Butterfly Work

“Empathy is the most mysterious transaction that the human soul can have, and it’s accessible to all of us, but we have to give ourselves the opportunity to identify, to plunge ourselves in a story where we see the world from the bottom up or through another’s eyes or heart.” – Sue Monk Kidd

I keep tripping and wandering back to foundations that have carried and anchored this soul for five plus decades – grace, seasons, empathy, connection, God, faith, joy, family, friends, character, delight, generosity, silliness, imperfection, laughter, resilience, worthiness, purpose, nature, struggle, waiting, patience, more patience, mystery and simplicity.

The past few weeks have been quite a ride for all of us. A roller coaster that has us loosely bound, uncertain whether the seat belt will hold, lonely, socially distanced and longing for connection, uncertain of the future, floundering in open space, unbound by a familiar busyness, confined to our quarters and becoming increasingly aware of what we can control and what we can’t control that we convinced ourselves in the recent past that we could control.

Our first response is to get off the ride and go back to the familiar. Don’t. Forge ahead confident that you and we as the collective whole have what it takes to move into the unknown, to reach deep within to the power that will carry us into a purposeful, burgeoning, creative and abundant near future. Hold tight and enter deep into the gifts of this uncertain time. Where we’ve been in the past won’t instruct us for our new normal. But the past has done its part to build our resilience, reserve and grit to enter the future capable to meet it completely.

This is fertile ground right now. Sacred actually – give it reverence, awe and respect. Cultivate the soil, plant the seeds and prepare for the hearty harvest. We are deep in butterfly work – the cocoon – dark, illusive, waiting, impatience, struggle, unfamiliar territory. Drop assumptions, past narratives and open your arms to the beautiful, dense and rich unknown!

The near future is filled and overflowing with abundance and fruition in due time. Let it play out and drop your preconceived, incorrect notions. You and we have no idea so let it present itself. The ground has been leveled so release the BS, your ego and arrogance to make room for this most excellent and fulfilling journey. Be open to new possibilities. The ones who are not predicting the unpredictable now, the ones who are willing to look at the world with new eyes, the ones who are doing the deep internal awareness and management work will survive, thrive and build the future.

In this very moment, we are in the cocoon on the journey to metamorphosis – the great transformation. And in the struggle, the laws of nature will unfold to transform the caterpillar to the butterfly.

In the past few weeks, many have been rallying to go online, to predict the future, to create virtual connection. The shallow efforts of panic shall fade away and be replaced with depth, meaning and rigor. One of the best learning methods that has existed for centuries is reading books – the classics mainly, which have stood the test of time. The most relevant book on “Butterfly Work” is Sue Monk Kidd’s When the Heart Waits.

Here are a few insights from her work:

 “The True Self is not our creation, but God’s. It is the self we are in our depths. It is our capacity for divinity and transcendence.”

“God is offering an invitation. A call to waiting. A call to the mysteries of the cocoon.”

“And somehow the transformation you knew would never come, that impossible lumping of fresh life and revelation, does come. It manifests itself in unseen slowness.”

“The fullness of one’s soul evolves ever slowly. We’re asked only to go within to gestate the newness God is trying to form; we’re asked to collaborate with grace.”

“When the fullness of time comes a sacred voice at the heart of us cries out, shaking the old foundation. It draws us into a turbulence that forces us to confront our deepest issues. It’s as if some inner, divine grace seeks our growth and becoming and will plunge us, if need be, into a cauldron that seeths with questions and voices we would just as soon not hear. One way or another, the false roles, indentities and illusions spill over the sides of our life, and we’re forced to stand in chaos.”

While we have been lost and wandering aimlessly in open time, in remote work, in home schooling, in toilet paper supply angst, we are right in the middle of the mystery, process and gift of metamorphosis. Do not miss, dismiss or bypass this time. Enter fully into the grace that will carry us through and move us fully through to the #otherside - new, whole, refreshed, transformed and very different than what was before. Do the rigor of the butterfly work. Cocoon to butterfly.

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” – Anne Lamott

Is This Moment Y(our) Renaissance?

“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” – Michelangelo

History is a wonderful classroom filled with rich insights, ideas and inspiration to inform the future, providing hope and direction. As we flounder in uncertainty right now, we can explore the wisdom of the past to create a new future.

The Renaissance period between the 14th and 17th centuries in Europe was the transition period between the middle ages and modern times. It was a time of rebirth of classical philosophy, literature and art. Some of the greatest creators produced timeless, foundational work that remains relevant and influences us even today in our “technologically connected and advanced times.”

History.com summarizes an impressive list of those explorers, artists and discoverers of this time period:

• Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519): Italian painter, architect, inventor, and “Renaissance man” responsible for painting “The Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.

• Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536): Scholar from Holland who defined the humanist movement in Northern Europe. Translator of the New Testament into Greek. 

• Rene Descartes (1596–1650): French philosopher and mathematician regarded as the father of modern philosophy. Famous for stating, “I think; therefore I am.”

• Galileo (1564-1642): Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer whose pioneering work with telescopes enabled him to describe the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn. Placed under house arrest for his views of a heliocentric universe.

• Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543): Mathematician and astronomer who made first modern scientific argument for the concept of a heliocentric solar system.

• Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679): English philosopher and author of “Leviathan.”

• Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400): English poet and author of “The Canterbury Tales.”

• Giotto (1266-1337): Italian painter and architect whose more realistic depictions of human emotions influenced generations of artists. Best known for his frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.

• Dante (1265–1321): Italian philosopher, poet, writer and political thinker who authored “The Divine Comedy.”

• Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527): Italian diplomat and philosopher famous for writing “The Prince” and “The Discourses on Livy.”

• Titian (1488–1576): Italian painter celebrated for his portraits of Pope Paul III and Charles I and his later religious and mythical paintings like “Venus and Adonis” and "Metamorphoses."

• William Tyndale (1494–1536): English biblical translator, humanist and scholar burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English.

• William Byrd (1539/40–1623): English composer known for his development of the English madrigal and his religious organ music.

• John Milton (1608–1674): English poet and historian who wrote the epic poem “Paradise Lost.”

• William Shakespeare (1564–1616): England’s “national poet” and the most famous playwright of all time, celebrated for his sonnets and plays like “Romeo and Juliet.”

• Donatello (1386–1466): Italian sculptor celebrated for lifelike sculptures like “David,” commissioned by the Medici family.

• Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510): Italian painter of “Birth of Venus.”

• Raphael (1483–1520): Italian painter who learned from da Vinci and Michelangelo. Best known for his paintings of the Madonna and “The School of Athens.”

• Michelangelo (1483–1520): Italian sculptor, painter, and architect who carved “David” and painted The Sistine Chapel in Rome.

In her TedX talk, sculptor Barbara Segal shares how Renaissance methods drove creativity that she learned in Italy and integrated into her own artistic practice. “When it came time to create my own studio with my own work I was armed and ready with technique and practice and with the voices of those in whose footsteps I followed. The 15th and 16th century Renaissance studios were apprenticeship based where young students and artists would come to learn a trade in order to produce the work of the master. These types of workshops to hone your skills are not available today, so the inspiration and creativity coming out of these is endangered of being lost especially in the United States where we don't have the examples of art history and architecture surrounding us as they do in Europe. Young artists come to me from all over the world and I pass along my artistic philosophies as well as teach them the trade of stone carving. It is more than just tool to stone, it is the passing on of awe and beauty through line and form with meaning and concept behind the work.”

She concludes her talk with a very relevant question that is worthy for each of us to answer for ourselves, “would you take the time it takes to make something that would last forever, what would you send into the future?”

Explore more resources on the Renaissance and take look at 10 top virtual museum tours to expand your perspective and shift your attention to creative endeavors, inspired by the real “GOATs” – (Greatest of All Times).

Looking for a place to start your own creative endeavor? Get a blank pad of paper and start journaling every day. No rules. Just start writing your thoughts, ideas, inklings – uncensored, unedited and unafraid. Let your subconscious rise to the surface without judgment, allowing the first draft to bring up what’s inside longing to see the light of day.

Journaling can not only help you tap into your innate creativity, it can also help with stress reduction. In The Benefits of Journaling for Stress Management, Elizabeth Scott shares research that shows the benefits of journaling:

• It decreases the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, and other health conditions;

• It improves cognitive functioning;

• It can strengthen immune system response;

• It can counteract many of the negative effects of stress.

In the past week of a dozen or so of video calls planning for work contingency plans to work from home, I started to lose track of the days and time in the chaos and consternation.

Yesterday, I woke up at 3:30 am with thoughts reeling and lists swirling in my head. Instead of tossing and turning, I got up and decided to start the daily practice of journaling to document these days, to witness them as they unfold, for a few reasons. One is to capture the emotions, thoughts and perspectives as they are happening. We forget our days both while we are in them and when they have passed. Journaling chronicles time unfiltered, real and raw.

Lack of time and busyness have just dropped off of our excuse list for not starting things. We now have been granted both time and space, so do not let these days pass by unattended or in a catatonic fog. Pursue each day with rigor, discipline and joy.

While we fear our external circumstances with COVID-19 right now, there is also an internal battle we’ve struggled with long before this pandemic. And that’s the innate fear of internal awakening and reckoning that is accompanied by disappointment and anticipation of the known and unknown. It’s where we realize where we are right now, where we want to be and the distance between them.

It is a natural response to drift, escape, binge-watch entertainment and to fall into a continuous cycle of news watching. Snap out of it and be more intentional with these rare days. Do not let this time slip away. Add structure back into unstructured, unconnected, uncertain days. In addition to work and writing, I am filling my days with long runs, mindful eating, ball-chasing activities with my girls, daily journaling, a glass of wine now and then, blog planning and even watching some television.

The world has been put on a “collective time out” to stop, to distance and to unconnect so we can reconnect again in new ways when it’s safe. Overcommitment and bouncing from one thing to the next have been stripped away and each of us remains in this space. In this time of reflection, undoing, boredom and wandering, pivot to action, to changing course, to creating your own “Renaissance” of sorts.

