Today I want to talk about creativity (I think - I really don't know where this is going to go...). I'm often struck by the word, and what it means. To create is to practice being human at the highest level; it's honoring our birthright - the innate ability to visualize, and to use our intelligence to make something out of nothing: love, novels, songs, monuments, food, the stock market, society, babies... look around you, and notice everything that came from us. I think I can go as far as to say that I believe we're here to create. In all of us I think there is a special yearning to create - and you know what? I think we do. Create, that is - we are always creating whether we know it not, like it or not - we're creating the world in which we live through our actions and inactions. I want to talk about how we can harness our creative abilities so we can start creating exactly the reality we want. The only way possible for us to do that is to understand discipline.
Eek. When I was younger I paid little heed to discipline. I didn't understand it, didn't like it, thought it was a dirty word. And it is; when I think discipline I think of a splintery ruler grasped by the warty, arthritic fist of a scary schoolmaster, springy grey hair pulled back into a bun so tight it makes her eyebrows raise and leering eyes slit. Who wants discipline at the lunch table? No one! Discipline is no fun.
However. Allow me to strip away the vision of the scary schoolmaster from the term and define it for what I think it is:
Discipline: the act/practice of, or inclination to, doing hard stuff for the greater good.
By hard stuff, I mean scary things: getting yourself into uncomfortable situations or doing unfamiliar things, a break in habit or routine, anything that has potential to bruise the ego. Doing hard stuff is sacrificing - giving up your position in a place of present (seemingly) comfort in order put yourself in a potentially unfamiliar, uncomfortable place. Discipline is sacrificing...
But remember there's another part to the definition: it's sacrificing for the greater good. What do I mean by greater good? I mean it's whatever you desire, whatever your heart wants to create. You must be willing to desire what you want in order to attain it. The only way to prove to yourself that you really desire something is to be willing to sacrifice for it. Wanting is easy. We want things all day long - but we don't ever really get what we want, or do what we want - until we show ourselves just how bad we want it. We do that by sacrificing our comfort in our present state - we do it by exercising discipline. It's hard to do because it's scary - But what else are you doing with your life? Might as well speak to your deepest desires, show yourself you want them and take a leap of faith. What magic might grow if you allow yourself to follow your heart down the rabbit hole of your soul!
Now that we understand my definition of discipline, I want to add to it. When you are acting in discipline - sacrificing your comfort to achieve your heart's desire - try not to think of it as sacrifice, and don't think of your action solely as the means to attain your desire. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna (warrior Arjuna's charioteer, sage, voice of reason, fairy god-father, what-have-you) tells Arjuna:
Be intent on action,
not on the fruits of action;
avoid attraction to the fruits
and attachment to inaction!
Perform actions, firm in discipline,
relinquishing attachment;
be impartial to failure and success -
this equanimity is called discipline.
(Chapter 2: Philosophy and Spiritual Discipline)
I believe this passage takes discipline a bit further in describing it as the act of going about your duties for the sake of acting, not for the sake of the fruits of the labor. When we are able to focus solely on the action itself, that's when we put in our best work; we're not mentally tied up with the stress of yearning for what we want - that part is over - we've spoken to our hearts, we know what we want, we know we're willing to act for it, to be uncomfortable for it - now it's time detach from that desire and attach yourself to the action that gets you there, and nothing but! If you are "impartial to failure and success" in your action, all you have to focus on is your work. When your focus is on nothing but your work, your soul comes through and magic happens. Not magic - YOU happen.
Yes, you happen. You create. Here are the steps:
1. Desire: find out what you want to create in your life. A more fulfilling career. A healthier body. A stronger relationship. A novel. A knit blanket. An oil painting. Dinner...
2. Discipline: figure out what you're willing to sacrifice. Time. Pride. Money. Comfort. Certainty. Familiarity...
3. Detachment: Forget about your desire, forget about your sacrifice. Find love in the work, the action, the process, the journey.
4. See Self Flourish.
Now, I need to stop this writing, read back what I wrote and take my own advice. From my heart to yours,
Caitlin
No comments:
Post a Comment