Composer Eric Whitacre, like you and me, had a dream. But, unlike most, he took a leap of faith in the direction most "responsible adults" would find laughable: becoming a rock star. Moving in the direction of his heart's desire, he did what Joseph Campbell referred to as "leaving the village compound," (i.e. home to the familiar), setting out along his path, illustrating a modern day hero's journey. When he arrived at his destination, Whitacre found disappointment waiting. While many might high-tail it out of there, retracing their steps back home, head lowered like a dog in submission, this was not for Eric. Okay, so if his idea wasn't immediately available, he would go through the door that was opening to feed another very immediate desire: meeting girls. There was no hissy fit thrown that many of us throw when we hit what seems like an obstacle. Like the willow, Eric stayed fluid, entered the state of flow which we hear a lot about these days and met the unexpected. He became part of something greater. What he found turned out to be seeking him. We are better off for this mutual fit. Take a few moments today to check out the following, even if you have to bookmark it for later. Trust me. It will be worth your time to return. What follows is about something so much bigger than even music. It is about finding your Voice, through your glee, whatever that happens to be.
Are you wiling to do likewise? Here's one form of the exhilarating effect of following your dream, even if it seems hopelessly silly.
Let's retrace Eric's steps, so that it might be useful to you and me, regardless how talented or not we might be in the singing department. Take a gander at the creative process and how it works to transform your heart's desire into concrete reality. Who can't use that these days?
Step One: Validate what's in your heart. Trust what inspires you, even if others laugh. Don't let another's low opinion of himself call your dream to a halt. In my group studio, I have calligraphied and framed a quote from one of my favorites -- Howard Thurman -- which reads: "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." My world needs you, not in a suckie kind of way, but by way of invitation.
Step Two: Be willing to self-elect. Whitacre took his desire seriously enough to move forward. So too did Britlin, when she sent him her solo entitled "Sleep," despite her nervousness. Let's face facts. When you put yourself out there where brave men and women have never gone before, (as the old film Mission Impossible put it), it produces shakey knees. Having worked with people for decades in breaking through their own creative blocks, not to mention my own, I can assure you that if you aren't nervous, the creative risk you are taking isn't nearly big enough yet. Take it anyway. It's a start.
Step Three: Express your call to action. Do this out loud! Even when you don't know where the process will end, or what will unfold along the way. Do so anyway. Put it out there. You just never know who's listening, looking and willing to join forces. Eric had no idea that his notion of creating a 50 person virtual choir would lead to the creation of 2000 voices from 58 countries around the world. Nor did he have any notion that he would get an immediate response from Singapore, Sweden and America by young people who were listening for an invitation for creative collaboration, bringing such astounding talent with them.
Step Four: Surrender to becoming part of something greater than your own ego's needs to be the star. Eric had sufficient courage to advance in the direction of his dream, although he did not know the full details. Do you? Just begin where you are. The rest will follow in its own good time.
Step Five: Stay flexible and fluid to create what has never been. As Mark Twain once put it: "Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening.." There is no right way. There is no wrong way. There is only the way unfolding beneath your feet.
Step Six: Don't take the situation personally. You are neither your failures nor your successes. Actually, you need to apply Step 6 as your situation changes. Apply it liberally, or, as we say in medicine "prn," meaning, "as needed."
Prescription: Identify where you would like to be braver in your life, that dream or desire dwelling in your heart. It is the one which you have not yet honored by dismissing it, arguing for your limitations, self-doubt and your own various garden variety of excuses and fears of vulnerability and shame were you to "let the cat out of the bag." (For example, I've had a recurring idea for a product that could support children and young people who would benefit greatly from a pat on the back and increased self-confidence. I've told myself that "I don't have time." I can tell you all sorts of stories to justify that this is true. But the truth is that I've not been willing to take the time and make the commitment to obtain a trademark and gather resources facilitating a necessary template for an international market. So today, I challenged myself to get off my hind end and make some phone calls to launch the first step of this particular "Love Project.") I am challenging you to do likewise. After all, whatever is embedded in the heart that would do no harm to self or others, whatever is there that creates possibility for your own glee in the world to make itself known, would add to the collective good. It's not just about you, you know.
Your turn: Where would you enjoy a bit more courage to feed your glee, and embolden your Voice in a way that would be a sheer joy? What resources might this require? What would feel good about finally taking an action step? I'm listening and I'm learning from you my teachers.
Follow Dr. Cara Barker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DrCaraBarker
Demystifying the Creative Process
How the Creative Process Works - Robert Lindsay Nathan, Jr ...
Creative Process : "Mattering of the Universe" : Educational ...
