Ideas in the Wild: Jocelyn Jones is Teaching the Art of Tapping into Creativity

Jocelyn Jones is one of Hollywood’s most prized secret weapons. A legendary acting teacher, coach, and artistic advisor to the stars, she has served as a confidential creative consultant on some of the highest-grossing pictures of all time.

Now she shares her personal journey — and the secrets behind her unique methodology — in Artist: Awakening the Spirit Within. With forthright vulnerability, Jones shares the memories and lessons that shaped her, both spiritually and as a world-class teacher, proving beyond question that the same creative process she offers actors can help readers discover and manifest a life in coherence with their own hearts.

I recently caught up with Jocelyn Jones to learn more about why she wrote the book and the ideas she shares with readers.

Why did you write this book?

We live in turbulent times, distracted by the complications of artificial intelligence, algorithms, and an ever-present tsunami of advertising and “influencers” coming at us from every direction. We are exhausted by a pandemic. Terrified by our political landscape. Overwhelmed by the environmental crisis. And despondent at man’s inhumanity to man. It seems as if the whole of humanity has lost its way.

The answers to our problems are simple, but each individual must rise to the occasion for themselves. When we seek counsel from what we know in our own heart — and act on that truth — we move toward a higher state of humanity.

Our peril contains a message: it’s time to wake up and realize who we are and what we’re capable of.

Artists have always been our greatest opinion leaders. They’re possessed by a need to reflect on what we’re capable of beyond the day-to-day grind. This book is a humble attempt to wake up the artist in everyone through some age-old, simple disciplines we can practice daily.

My goal is to help people uncover the very best in themselves — who they really are and what they are capable of when they listen to their own inherent knowledge. I believe the most important thing in life is acting on what we know in our own hearts to be true.

What’s an idea you share that really excites you?

Artists live to create. An artist in the act of creating is in ecstasy. They will tell you creating is their greatest joy. I got to thinking one day — if the connection to inspiration always brings joy, then we should be able to reverse engineer it. In other words, if the moment of inspiration is always connected to joy, can we consciously create joy as a means to live a more inspired and artful life?

I believe the answer is yes. Using the same techniques and exercises I give actors, I believe anyone can discover and connect to their own depth of joy. And because joy vibrates at such a high frequency, it opens us up to a more creative and inspired life.

For example, many actors worry about crying on cue. I tell them, “Assume the position. Begin by doing the activities you do when you’re about to cry. In other words, try not to cry — actors try to cry on cue; people try desperately not to.” When an actor commits to the same behaviors they use not to cry, their sense memory takes over, and their body says, “Oh, my god, we must be crying,” and turns on the tears.

Joy works the same way. Your body and mind remember what it’s like to be filled with joy. You only have to remember what brought about those feelings and do those things to get you started in the right direction. I have my actors maintain a list of the things that bring them joy and schedule those activities two or three times a week. This exercise works well for everyone.

By seeking out joy in tried-and-true activities, you are more likely to invite joy into the ordinary tasks of your day-to-day living, allowing you to live your life more artfully. In other words, assume the position of happiness. Smile, and you’ll soon have something to smile about.

How will following your advice improve your readers’ lives?

People used to look up to artists not because of their popularity or personality but because of their special relationship with the muse. Actors, musicians, writers, painters, dancers — wake up that harmonic in us, and we feel a connection moving quietly within. We feel inspired because they are inspired. An inspired artist awakens our enthusiasm and interest in new things. Things outside ourselves.

Anyone can tap into inspiration and feel the source of that power at will, but it takes a bit of commitment. Even ten minutes a day practicing some tried-and-true, age-old activities known to bring us to the moment can enhance our creative command over life. Meditation, objective observation, communing with nature…there are many roads out of our minds and into our hearts.

I believe in the art of living and that there is an artist in everyone. I believe we are meant to create our lives with guidance from our higher selves, and we locate that connection by becoming still and turning our attention inward.

I believe there is no better way to shift our world toward a more benevolent and unified collection of souls than for each of us to exercise and expand this intimate relationship to the spirit within, thereby living in coherence with our own heart.

If all of us strengthen our personal connection to this sacred place within, I believe we can manifest a soulful evolution of humankind rather than a sad extinction.

For more information, check out Artist: Awakening the Spirit Within on Amazon or wherever books are sold.