Creating Change

Creating Change

In the spirit of the season, it is eerie to see that my last post, so many months ago was to announce my art show to support for my son's dream of comedy and writing at Second City in Chicago.   We just returned from witnessing the first phase of that dream's fulfillment. Hope and Other Jokes premiered last Friday Oct 23 to a full house at Second City! Having never seen my son on stage or any production of his writings, it was an amazing experience shared with friends who go back decades.  While I am an extremely 'proud mama', I was also struck by just how harsh a taskmaster the creative process of change and growth can be.  While all of us may want to move forward into our dreams, self-doubt and the courage to be seen can be major obstacles blocking our way.

As synchronicity would have it,this week, Pharrell Williams on The Voice addressed these 2 stumbling blocks succinctly. A bit Yoda-like were his responses. When questioned by a nervous contestant about how he felt before he went onstage, he replied something to the affect, " Happy. Because I love what I am doing and I am present. The jitters just come because you are not in the moment."  Thinking about this further, I realized its profound truth.  We get nervous and jittery because we are not present to the moment and what we are doing. We are either worried about the future and the opinions of others or stuck in the past wrestling with our internalized demon voices of those, who may not have fulfilled their own dreams and feel obliged to rain upon ours.  In my book, Innerlandscape, I refer to these folks as 'discouragers' because they suck the courage right out of you and all those around them. They often couch their discouragement with terms  such as being realistic or just trying to keep you from getting hurt.  Sometimes, life hurts.  Sometimes that hurt or disappointment is what guides us to the refinement of our dreams.

 Perfection is the veil between us and opportunity.  I do not where he comes up with these pearls of wisdom but you gotta love him.  I have often witnessed the refusal to try because you cannot be the best.  Very few of us are born being the best.  Even if our gifts are recognized early, it is the hours we put into our craft that creates mastery.  As we reach different levels of mastery what we discover is often more questions and more challenges.  If we are doing what we love, for the sake of loving it, these new challenges excite and enliven us.

 I know it is the first of many moments of joy and challenge when we can break through the restrictions of our past and risk the unknown future to express our unique voice. For me it was my painting Emergence that committed me to my art.  Do what you have always longed to do and be the person you were meant to be. The critics will slowly silence and it is infinitely more fun than worry.  We welcome you to share your thoughts and stories.