Saturday, March 10, 2012

a new romping ground

"when you believe
something can be done,
really believe,
your mind will find
ways to do it."
-dr. david schwartz 


it also works in the reverse. i know from personal experience that this is true.  when you believe that you don't have the skills or abilities to achieve something, then your beliefs will undermine anything you do to make it true.  i find myself thinking things like, "i can't do this" or "i can't limit myself to one idea" or "i just don't have time to devote to this." or i find myself thinking things like, "it's not going to turn out" or "it's not going to come close to becoming what i have pictured in my mind". in times like these, the subconscious mind works very hard to make them happen just as i have feared. funny how that works.

what if (uh oh, now i'm sounding like jude again) i were to wake up and actually expect the best to happen? what if i were to start a project and expect it to turn out as best as it can? what if i were to be flexible enough, and compassionate enough with myself and my surroundings to allow things to unfold and become what they want to be instead of trying to force them into my own preconceived ideas? can you imagine what i could accomplish? can you image how much joy would permeate everything in my life?

it's crazy when you start to think about life in these terms. . .when we start treating ourselves with compassion and understanding just as we would treat our loved ones. our entire attitude changes. our aspirations grow and blossom. stress begins to melt away. . .

i know, to the casual observer, it appears as i do this effortlessly already. but it doesn't. i struggle with these dragons, and others, just like everyone else. i tend to get in my own way more often then not. but i'm working on it. 

to this end, i've been diving deeper into my piles of cloth and fearlessly (ha!) cutting into bits that i've been "saving" for that "perfect project."  i've come to realize, there is no "perfect project." they are all perfect projects!

this one above is my latest panorama. it hasn't begun whispering its story yet, so i'm listening quietly to hear what will unfold. meanwhile, i'm needle chanting my way across the woven indigo sky and gazing into the face of the rusty moon to see if i can discern her features. those hills look like they would be terrific fun to romp around on! for those of you who sew clothing (or salvage it for cloth making) you might recognize the shapes of those rolling hills. they are shirt sleeve crowns! and so many textures! i'm having so much fun with these hills and i haven't even really begun to play with them yet!

namaste'

10 comments:

  1. Oh, I so know about the perfect project stash...and have often asked myself when the right one will come along for each of those wonderful items...isn't that funny? So there they are...not being shared in the world at all...
    and that self talk...amazing how it all freezes us in place or manifest in our lives. sigh...working on it...
    I love the mountain and I'll enjoy seeing how the piece unfolds..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know...it can be so crazy making to have a stash of amazing fabrics, but still go out and hunt for more cuz you don't wanna cut into them. then you get the new amazing fabrics (cuz you don't settle for less) and won't cut into them cux you are waiting for the perfect project all over again! gah!!!

      Delete
  2. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. My demon beasts are circling at the moment and it is helpful to remember that I am not alone with my beasts. That all of us who take the risk to create have demon beasts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes. there are many, many beasts! enough to go around and then some! ha!

      Delete
  3. this sums up soooo many of my feelings. sometimes the chaos of all the thoughts swirl until i just come to a standstill. if a friend told me the same thing... i would be more sympathetic and tell her 'one thought at a time and it will start movement'. i just have to keep telling ME to do the same.
    i love these mountains.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. isn't it amazing how compassionate and kind we can be to others and yet transform into some sort of hideous beast when faced with ourselves??

      Delete
  4. Aha! Fun - that'll be the thing those horrid inner demons are resolutely quashed by - it terrifies them .... love those dainty delicate little stitches holding down the sky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes! fun! ha! and fearlessness. even if you aren't truly so!

      Delete
  5. I have decided that all my least favorite fabrics are going to go into a simple square quilt that I whip out on the sewing machine someday when I have some "free" time. That will take care of those fabrics. I agree that we have to use what is at hand because the "perfect" project is what we are working on ; )
    Carpe' Diem
    Thank you for the reminder of how we need to allow ourselves to do well, by replacing all the negative chatter in our minds. So true that the subconscious bringing about what we focus on.
    Love your fabric choices for the mountains.
    <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. when you discover a goodly supply of "free time", please let me know where to look for it! ha! my "least favorite fabrics" have been put up on shelves for future grunging, over-dyeing, discharging and whatever other experimental methods i may decide to try...

      Delete