How willing are you to not know how the thing is going to turn out?
Can you accept uncertainty, and embrace it? Embrace the full adventure?
I listen to a lot of great artists and teachers and business/thought leaders, and today I'm hearing Nancy Hillis talk about "poised uncertainty". And I really get the courage and steadfast heart it takes to stay there.
Last night I finished buffing the wax, sealing this dresser I painted. I'll show you the dresser itself another time, but I want to tell you a story about the making of it.
I watched a video by one of my art mentors, Dionne Woods of The Turquoise Iris, where she painted and distressed a cabinet. I watched it probably 43 times. I stopped it, got in close up, watched parts again and again, studying the order and methods that she used.
Partly I was watching her technique. I think partly I was listening for the repetition of the phrase, "Don't worry, y'all, you can't screw this up."
Then I turned off the video.
I put on some of my favorite studio music. Instrumentals with a driving beat. Late at night, so I knew no one would come in, stop by, call, text, or need anything from me.
I did it my way.
No thinking.
No comparing.
No judging.
I lived in poised uncertainty for hours, and covered the front, top, and sides of this big dresser with all the love I have inside me, in a glorious flow state.
I know that I could never have created this amazing bureau - I say amazing because it amazes me ~ it may or may not amaze you, and that's really none of my business - I could never have created it through intellectualizing it, or worrying about it, or trying to nail down exactly every step before it happened. I couldn't have planned it.
I had to feel it. In the moment it was happening. Without a net. It's as close to Zen as I get.
These are the ingredients I need to get me there ::
- Willingness to let it take me on a wild adventure
- Not try to be in control
- Not "figure it out"
- Breathing a lot
- Know I will be un-interrupted
- Get into that alpha wave state with certain wordless music supporting me
- At night, alone
- Having fun
- Completely committing, diving in, signing up for the adventure, jumping into the current
What does it take for you to live in poised uncertainty in your life?
• running your business
• loving your family
• making your art
• enjoying your day off
I hope you're following your own heart and desires, aiming toward the light.
-Lisa
* The link above, to Dionne Woods of The Turquoise Iris, leads you to her mentorship group that I'm a part of, called Creative Connection. It is an affiliate link, so if you decide to join the group (I hope you do! It's amazing!) I will earn a very small commission. You will pay the same whether you sign up from my link here or a public link - but if you use my link, she will thank me with a small financial benefit.