and the fact that you gave me so much to explore. I now can be in an empty prison cell or in a desert island and never feel alone or bored anymore. Now I can expand my world.”

Elsa, Lisbon

“Your Taking It Easy session helped me relax more into the truth of a scene and let it grow more organically instead of pushing too hard to make it funny or dramatic. I loved that you were really clear about what you wanted us to get and how the exercises played into the scene work we did later. I really got a lot from one short session.”

Andrew, Brighton

“I especially enjoyed the clarity in all of what you were doing – I always understood what it was that you were teaching. I never felt lost. That was really awesome.”

Martin, Tampere

“I LOVED the fucking GREAT and positive energies in the workshop. They so got me going. Perhaps the highest moment during this festival was laughing in the workshop (to the dances… :)).”

Ben, Tel Aviv

“Plenty of energy, enthusiasm, good clear guidance on how to make the scene ‘deliver results’ without killing the improviser… Ryan’s enthusiasm for improv is infectious.”

James, Brighton

“Because of you my fear of speaking or presenting in front of an audience has lessened a great deal.”

Samora, Amsterdam

“I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. I learned how beautiful authenticity is, with such little moments as sharing your breakfast. Being in the moment is so amazing to see and to feel.”

Laura, Amsterdam

“Ryan is the most enthusiastic, positive workshop leader I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I’ve been to several of his workshops and after each session I came away with a sense of achievement and feeling that I had learnt something new.”

Chris, London

“Ryan’s coaching sessions really improved my public speaking skills and made my presentations much more interesting for my audience.”

Furio S., Berlin

“I really admire your energy, creativity and knowledge and I’ve learned a lot from your training sessions.”

Natasha, Amsterdam,

“Very inspiring and useful workshop. Picked me up from where I’m at and helped me develop strategies to improve developing scenes and my performance skills.”

Anonymous, Switzerland

“Thank you for your positive spirit, energy and creativity. Your public speaking sessions really helped me feel more comfortable standing in front of a group of people.”

Serena, Amsterdam

“Ryan is a great teacher, very serious (and very funny!) gives great coaching during scenes! I had a great time studying with him!!”

Alon, Tel Aviv

“Working with you was an absolute blast! I’ll take your writing advice with me wherever I go.”

Marton, Budapest

“Thank you so much for passing your writing knowledge onto me. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun too.”

Larissa, Amsterdam,

“The skills I learned from those two weekends, which were two of the most enjoyable weekends I’ve ever had, have been an invaluable tool I use to this day in my daily life, both at work and in personal interactions.”

Andy, Brussels

“As a coach Ryan’s ability to zone in and identify the main agenda for each sessions was amazing. His coaching helped me reflect, make decisions and make positive changes in my business.”

Tracy, Dublin

“Ryan is an extremely qualified, talented, and professional teacher and coach. I’d recommend Ryan’s services to anyone!”

Derek, Amsterdam,

“I’ve benefitted immensely from this journey which I would recommend to anyone looking to learn more about themselves in a fun, immersive way.”

Simon, Amsterdam

“Ryan’s improv workshop is incredibly fun but also ruthlessly effective. Participants are taught to drop their inhibitions, let their imagination flow and and embrace the positive attitude at the heart of improv. They are also treated to Ryan’s personal blend of enthusiasm, wit and generosity.”

Jeremy, Brussels

Seven states for 2017

How was working with Ryan?

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Seven states for 2017

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