"Every leaf that grows will tell you... what you sow will bear fruit. So if you have any sense.. my friend, don't plant anything but Love."
- Rumi
Functioning in a world that is constantly on go mode can be quite straining on those who value a slow and steady pace to life. I like to see my mind as a garden and my thoughts as seeds that I plant. Being mindful of the information I consume during the day, and noticing how it affects my mood has changed my life for the better. The past two years have been a very mystical experience for me as I began to delve deeper into myself…
Being an artist means that you are bringing your vision from the unseen realm into the physical world. Sometimes when creating art, you may feel that the end product just isn't good enough. No matter how much other people praise your work, you may feel that it's still missing something. Being in this "stuck" phase can feel very uncomfortable. You wish you could see your art the same way the rest of the world does.
I remember last summer when I took up painting again. I haven't tapped into my artistic abilities since middle school, so I felt very much like an amateur going in. I wanted to paint the planet Saturn on a canvas so that I can hang it on my wall. Even though this was just a piece of art that I was making for fun, I still had the notion that it had to be "perfect". When I completed the painting... I loved it! I painted the galaxy and planet pink and made stars using glitter. I felt so proud of my creation that I decided to take a photo so that I can post it on my social media accounts. The moment I posted the photo, I began to notice details that I hadn't been aware of before sharing my art. I noticed that I painted Saturn's rings asymmetrical. The rings looked uneven and choppy. Within a few minutes, I quickly deleted the photo. I felt an uneasy feeling in my body, I felt embarrassed, and felt that no one would take me serious as an artist. All of these thoughts came up the moment I shared my art with the world. I was fine with my art when it was only my eyes gazing on it. When I create art, through the form of poetry, writing or visuals; I am allowing the world to see my Soul. It made me feel vulnerable and scared that someone may see my "imperfections". The first poem I've written Eternal Love was deleted and then re-uploaded 7 times before I felt comfortable leaving it up permanently.
I no longer resonate with the word perfect.
I now aim for achieving progress as that will allow me to embrace the moment. It is important to have compassion for all the times you may have been hard on yourself. Human beings are social in nature and we want to feel accepted by our community. We may dim our lights as a result of trying to fit in. I don't want to fit in, I want to show the world my unique vision. As an entrepreneur, you may find yourself over contemplating your logo design or if your product needs any more final touches.
I began to realize that there is no blueprint. When creating art you are taking what exists in your mind and bringing it into form. Now the world can see your vision as well. When you create without self-imposed limits, you create magic.
As I go through this journey called Life, I want to make sure that I acknowledge how far I've come. I now make the intention to celebrate my milestones, big and small! Just the other day, I hit a small milestone and wanted to celebrate. So, I made myself a warm cup of chai and sat in my garden. The smell of chai (specifically cardamon and cinnamon) always reminds me of my childhood. I slowed down my breathing and took note of all the flavours dancing together in my mouth. With every sip, I would feel heavenly bliss. The feeling of the wind against my skin and the sound of harmony in the air, made me feel so grateful for the moment. After finishing my tea, I cut some of my purple echinaceas and placed them in a vase. I felt so mesmerized by the flowers beauty and scent. I then lit a butterscotch candle (to keep the good vibes going!) and reached for my favourite book: The Soul of Rumi - A Collection of Ecstatic Poems.
I read mystical love poems all evening and when I went to blow out my candle for the night, a thought hit me— I was able to enjoy this day of bliss because I allowed myself to celebrate my accomplishments. My one action of making a cup of tea led me to make feel good decisions later on in the day. The power is in the present moment and when we are present we are able to enjoy all the love, joy, abundance that this beautiful Earth has to offer.
Love,
Amera Athena