I do not like Seattle, only because of it's cordon like highways and ramps, but I was going to meet another great guy who believes in families and their effect on children. Dr. John Bradshaw was going to be my temporary idol and surrogate Father. In his book, "The Family", he proclaims that we are basically a result of that experience, and take what we learned into adulthood. I had to pinpoint then eradicate the voices from my past, in order to give life to the one that belongs to me.
An awesome journey it was, and there was also a definitive end. I really know who I am, what I want and where I am going. Yes Cara, it is vital, and in a way it is life or death. Thanks.
how have you been? all paws in working order, ship shape and bristol fashion?
I am doing very well. i think you'd be pleased.
happiness,
dana
Happy First Day of Summer -- the sun will shine.
Thank you for your inspiration, Cara.
People in this thread and otherwise on this topic most often cite type as their greatest limiting factor - the ONE factor they cannot overcome to become or do what they desire inside.
...Time, our most prescious commodity, isn't necessarily as limited as many minds think.
Perhaps you've heard the adage, "If you want something done in a hurry, have a busy person do it."
We've learned of the flexibility of space-time by Einstein in his special theory of relativity, but there's another dimension to time that for many is equally unexpected and remarkable: Time in our lives, in every day, can stretch!
There's a valuable demonstration of this aspect of time by way of analogy which you sometimes see from the televised-inspireres, like Tony Robins or Wyer. It goes like this;
(continued)
The limit of time is a paradox, real, and not, simultaneously.
Like a choir, or a canon, or a fugue.
OOPS!
That should have read, "most often cite TIME"...
"I regret the error."
Made me cry, which is good. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed, I disconnect and don't feel anything.
I am taking your message (and therefore, you) on a 10 mile trail race tomorrow. At one point, we will overlook the ocean. I hope you are ready. I'll let you know what surfaces.
Thank you so much.
Love,
Usedtobequiet
Peace and blessings, my Sister,
Cara
Blessings,
Jeanie
You are not alone! I have missed you, too, my girl!
The truth is that I am taking my own sweet time these days. So many levels of suffering abounds, and I was needing a break: a chance to renew myself, to breathe, to enter the Stillness, and quietly respond. Much change is stirring. Best to prepare, be mindful, to call forth the Gratitude.
You are most definately 'right on schedule' for the music in our souls arising in the Darkness.
How grateful I am that we are in the choir together!
Love,
Cara
Yes!
I've bookmarked to listen to tomorrow and have a quiet time to read.
I think the moon must be full - I've been awake when I perhaps I ought to be asleep.
It's now a rosy beginning dawn and I'm going to bed.
Good morning, Cara.
I love it that you are focusing upon the moon. Mother Moon knows 'where it is at.' As for that asleep/awake thing, trust yourself. Let go the shoulds. In what is coming to this earth, it is imperative that we each find and honor our own rhythm, whatever it is, and trust the creative process threaded through it. Just know I am doing likewise.
Peace and blessings, DreamWeaver!
Cara
Please read Lawson`s post below....lots of LOVE and Hugs....Gypsy
Ouch! Ouch! Time for tea ... and a walk. In Portland, those raindrops keep falling on my head, but I did some talking to the sun ....
I stopped by the cafe last night and left communiques of a sort.
I'll look in again later. And I want to spend time reading Cara's article before the day is over.
Next, chores and some routine here.
Loving thoughts and smiles on you, dear gypsy.
DW
Hugs,
Cara
So many of the very young sigers we see in the video, it is really no surprise they sing so well. Singing is not for all but a gifted singer is always pitch perfect with or without any training when they are in their teens or even earlier. Then with age and training comes the depth and feelings in their voice. Just heard Barry Manilow other day, we all have been his ~Mandy~ for decades, he sang it again on live TV, and wow ! So much depth with that song now....
One thing I know about myself I never stop learning , folks from all ages have so much to offer. And here I go off again in tangent...hahaha...hugzzzss
Love,
Cara
I have Voiced it on the WWW that I am a Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives who is Agitating for We the People to Take Over The House and when I was a novice reporter six years ago, I learned that it was at the end of the interview that you heard the beginning of the story.
http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2096&Itemid=247
All good things your way. Let me know what happens in your race. Feel free to post your voice here. I'm listening.
Cara
So ...what to say? Perhaps it is all said in your most profound sentence:
'There is only the way unfolding beneath your feet.'
And ... it is our equally profound job to train ourselves to notice that very way unfolding before us.
