Exploring Creativity








E S S A Y S   A R C H I V E
 
   


  MARCH 2002
  Mindfulness


 REPRINTED FROM THE FIBRE ART NETWORK (FAN) NEWSLETTER.  
   

My life is rich and full right now. I realize that I have come to a point of not fighting, not resisting, not insisting on repeating behaviours and expecting a different outcome (a friend's definition of neurosis). My journey to this unstuck place has been a long one and my art has been pivotal in the process.

After having breast cancer I decided to create a series of pieces to describe my experience. I worked for many months to tell the story of my illness. As I faced the terrible reality of life-threatening illness, I was transformed in the process.  I experienced personal healing and growth which I had not anticipated. What I discovered in the end was a new awareness of how rigid I had become, how my life had narrowed, and how unable or unwilling I was to consider different points of view. I had been living mindlessly for many years (all my life?) despite the fact that I had a successful career, a nice family and many friends. I learned that I was fine just the way I was and that I wanted to make some shifts in my life.

 		 
 

 

" A L L   S U F F E R I N G
I S   T H E   R E S U L T
O F   T H E   M I N D
C L I N G I N G   T O   I T 'S
U N F O R T U N A T E
T H O U G H T S "
Buddha

 

 

" I T   ( C R E A T I V I T Y )
R E Q U I R E S   A N
I N C L I N A T I O N   T O
S T E P   I N T O   T H E
U N K N O W N
A S   W E L L   A S
T H E   A B I L I T Y   T O
P E R S I S T   W H E N
T H E R E   I S   N O
E N D   I N   S I G H T "
Shaun McNiff




" N E V E R   A S K
W H E T H E R   Y O U
C A N   D O   S O M E T H I N G .
S A Y   I N S T E A D   T H A T
Y O U   A R E   D O I N G   I T .
T H E N   F A S T E N
Y O U R   S E A T B E L T "
Julia Cameron

 

In her book, The Power of Mindful Learning, Harvard professor Ellen J. Langer, describes concepts such as delayed gratification, the basics and right answers as "incapacitating myths". She suggests replacing them with a concept of mindfulness or conditional learning. She demonstrates the need for more flexible thinking in the face of rapidly changing information. She suggests that a mindful approach can alter our learning throughout our lives.

For me the concept of mindfulness brings to awareness my restricted and habitual life patterns. It opens me to qualities of flexible thought, openness to new information and recognition of different perspectives. These qualities enlarge my range of choices in how I respond to life. As I free myself from restricted choices I find that I am more creative. I am better able to balance activity with rest and self- nurturing to reduce fatigue and stress associated with daily life. My work is more playful and I enjoy it more.

Make no mistake, I am still the same person I always was. I do not believe we can change ourselves. The difference comes in the way I respond. In the face of challenges I am able to problem-solve by examining differing perspectives. I no longer cling to concepts of right and wrong. I am less frightened of making mistakes and I no longer strive for perfection. I find that I am grateful for opportunities to try something new, to be adaptable and, perhaps, to fail. In my art I have found a new way to "be" in the world.


 Here is a little test of mindfulness for you.
       Answer each of the following questions with either a "yes" or "no":

  1. I have my ways of doing things.
  2. I like to solve problems quickly.
  3. I do well at all the things I choose to do.
  4. I know my limits.
  5. I am always guided by past experience.
  6. I can usually describe others in a single sentence.
  7. I always keep score.
  8. I know when I have failed.
  9. I like familiarity and certainty.
10. I like to be right.
11. I am afraid of getting old.
12. I expect work to be tiring.
13. I don't take many risks.
14. I have strong opinions about many things.
15. I am good at memorization.
16. I say "should" a lot.
17. I think experiences are either good or bad.
18. I often compare my achievements with those of others.
19. I look to others to tell me how good I am.
20. I think the grass is always greener somewhere else.

       If you answered "yes" to more than 10 of the above questions you        could be at risk of living 'mindlessly'.


mary@exploringcreativity.com
 
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