Living in Beauty
March 4, 2008
“Seeing Beauty”, 24″by 36″ Floating Painting by Lisa Longworth
Once in the mid ’80’s I took a life purpose seminar with Fern Gorin, MFT (www.lifepurposeinstitute.com). On that day, I discovered 5 qualities that were central to my values and gifts. They were (and still very much are!): 1. Beauty 2. Love 3. Creativity 4. Connection 5. Truth.
On Friday I will give a short talk about my art to over 200 attendees at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Peace and Justice Center. Seven of my 6′foot Floating Paintings will be behind the speakers podium at a two hour breakfast celebrating International Women’s Day.
So I have been musing in the last days on what the heck I’ll talk about in my whole three minutes…
When I walk in nature, often my writer’s voice whispers phrases inspiring my writing. This is what I heard a couple days ago:
Beauty stops the mind and opens the heart. Reminding me of my favorite quote from a childhood book, The Little Prince: “It’s only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Inspired from these whispered words, when I came home writing poured effortlessly through the keyboard of my iMac. In my creative process of both deeply listening in my special place and doing my spiritual process of creating (in this case-writing)-a beautiful expression of my creativity, connection, love and truth shone through.
May you live in beauty and deeply see what is essential for you.
Joy,
Lisa
Inspired Action:
1. Pull out your calendar right now. Find a small chunk of time, 20 to 30 minutes. Make a “date” with yourself and write it in your calendar. Then close your eyes and imagine one of your favorite place that feels like home to you. Write that down on your calendar as well.
2. At that specific time go to your place. Breath, walk, sit-do whatever feels comfortable for you. Keep clearing your mind of automatic thinking about yourself or things in your life. Allow empty space for a “still, small voice” to be heard. Words or images may come though.
3. Later, either write what what you heard internally or draw a simple scribble or symbol that captures the essence of what you experienced. (If nothing comes through that’s just fine. Do this follow up exercise anyway. Let yourself be open to expressing something. The content doesn’t matter, the process does.)
