Mindswings « Heartstorm Studio

Mindswings

05Aug08

Potted Pothos, graphite on paper, 7 x 5.5 in

How we see and hold the full range of our experiences in our minds and in our hearts makes an enormous difference in the quality of this journey we are on and what it means to us. It can influence where we go, what happens, what we learn, and how we feel along the way.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness. I feel my self go thought-to-thought-to-thought like I’m riding on a monkey’s back. Mr. Kabat-Zinn suggests that I simply notice… and while I notice I can say: “thinking… thinking… thinking.” This morning as I prepared to draw, while I drew and all through the process, my thoughts got aggressive as if ready for a fight.

attacking… attacking… attacking…

But now I have a smile on my face. It is just plain amusing to witness how shifting the focus to a deeper level of perception can create such waves! It’s a wonder this drawing even got made, considering all the mean things I was telling my self while I drew. But even with two steps forward and one step back you still can feel yourself on your way.

I’ll be gentle with that scared sore place inside, but I am officially putting my inner critic on a slow train outta town. I intend to welcome creative expression every day and I believe a fledgling serenity is rising to the surface even as i write.