Exactly where we need to be
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit” – e. e. cummings
Today I’m thinking about curiosity and patience.
First, the little spark that tugs at our minds until we follow, leading us down that new path in the woods or towards a new recipe or book on the shelf. Second, the gentle compassion and focus that keep us moving until we’ve discovered what we’re meant to discover.
I have always been a curious person, interested in what will happen if I experiment with my diet or behaviors or routine. I do a LOT of testing (just ask Eric!), and probably my most common phrase is “so, I’m going to try this new thing and see how it goes.”
I LOVE that discovery is available for each of us, and available in so many forms.
However it’s not surprising that I’ve been receiving the same message everywhere I turn lately – in blogs, conversations, angel cards, dreams – that patience is the key to powerful change.
There’s simply no way around putting in the effort to practice something (painting, cooking, exercising, loving, communicating). As we practice, layers of our experience build and build until they simply merge and become part of us.
Each layer is a gift that unlocks the path to the next.
Patience has been on my mind a lot lately as I continue to do my weekly paintings. I paint rather intuitively, letting my heart guide my brush, and I’m still exploring what abstract painting has to offer.
There’s a lot of joy in this process, as I let the curious part of my mind lead me somewhere totally new, but there’s also uncertainty.
I have a mantra that I say to myself when the uncertainty crops up and I feel like I need guidance.
I am exactly where I need to be.
Repeating this mantra helps me to redefine where I am in my journey, and the uncertainty I feel becomes its own gift.
I open my mind to the lessons just beneath the surface (calling out uncertainty and owning its story is all part of journey, after all).
Now it’s your turn.
With love,
Sherri Hayter
I love this post Elizabeth! Patience is such a huge gift we can give our creative process. Yesterday I read a post by Elizabeth Gilbert about committing 30 minutes to something you want to do daily and using a timer. It is through that patient persistence that we improve in all areas of our life. Sometimes I feel like we live in this hyper fast world, and yet the way our basic human mechanics work is through time and patience, and I wouldn’t want that to change for it builds a deep profoundness into our lives. The alternative of lightning fast, computer like abilities is that we never get to dive deep.
Thank you for your thoughtful post, and I really love the direction your abstract work is taking – it is breatthtaking! xx
Elizabeth McDonnell
Sherri, thank you! I can so relate to the concept of committing regular time to what we want to cultivate. It makes so much sense. There’s so much for us to learn when inside the stillness.
And I so appreciate your feedback about the abstracts! It’s a new direction for me and I am feeling it out as I go. Thanks for the encouragement! xoxo
Thomas Cross
In my work patience, often enough leads to a solution. So I have to be more patient. I love this latest effort of yours. I can get lost in it.
Elizabeth McDonnell
Patience can be one of the hardest things! But so worth the effort. I think it’s a skill we learn throughout our entire lives. And thank you! I love that.