Learning To Live In The Unknown
As a career artist I have become accustomed to living in the unknown. As a human, specifically an American, living in the unknown has never been more in the forefront of my daily life as it is right now. Thinking hard about how to process it all and come out on the positive side at the end of every day has become a challenge for me. Are you feeling it too?
While pondering ways to cope with the daily unknown, it recently occurred to me that perhaps I could approach the uncertainty of a blank day in the same way I approach the uncertainty of a blank canvas. For instance, when starting a painting it is sometimes necessary to have a definite plan for the outcome. Yet my favorite paintings - the ones I consider most successful - are usually a direct result of me letting go of most, if not complete control. In other words if I start out on that blank canvas with a concrete plan or a predetermined intention my mind has already put a ceiling on the outcome. On the other hand, if I let go of some control and open my mind to the many unknown possibilities who knows what might show up?! Perhaps a new color I have yet to discover or an exciting process might appear to send me down a new path worthy of further exploration.
Bear with me a moment….
Somehow I see a parallel here and I may be talking gibberish but I think the point I am trying to make is now more than ever it seems necessary for us to find a way to cope with the daily chaos and bad news. We have no control over most of the ugliness currently going on in the world but we do have control over the way we allow it to influence our daily lives. I have no intention of burying my head in the sand - I still must remain aware of what's going on, but I am going to consciously try to face each blank day in the same way I face a blank canvas - with hope and an open mind. It's the only way to make room for the good that so desperately wants to get in!
The power of positive thinking, mind over matter - whatever you want to call it - the idea of setting our daily intentions in a positive direction is definitely an idea worth re-visiting. What do you think?
