The myth and its accompanying rituals were a reminder that often things had to get worse before they could get better, and that survival and creativity required a dedicated struggle.*
Karen Armstrong

Rituals are essentially behavioural training …**
Edward Slingerland

The best rituals
are honed in struggle
and lead to
possibility–
From need to intrigue–
My life is full of them.

The suspense is terrible.
I hope it will last.^

*Karen Armstrong’s A Short History of Myth;
**Edward Slingerland’s Trying Not To Try;
^Oscar Wilde, from Lisa Cron’s Story Or Die.

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Thought is made largely of pictures.*
Antonio Damasio

I like pictures in books.
I wish there were more.
Maybe I could add my own.
That would be fun.

*Lisa Cron’s Story Or Die.

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“Initium est dimidium faci”…”Once you’ve started, you’re halfway there.”*
James Clear

The act of engaging with others generates a way forward that you didn’t previously have in mind. Just start engaging.**
Adam Kahane

Ifs, buts and maybes–
My mind generates plenty of reasons
to stop me moving with this idea.

Perhaps I ought to
take this to my heart – maybe
share it with the heart of another.

Out of the heart
comes one small thing
to explore, to experiment with.

I
have
begun…

If we were to name the one thing that makes the wild woman what she is, it would be her responsiveness. The word response come from the Latin “to pledge, to promise” – and that’s her strong suit.^

*James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter: On how to handle idiots, pushing toward growth, and two choices in life;
**Adam Kahane’s Everyday Habits For Transforming Systems;
^Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run With the Wolves.

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The compass needle of the blue narrative does not tremble toward the landmarks of our making – our grand theologies, our gleaming institutions, our cherished customs – but toward the mysterious North Star of the world yet to come, the creation still unfolding, the dawn still breaking over mountain we have yet to climb.*
AleXander McManus

Ride the wave of chaos instead of vainly trying to contain it.**
Anne-Laure Le Cunff

“This is it”
they cry–
Institution,
Idea,
Culture,
Well-worn ways–
Whilst around us
lie countless blue veils^
inviting
the doubters
and disenchanted
and curious
and dreamers
to enter
into multiverses
of possibility–
A wild stream
of uncertainty.

*AleXander McManus’ Blue Moments;
**Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s Tiny Experiments;
^Perhaps have a play by going to Wikipedia’s page for Hyperlink, and see how long you can continue clicking.

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What to do today?–
You know the possibility
of doing something Universe
has never seen before lies in you – right?

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Duchamp helps us understand that “art” shouldn’t be thought of as a noun that picks out certain kinds of objects, but as a verb: We “art” absolutely any object at all by using it to trigger thoughts and conversation.*
Blake Gopnik

I knew it, I knew it–
We all have some art
to bring into the world–
You be you and I’ll be me.

*Rob Walker’s The Art of Noticing newsletter: Just Art It.

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There is something about the morning and morning work that demands certain kinds of aloneness, an ability to work into the day and the day’s work in our own way; to find the particular contour – a way which gives us a sense that we are exploring the patterns emerging in our work according to our own nature and not trying to squeeze ourselves continually into an abstract box called a day or job.*
David Whyte

When do I think of my work beginning?

Am I waiting until I arrive at work?

How do I manage to keep my work my work?

Is this my work or someone else’s?

Does my work begin and end with joy?

Can I believe it– I get to do this?

If I’m honest, who’s really stopping me from being more expansive?

Is my work beginning “out there” or “in here”?

Are these questions the beginning of my work?

Have I begun already?

*David Whyte’s Crossing the Unknown Sea.

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May you see in what you do the beauty of your soul.*
John O’Donohue

For you, the challenge here is to discover the task that you never believed you could do, but the Wizard of the inner sanctum of yourself always knew you could, and if you do it, it will change the nature of your belief about yourself.**
Jean Houston

There is something that each of us must do–

It can only be understood as an expression of our soul–

It may not be difficult to find–

Only find its smallest expression and watch it grow–

*John O’Donohue’s Benedictus: For Work;
**Jean Houston’s The Wizard of Us.

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Radical engagement is a way to discover, in your particular situation, what you can and must do next.*
Adam Kahane

It’s so much fun and it’s frustrating and it’s thrilling and sometimes I’m more nervous than ever and other times I feel like I’m flying.**
Rob Bell

I must not worry
if I haven’t got it all worked out.

If I’ve understood this urging,
It will all change anyway, me included–

Be the pebble thrown in the pond
and all of that – being all in … the ripples.

It’s about beginning, and noticing,
And adjusting – being alive.

This thing that began in my head and heart–
Why do I imagine there could ever be a right time and place?

*Adam Kahane’s Everyday Habits For Transforming Systems;
**Rob Bell’s Everything Is Spiritual.

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If we say, “failure is not an option,” we’ve just guaranteed that success can’t happen either. Certainty is elusive, and if we require certainty to move forward, we’re trapped.*
Seth Godin

This is going to work, right?

Freedom is tied to responsibility but comes without guarantee.

“This is what I must do” still feels uncertain.

Whatever happens on the way, “there” will become “here.”

Otherwise, the only certainty will be “there” will always be “there.”

*Seth Godin’s This Is Strategy.

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