Change, expansion, limitlessness- how can multi-hyphenate artists embrace & contain their multitudes?
"You might be hypnotized in the belief that you are who you think you are but that’s only a part of you".
Hi!
I hope you’re well 🌹 This may very well be the most valuable material I’ve delivered to your inbox yet, as I’ve invited multi-hyphenate creative and living legend
to share his insights on creativity & mindfulness.Paolo is a wealth of spiritual knowledge, I first discovered his Substack followed by his podcast, cooking page, and music - all of which bring me floods of inspiration and insight.
I've been fortunate to build a friendship with him through our mutual support of each other's publications, which in & of itself is so special. Please enjoy & absorb his beautiful message and grounded wisdom in today’s letter, a powerful lesson on creativity & mindfulness.
PS: I’ll be attending his upcoming show at The Bowery Electric on 1/18 - you should come!
Q: Your work spans across cooking, writing, tattooing, podcasting, music, and coaching. How do you define being a multi-hyphenate, and what drives your passion for blending these disciplines?
A: “One tattoo client had the words of Walt Whitman tattooed on her shoulder that said “we contain multitudes” from that moment on, that phrase got stuck on me. To embrace both the complexity and simplicity of our uniqueness. Day by day, I come to realize that my unusual combinations of interests is something to lean on and look deeper onto. I get a good feeling when I put things together, may it be words, notes, ingredients or insights. I guess my willingness to fail and be an idiot in exchange for a new version of myself keeps my view of life fresh and that is how I feel most alive.
I started the podcast because I wanted to be articulate in phrasing out in realtime insights that come in my domain of awareness.
Being a multi-hyphenate is embracing our true nature that which is limitless.
You might be hypnotized in the belief that you are who you think you are but that’s only a part of you.
Each one of us is eternal, universal and infinite, and we are a magnetic force that came to be for the experience of learning to love, and to become this is to expand and be more of what was.
I play music because, sounds are the connective force that ties us all together. We are connected by strings that vibrate and resonate frequencies of varying tones.
Being multi-hyphenate increases your surface area of opportunities. It will build your stack of skills that will only make sense if you look back. Move forward guided by what’s true and pure in your heart. Hence my moniker “makepurethyheart”. We are gifted potential, that if we don’t use shall make us perish and if used shall save (Gospel of Thomas).
You can if you open your mind to it. You can live the life of your dreams but you need to become this infinite being first, which you always are and always have been, we just get addicted to limitations because it gives us a sense of security which is false.
Try leaning into your gut. Try to be audacious, I lured and wooed my very beautiful wife just because I believed it would be a great life married to the most beautiful woman I ever saw. I’m currently in the process of pursuing music and I know that it will work because each time I play I feel like I won.
I highly suggest leaning into your multi-hyphenate nature, we all are. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone, you just need to feel good about yourself knowing that deep within you, before this human life transcends, you have tried.”
“I guess my willingness to fail and be an idiot in exchange for a new version of myself keeps my view of life fresh and that is how I feel most alive.”
Q: Have you found any unexpected synergies between your different roles that have shaped your approach to mindfulness and creativity?
A: “I have come to realize as time goes by that all creative pursuits are all the same. It is an expression of what I feel inside and the spirit urging forth for manifestation through me. Desire is my radar. I love putting things together that I think will be useful to others but first and foremost, I think it’s cool. I love a done thing, it can be a yoga sequence or a pot of soup.
A learning that I’m undergoing is that, things must be shipped out immediately even imperfectly with no attachment to its fruits. As I repeat this practice I see where I can adjust certain levers and see things that truly matter.
It is mostly to help others and not upset very few people in my life.
It is the feeling whilst I do anything that counts, not what I do or what comes out of it.
Every creative thing I put out is an offering for that day. That I’m able to think it up and pack it up in such a unique way. I guess it’s a way of stamping each day because we all know this existence is fleeting.
In all things I do, I make it a point to know that it is always now and it is always important, from washing dishes to touring with big acts and seeing epic places. They are all phenomenal. They are all God.”
“You can live the life of your dreams but you need to become this infinite being first, which you always are and always have been, we just get addicted to limitations because it gives us a sense of security which is false.”
Q: What challenges do you face in maintaining focus and creative energy across multiple mediums if any?
A: “In materializing projects and dreams one can never stay equanimous all the time. My challenge comes in if I intervene with the pace of life. When I want it faster forgetting that all I ever desire is within me and here. When I get too fascinated with my ego and I end up burning precious energy disregarding more important things like doing nothing with loved ones”.
Q: Can you elaborate on what purity of heart means to you and how it informs your work?
A: “Purity is to will one thing (Soren Kierkegaard). To truly be yourself what ever that might look like. Purity is when we burn off and let go of imperfection of false thinking, feeling and believing. Purity is a compassionate perception of all things that happened, happening and will happen. Purity is authenticity of your purpose, intent and alignment to virtues.
Purity is Unlimited forgiveness, Unwavering rectitude, Unfailing performance of duty.
