Luke Shanahan

Australian writer and director who, at 18, wrote himself a note: “I will be a filmmaker. I will make a feature film.” He kept that note visible while working toward it winning international short film awards, becoming one of Australia’s most highly regarded directors for commercials and short films, and eventually directing his feature film debut, Rabbit, which premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival to critical acclaim. Shanahan’s practice wasn’t wishful thinking it was writing his future self into existence through daily visualisation and persistent action. Years later, when his friend Ben Rennie doubted he could write a book, Shanahan told him every day, “You can do this.” But more importantly, he asked Ben to picture the book published before starting to write it. To visualise holding the finished book. To see it real before it existed. Shanahan understands that your future creative confident self already exists as a possibility you just need to practice seeing from that perspective until your present actions catch up to your future vision.