There is something magical about simply being in the moment. No thought; no effort; just breathing and feeling the aliveness of your body and the environment; letting the mind freely associate without attaching to any judgment or belief. All your problems dissolve and you marvel at the qualities of light, sound, and textures that occupy your space. If this moment is life’s pearl, then creativity is the ocean that gives it form.
One might ask, “What about my goals and ambitions?” Of course, goals are important because they create hope and adventure and challenge us to grow. But, without the proper perspective, goals can also be illusory and lead us to make bad decisions. Even though I aim to complete my book by a given date, writing is not my religion. I do not write to be a better person or even to help other people. It would be presumptuous to think that my work is helpful. That is not my objective. My objective is to be in the moment with my entire being. Writing is one medium out of many.
I have a good friend named Bobby who is an actor and takes on a particular approach to things. As we were discussing his work, he told me, “I don’t call myself an actor or an artist. If someone says, ‘that guy is an artist,’ then OK, but that is not my intention.” He does not hold himself to a fancy label or image. For Bobby, making films is just a fun activity that brings him to the present moment.
This approach to everyday conscious experience is what I like to call Rethinkment because you are willing to rethink your identity at a moment’s notice. This is not so say we are going to go willy-nilly and swing from one branch to another with no apparent cause. There is a method to the madness. Rethinkment is the simple process of looking which naturally lends itself to feeling the original qualities of a particular moment in a given activity.
Having an original idea stems from an original perception. Davinci, Einstein, and Picasso were keen observers who participated in the magic, while most others were passively going through the motions. Genius can be developed and summoned with the proper technique. The goal is to cultivate a passionate and quiet mind to smell an original scent.
How are you engaging the moment?