I talked about the 3 u’s here:”
Q: What inspired the creation of Make Pure Thy Heart, and how has it evolved since its inception?
A: “It is a phrase from James Allen’s The Heavenly life. I just loved the way it rolls out of the mouth and the way it looks on paper. I think it can also be a musical project or a children’s coloring book.
But mainly for now it’s a place where I log in my cooking and my insights.
It was once called Make Pure Thy Heart Devotional Society and I would give out patches with the name and a drawing of a rose.”
“A learning that I’m undergoing is that, things must be shipped out immediately even imperfectly with no attachment to its fruits.”
Q: What role do your walking podcast sessions play in your overall creative process, beyond the podcast itself? (I love listening to them).
A: “Thank you for listening. I encourage you and everybody to do a daily walk while talking too! It’s a space where in you can observe yourself and make a good cheer out of a simple act that anyone can engage in.
Walk, and all your troubles are dissolved. Look at the sky and stay in awe and wonder.
It makes me feel good to talk to myself free flowing, It’s a way for me to set the tone for the day. Share majestic mundane things. And to connect to anyone who understands or even curious to hear out the way I see things.
It centers, it grounds me and it connects ne to the infinite part of me.”
Q: Tell me more about your music career journey! When did you know you were a musician? How did your band form?
A: “I love a good riff and a good beat. My band started when Sarah and I first hung out driving around and heard her sing along to a song in the car. I said to myself, her voice is beautiful and she’s got the looks. The creator in me kicked in and put together what would be TURBO GOTH.
I have a drum machine and synth where I can program beats and bass lines and then we embellish the sounds with vocals and guitars.
Being a musician is good fun, a good opportunity to travel and of course nurture and sharpen a craft.
We have a show on the 18th at Bowery electric”.
Q: As a mindfulness coach and creator, what daily habits or rituals are non-negotiable for you?
A: “1 hour time with wife. Peloton in sauna suit. Either Ashtanga, kettlebells, pull-ups and dips.
I’m really into nailing a press to handstand this year. But gotta do the drills before I achieve skills. A more important thing is to not feel bad if a session is incomplete.
Walk around the block and coffee (but I’m into mushrooms and adaptogens lately)
Consume and create.
Connect back to my wife, asses the day (what can be improved, let go, lessen or stop) and repeat.”
Q: How do you approach goal setting and self-assessment in your work and personal growth?
A: “The goal is to feel and be in the state fulfilled. To embody it in my energy first. It needs to be true in my mind first. The song, the show, the book, the blog, the tattoo shop. And then I pick what specific action of the day that needs completion the most.
Again, appreciate the opportunity to create, the mere fact that we can choose what we will do is freedom. The mere fact that we play is winning. I always talk myself that the process is the prize. The moment you wake up; it’s already a miracle and we must do what is best for its fulfillment.
Napoleon Hill said, ‘I know I can be who I decide to be so I demand of myself consistent and persistent effort towards its attainment. And I won’t ever stop as long as I’m alive because neglecting the potential of life is an insult to GOD that which is contained in all of us.’”
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to embrace a multi hyphenate career?
“Again, appreciate the opportunity to create, the mere fact that we can choose what we will do is freedom. The mere fact that we play is winning.”
A: “Lean into your curiosity. Learn to build, learn to sell, learn to get lucky by positioning yourself where in your will be of value. You might be making the best burger but if no one knows about it, it’s a shame.
Be open and find what you like doing that you can go on forever that other people find boring.
What unique touch can you contribute to the things you find interesting?
I love inspiring words, I love putting it together, I love sharing it to the world, I love learning, and I think with that, there is nothing you cannot be, do or have.
Use Chat GPT, use the internet to speed up your self awareness, what is your ideal day? What are your target revenues? Relationship goals? Know these things. How are you to serve? Make your work so good and always available that you can’t be ignored.
Q: How do you envision Make Pure Thy Heart evolving?
A: “I envision a lifestyle, media and marketing company that is run by the values and integrity that turns me on. What fires me up, will fire up the consumer and we will all be agents of good. To wake up from the past traumas, delusions, falsehoods and non love.
I envision a land, that will serve as a healing place, where the purity of each one is honored and nurtured.
To help in raising up the whole vibrancy of the planet, and I won’t stop until every man woman and child is awakened to the truth that they are God.”
Q: If you could leave your audience with one lasting message or practice, what would it be?
A: “I WILL LEAVE WITH MY FAVE;
‘Make pure thy heart and live thy life sweet, rich and beautiful with unselfish performance of duty, unwavering rectitude and unlimited forgiveness.'“
Follow & Connect with Paolo!
Substack | Instagram | Spotify | Music | Website | Coaching
Thanks for reading, please leave Paolo and I your thoughts or questions in the comments.
Sending so much love.
XX,
B
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Immense gratitude 🙏
A friend and I were just talking about how not so long ago, an artist was free to explore the passion of the moment -- any medium, any subject. Somehow, we've become afraid of venturing outside our lane. But it's a big world. As artists, as humans, we owe it to ourselves to explore and embrace it all.