April 2008 Newsletter
Online Issue # 18

Practice Page

“This is a mystical path. You walk on it daily without knowing what will come tomorrow. But you trust, by writing down the daily fragments of awareness, that a larger network will gradually emerge, that images will come forth, a theme or direction may appear, all of which you could never have outlined, but which emerge out of deep necessities within us.”

-from the book
A Walk Between Heaven and Earth
by Burghild Nina Holzer

Here's an idea for you to think about, write about, talk about, wonder about, and try out.

If you've read the Front Page article, After the Leap, you might be thinking, “It's time for me to try something new.” If you're already playing with a few intriguing ideas in your imagination, why not try one out? Or while you're waiting for the right idea to show up and grab you, why not play with the process and see what happens.

Pay Attention to Fragments
It's helpful to remember that not every idea comes to us fully formed. Many appear first as fragments of a larger thing that we're unable to recognize. It's like an archeological dig where a small piece of something interesting surfaces. It takes time and attention to search for additional pieces of the original artifact. Following that comes research to understand how an object was made and used. When the equivalent happens in a person's life, it might begin with the discovery that some fragment matters. It could also begin by sensing an immediate attraction, a natural fit, a burst of enthusiasm, a timing coincidence, a sudden brightness to life. This doesn't mean that you know what to make of it, or that it even makes sense.

An idea doesn't need to make sense, as much as it needs a place to begin: call it an experiment. It needs you to notice, pay attention, move it along, and observe what happens—in the experiment and within yourself.

Beginning Matters
If you don't already have a container in your life where you can collect your fragments, this might be the time to start one. If you've already done this and have too many containers, this might be the time to sort through them to see what you've collected. In her book The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp explains how she creates a project box to help her focus on each new project. The box is a dedicated container for all the things she runs across that relate to her project. Whenever she finds something, it goes in the box.

A box is one way to begin.

Imagine Desirable Outcomes
As an example, I'll use two of my own fragments of awareness—travel and sabbatical. Next, I imagine desirable outcomes that weave in several other appealing fragments: new places, interesting people, and learning experiences. You can see it doesn't take long before something begins to take shape.

I search for opportunities where I can give and receive.
I travel to places I'm interested in visiting.
I live there longer than I could as a tourist.
I enjoy getting to know people who share my interests.
We work side-by-side on a project that matters to us.
I experience community and cultural events.
I enjoy discovering foods and crafts that are new to me.
Exploring and experimenting revitalizes me and my work.
I practice to develop basic skills in another language.
I encounter more opportunities to combine travel and work.

A working title makes it real
“leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again” 
Naming things makes them real, even if the name is a working title that eventually changes. Authors do this with books, artists do this with paintings, cooks do this with recipes, inventors do this with inventions, homeowners do this with improvement projects. Even proposed public projects have official names and popular nicknames. A memorable working title brings its own energy to a project and keeps it alive in your awareness.

Stay Open to What Shows Up
Expect things to show up. Also, expect what you need to show up, sometimes before you know you need it. Many of us begin to pay attention, especially when something is mentioned to us three or more times: a book, a movie, a person's name, a web site, a place, an organization.... Notice the information, offers, or opportunities that catch your attention or come to you. Be curious and investigate; know what's showing up now.

Question Perfection
Consider the possibility that perfection is overrated. It spoils more good things by sucking the joy right out of life. Perfection often surfaces as fear, overworking, procrastination, indecision, and paralysis. You will probably never have all the information to make a perfect decision, so it's important to realize when you have enough information to make a good decision.

Choose to Explore and Trust the Process
Make a good choice and do what you can to explore it. Remember, committing to it comes later. Let go of the things that are out of your control. Focus your energy on moving forward, with the flow, instead of second guessing and doubting yourself. Every process has a life of its own that unfolds according to its own timeline. Fortunately, this allows you the opportunity to discover whether what you desire, desires you.

Now it's your turn to experiment. I've demonstrated and outlined a process to begin, even without a clear idea. Fragments are enough.

Pay attention to the fragments.
Beginning matters.
Imagine desirable outcomes.
A working title makes it real.
Stay open to what shows up.
Question perfection.
Choose to explore and trust the process.

Laurie Mattila
© April 2008

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