The same as many of us, I sometimes forget that this is so. For me, it is less about more courage to feed my glee and more about my glee feeding me in a way that I imagine. And there, right there, is where I get caught. I am blessed with sheer joy in what I have created and in the way I spend my days. I yearn for my work to gain greater understanding in the world... to have its place of collaboration find it in a more expansive way. I am committed to and taking action daily. What would feel good is bearing greater harvest with respect to contribution and impact. And even as I write what is true for me, I am fully aware: 'There is only the way unfolding beneath your feet.'!!!
As always, thank you for your insight and your thoughtfulness. It is good to be here again.
Reading your words, Kathleen, you have the pulse of the thing. What you are undertaking is preparing such a rich soil for what is unfolding, and on its way in your own life. Your joy renews my own. THank you. I shall hold your intention in the heart of my prayers. Where we are heading on this earth has everything to do with collaboration and zippo to do with competition...a very tall order for monkey mind, indeed. I'm feeding mine a banana, and holding out for the collaboration part. But, kiddo, between you and me, we are in teh dance together, and I am so grateful!
Love your way, as always,
Cara
How are you?
Congratulations on taking the first step in making your idea into reality. I've had an invention in my head for a decade that I still haven't gotten around to designing. Maybe if I complete my other projects for this summer, I'll give it a whirl. In the meantime, I've been taking what I learned throughout the school year a re-arranging some of my songs. I'm kind of anxious to get into a studio and see how they sound with the new arrangements. I hear it in my head, but experience has shown me that once real instruments are involved, it's not always the same.
One thing I have discovered through acting boldly and bravely is that when my strength wanes, I begin to have doubts even though it is then too late to change my mind, the die has already been cast. Then I fret and second guess my decision. Most of the time I'm glad I had the courage to take the step when I did. But I still fret about it for a while.
Lotsa love,
little brother
Oh, by the way, when your songs are complete, I'd love, love, love to hear them! We need your music. Take that in any level of meaning, and it still rings true!
Love and hugs,
Cara
Drcarab is talking about 'leaving the village', but there are two ways, when you are young, as she means it, and when old, as Jung means it. The Growing One is civilization and synthesis, doing good deeds, and the Burning One is why old folks are crotchety--they are being forced to leave the village, forever, and they sense they must—before it is done to them--perform a 'reversal', an act of ma*gic, Key 8, Path 19, which involves using the flow of the Tao, female, to use the spark of fire of the Lion, male, to digest themselves, to 'store up treasures in heaven.' It is equivalent to becoming, once again, like primitive humanity ‘descending’ into matter. At the next level up, polarities are reversed, and intellectual dominance no longer ‘rules’.
All I can tell you is that I hold and honor even your need to call the thing the 'silly creative expression.' It sounds like a shy little fellow, and I suspect is cousin to my own. Let's just love th heck out of them, and know that when it is time, there is a willing ear awaiting. I know that mine would listen with gratitude to yours.
Meanwhile, keep the love songs singing, even if in private. The good stuff starts there, anyway!
Nothing to do or undo, only to enjoy the whatever as what is.
Loving you,
Cara
I will add that I have discovered just this week when I thought it couldn't get any worse, that my voice means asking for the support I need even when it looks like there's no way out and from a stranger. It resulted in others stepping in with offers of incredible assistance.
The kindness shocked me as I haven't experienced that in the past 18 months. It all came about when I surrendered to what was happening because the stress was too much.
It is encouraging me to keep the door open to faith in human nature so it is definitely no coincidence that Internet is working today or that your post verbalised my way forward.
Love that video my dear!
Cheers
I just signed on, so haven't seen Anne's comment yet, but will as I wind my way down the page,
Meanwhile, dearie, know that when you ask for support it is a brave and noble step on the way to liberation, and self-loving. I say, 'go for it.' When fear holds us back, let's 'do it' anyway, full steam ahead.
Without the asking, others cannot find their own generosity. WIthout being brave enough to receive, Love cannot find Its Way into the world, beginning through us. Well done. Keep me posted. I'm proud to know you, and inspired deeply.
Beautiful one, sweet dreams,
Cara
lyingtruth Commented 13 hours ago
"Let me contemplate this propelling narrative."
Well, you know that it does
And lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
oh, and it lights up the night
And you see your gypsy
You see your gypsy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iagd_RKM3pU
My best on line friend, XCITIZEN no longer in hp, when I poofed my BB profile came and posted this to me..I have saved this in my heart.
"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." — Carl Jung
"The meeting of two personalitÂies is like the contact of two chemical substancesÂ: if there is any reaction, both are transformeÂd." — Carl Jung
Ah, yes. I'm away for a few weeks, and some things do not change, do they? Wink wink your way!
xxxxooooo
Cara