I’ve been reviewing some of my early notes from doing Artist’s Way tasks, and I have found that three things I’d like to do more consistently are:
- Affirm my emotional self. So many people throughout my life have at times told me I am “too emotional” (or have used shaming name-calling, like “cry-baby,” or “Pollyanna,” etc.), and yet it is the breadth of my emotions and the depth of my empathy that helps me be a great musician and teacher. I recognize that for many years I found it difficult to manage my emotions, but I would encourage others who have had experiences similar to mine: don’t accept the condemnation of your emotions; simply grow in your capacity to manage them (especially in relationships) and explore how to effectively use them in your creativity. But never let anyone condemn your heart.
- Be courageous. Strengthen my empathy for myself and my dreams! There’s a Psalm that says “Be stout-hearted and of good courage!” Be stout-hearted! I love that!
- Another thing I’d like to more deliberately affirm in myself is my ability to hold paradox, my comfortability with ambiguity, and then to make creative use of that ability.
I’ve noticed that when I reflect on qualities and accomplishments in people I admire it is this very thing: they embody paradox; they affirm combinations that many others would think are incompatible; AND they figure out how to live those paradoxes in creative ways that are often life-giving to others. For example:
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Christian, man of peace, yet was an active part of resisting the Nazi’s even to the point of participating in attempt to assassinate Hitler.
- Jerry Seinfeld: He seems fundamentally cynical about life but chooses to laugh rather than cry. He finds the funny when it would be easy to be over-whelmed with the seeming futility of life.
- Meryl Streep: I really don’t know much about her person, but as an actor she plays so many different characters that it makes me think that besides great acting talent, she also has great empathy. She must be able to see many viewpoints. And she clearly believes in the merit of story, story which embraces multiple viewpoints.
- Elie Wiesel: Remember, yet forgive. That is really the biggest challenge.
Merry Lode 