Loving the clay
Recently I heard how in a series of lessons about possibilities for professions, a teacher invited a sculptor to her classroom. Not to talk about sculpting, but to sculpt. No need for explanations. The kids fell in love with loving the clay.
How can we grown-ups remain in love with what we create? Amid never-ceasing uncertainties. We aren't kids. Security an illusion. The unpredictability of clay.
"If only I had better tools, materials, more money, appreciation." Dreams of if only, once I have, and once this ends. Thoughts that do not serve us.
But you know what's delicious? We can go forward with certainty, and that kid-like love. Because we have resources. Always. In this moment. Like right now. Flashing moment open, closed. Even the smallest resourcefulness, not to be missed. A breath. Spark of beauty. Bird on a wire. Enough for a next moment.
Confidence follows action. Put in the hours, show up. What if I lean in even deeper? Here is what follows action as well: Love for the truth of uncertainty as our reality. Love for the heart of uncertainty, which is in fact potential. Meaning, flourishing, and noticing that I am building skill, experience, resilience, wonder. Action, moment by moment. Just sculpt.
Magic where I stretch myself. This too. This too. My heart sings again.
What this requires: To let go of tendencies to compare myself, slip into competition, seek explanations. To let it sink in: When I am fully me (instead of partially you) - doing, living, breathing, showing up, applying myself - I complement you (and your work) and make our world more whole. Contributing instead of comparing. Creating rather than competing.
Our minds are trained to compare and compete. And yet we're all unique. This is not a race. Winning and losing are mythologies.
Best then to be myself. Consistently. Repeatedly. Small steps is fine. Dropping the old story line. To have the courage to answer to my own ethics, craft, materials, ways of showing up. Says the philosopher to his student, in The Courage to be Disliked: "Itʼs enough to just keep moving in a forward direction."
Thank you for choosing to read this post: I do not take it lightly. Contact me with your thoughts. I will respond. Did someone remarkable send you this way or you just happened to come across this page? SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