In our temporary “social distancing,” we are arriving home to our own doorstep. Ring the doorbell, knock hard and don’t let up until you open the door and welcome yourself home with a long, warm embrace. Accept the invitation, create a daily plan and framework to make something of lasting value and creativity in this time.

Do both transactional and transformational activities. Plan and prepare for the house projects that have been on your list and do the deep work found in exploration, journaling and other artistic endeavors. Learn something new. Pick up that dusty guitar, watch an instructional video, listen to music, draw, paint, carve something of this time.

This is our collective time for our own Renaissance, to create, to prepare for the other side and to go deep within to change what we need to change and hold tight to what’s most valuable.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” – Michelangelo

Start carving and set the angel free! This just may be your – our – Renaissance. Don’t miss it. Start 3 Things today.

The Utility of Joy

“Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint.” – Angela Duckworth

We often think of joy as frivolous, of no real use, fluffy, the icing on the cake if you even get cake. Joy is so much more than a bonus. It’s the salary of a life well lived. Joy is not an extra, an anomaly, it’s the main character, center stage. It’s utility, a necessity, a requirement. Dancing is fundamental to this life.

We are called to the sky of joy, to pure delight every single day. That still small voice, that calling grounded in purpose, height, depth and the seemingly impossible. It is the seed of joy inside ready to burst into full bloom.

The times are uncertain right now to be sure, but this moment, this slice of time is open to explore, wander and inquire with fortitude. Our self-imposed limitations have been removed and excuses for not starting have melted. So start. Begin the dance.

Run fast and furious to starting new things that you never had the time for. You, we, all have the time right now in this moment. This is our collective invitation to stop the futility of busy, the guilt of commitment to nothingness to begin the important – to give stage to your calling.

In Laura Story’s song Blessings, she beautifully ponders whether our blessings are amidst our trials in disguise. Indeed they are. This moment right now is our blessing in disguise. This very moment is fertile ground for starting, for exploring and for answering the questions that have been drown out by busy, condensed time and BS excuses that we have given credence to without question.

Tap into the utility of joy right now when it makes absolutely no sense. This defining moment for each of us calls us to rise above and pursue right through the middle of fear and consternation.

Begin something new today, amidst the unknown and uncertainty. This is the exact time to explore, start and get going on your dreams. “The only joy in the world is to begin.” – Cesare Pavese

Succumb to the utility, necessity and rigor of joy. It is exactly what we all need right now in this moment. Release despair, scarcity and hording. Give, spend and risk it all.

“Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a joy for all seasons, a possession for all eternity.” – Oscar Wilde

Brush to Canvas

Ideas, inspiration and insights motivate, build confidence and make the case for action. They show us possibilities, invite us to dream and make way for that still small voice inside to be acknowledged and heard. The next step where we often stumble is execution, in operationalizing our dreams. Starting is a daily decision not a one-time activity. There are inflection points where we just need to jump out of idea gathering and choice overload into decision and action.

Over the past year, I’ve become more aware of my own limiting beliefs and narratives that have halted execution of my ideas, plans and pursuits. Busyness, saying yes to things that I should say no to, being a people pleaser, worrying about what other people think are a few narratives that I have given credence to and allowed them to be roadblocks to progress.

We need to create boundaries on what we let in so we can knock down walls that prevent us from moving forward. By exposing false narratives, we give ourselves permission to create new narratives, making execution easier as the answers become obvious, hiding in plain view.

“Every one of us wants to do work that matters — work that aligns with our personal values, talents, and passions. Work that makes a difference in the world,” states Ken Coleman, author of The Proximity Principle. There are three questions to ask yourself to activate the “proximity principle:”

1. Who do I need to know?

2. Where do I need to be?

3. What do I need to start doing?

The three enemies that we need to manage are fear, doubt and pride. When we breakdown the journey into actionable steps, we overcome fear, doubt and pride, moving confidently and imperfectly to the “mountain” of our choosing.

The path is made clear through consistent action, embracing a beginner’s mindset and ignoring our inner and outer critics. Through practice and effort, I am a better writer than I was three years ago but not as good as I will be in a year with ongoing application and execution.

If you are not sure where to start, Glenda Eoyang, Human Systems Dynamics Institute offers six practical steps on what to do, when you don’t know what to do:

1. Breathe;

2. List 3 things that you know for sure to ground yourself and 3 things you wonder to give yourself a diving board into the future;

3. Decide what you need to expand or contract – do you need more options or do you need to narrow to less options – divergence or convergence;

4. Explore tensions – will you:
   act or ask
   go alone or with others
   quickly or slowly
   now or later
   down a tried and true path or new adventure
   be open or closed
   join or leave

5. Do something! Anything!!  - action!

6. See what happens and then start again.

We convince ourselves that we need every step figured out before we proceed. While a plan, goals and deadlines are important, starting provides clarity and creates opportunities that define the path.

By putting “brush to canvas,” filling the blank page with words, we move from abstract concepts to concrete execution, doing it again, adjusting and then doing it again until we arrive home to ourselves.

Stop pondering and putting off. Pick up the brush and start painting. No more overthinking or being overwhelmed with all of the color choices. Put brush to canvas and start painting your own beautiful, brilliant and imperfect picture.

“If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent Van Gogh