“Our most important problems cannot be solved; they must be outgrown.” Carl Jung
During the time before a new year, we often reflect on the events of the past several months making certain profound observations, concerning our decisions, choices and ultimate outcomes. We arrive at a time in our lives, where we understand what we believed was the only thing we focused upon as a life choice . . . rewarded us beyond our vision. Perhaps for the first time, we take a look at where we have arrived and wonder how we got there? In the arts for example, the difference between good, great and phenomenal is embellished by a quote from the piano vituoso, Vladimir Horowitz, “If I skip practice for one day, I notice. If I skip practice for two days, my wife notices. If I skip practice for three days, the world notices.”
What we believe is ours for the asking, takes study, training, time, patience, persistence, struggle, work, experience, repetition, practice and sacrifice. Nothing worth having comes easily, nor is it an entitlement on any level. Although, some may feel that way but soon realize differently in a rather abrupt, sobering manner. This can be applied not only to the arts, but all avenues of endeavor as so appropriately stated by Gary Kleban, “Why are passion and persistence key ingredients of talent? Because the best way to build a good circuit is to fire it, attend to mistakes, then fire it again, over and over and over. Struggle is not an option; it’s a biological necessity.”
When things don’t work out as we believe they must, what solution is your first recourse? It is knowing who you are, with the experience of failure/mistakes in your repertoire, which guide your steps and illuminate your innate possibilities. Is this easy? Absolutely not, and it takes more than courage to accept failure, poor judgment, hardship, etc. As the scientist Blaise Pascal so aptly stated, “I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.” This will mean different things to each of us, contingent upon our personal growth/experiences, and with how well we can look at ourselves “objectively.”
If you are at the “top of your game,” so to speak, and are completely satisfied with where you are and how you arrived there . . . congratulations . . . you are among the select few. However, should you be among those still struggling, sacrificing, becoming introspective with who you are, reflecting in the moment with conscious awareness, always moving forward with acceptance, understanding, belief in yourself, while embracing everything that you can be as an accountable, responsible human being . . . you are enveloped in the sacred space of source energy . . . embraced within your “divine essence.” JLR