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“And
now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one
can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Antoine
de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince)
A
friend of mine said to me recently, “I’m glad I’m not as anxious as you.” It
set me back a notch, but it got my attention. Sometimes we get feedback from people
that is entirely about themselves, but other times, it’s an insight into our unconscious
behavior. I have a couple of thoughts about that—anxiety underlies our existence
these days; it is the very elixir we breathe every single day. It may be
related to war and the prospects of war, or our economy, or a million other
unresolved issues that swirl around us 24-7. This is the foundation of and the
reason for the enormous opioid crisis in America. Most folks look for relief
from the constant anxiety and take whatever is available.
I know people who are
kicked back, who have learned how to let go and let God. I admire and envy
them. From the moment I began being woven together in my mother’s womb, just
after World War II, anxiety was part of the tapestry. Those were the circumstances
for me, and for many other people of my generation. We weren’t in control of
those circumstances, and we still aren’t in control of the things that cause us
anxiety.
Roy T. Bennett, in his
book The Light in the Heart, said, “Instead of worrying about what you
cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” In other words,
channel your anxiousness into creativity. I usually find myself at times of
high anxiety turning to collage as an outlet—tearing and pasting and layering
and stitching and burning edges and squeezing paint and glue directs the crazy
energy out my fingertips. Creativity is a great outlet—especially if you can
let go the need for perfection. You can create chaos on the page and get it out
of your head.
When you receive feedback
from friends that smacks you over the head, thank them for it, and give it due
diligence. It may well be productive. But don’t beat yourself with it. Check in
with your right-seeing heart to assess whether it’s good feedback and then find
a creative outlet for channeling it. Remember that old 12-Step cliché that says
what other people think of you is none of your business. Take the good from it
and move on.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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