I’m writing this “nudge” while sitting on a plane, boxed in between two people. It is fascinating to observe people in public spaces, especially when you cannot get up to do something. Just sit, be present, and observe. What are they thinking about? What is true for the person next to me? What music are they listening to? Will the guy next to me think this blog is worth anything? Okay, maybe I’m just thinking too much about others? But each person on this flight represents something and is experiencing something at this very moment.
I recently watched a video conversation between Brian Draper and Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer as part of Brian’s Lent reflections. Rosemerry is a poet, teacher, speaker, and writing facilitator, and she has been posting (sharing) a poem every day on her website since 2013. That’s right; she’s been creating and sharing a poem every day for the last 17 years. Astonishing, isn’t it? Brian was very interested in Rosemerry’s ability to be so creative, from the perspective of her daily practice and discipline, as well as her capacity to remain creative for so long and to keep it going. They call the chat on YouTube “Yes to the world as it is”. Brian asked her, “How do you do it?” and Rosemerry’s simple answer is applicable to all of us and is such an important message in most walks of life today. She describes her creative practice as anchored in the following question:
“I just ask myself: Can I show up every day and tell something that is (simple) true? I choose to meet what’s here inside of me and outside of me, and the poem is a bridge between these two worlds. And saying something true is always interesting, isn’t it?” she argues.
Not interesting because it sounds good, but just because it is an exercise in (true) curiosity. She continues by talking about how people are touched by telling the truth, by somebody (or words) being authentic and vulnerable. We strip away the longing to be good or wise, because something true is infinitely interesting.
Wow! Something true is infinitely interesting; this notion is so true. Listening to this chat, I realised that the power is firstly in the practice and then in the product, not the other way around. Sometimes the process is more important than the result – Rosemerry said the poem is a by-product of the practice (the container) – to habitually show up with a blank page and be open to notice with wonder, without being intimidated. We are often intimidated by the pressure to perform, to create, to do something good, successful, or acceptable, so that we miss the truth in every moment. Perhaps it is only the practice to do that again.
Rosemerry’s answer was not only profound; it was also a lesson to me. I realised that this blog is, or should be, the same – where I share something with you that is true for me. (It’s already something, because it’s true, not because of the number of followers or likes.) So, do I trust my experience in this moment as true and valid? Or am I so busy comparing it to all the messages I get that I’m not truly present, or that I doubt the moment? These are the questions I ask myself.
Each of us can create, say, write, or picture something true, and I believe if we live with this philosophy, the truth shall prosper. In a world full of fake news and self-deceptive stories, this practice and mindset are much needed. We have the God-given ability to be true in this moment.
This message, “yes to the world as it is”, applies to so many life situations. Maybe you’re sitting in a board meeting, afraid to share what is true? Maybe you should acknowledge the truth of your current relationship? Or the truth of a habit (good or bad)? A habit, such as parenting where we often want to negate the truth. Decide to show up, notice and acknowledge what is true for you today. Or acknowledge that you can create something just by capturing what is true for you. Try it today.
After this plane has landed, each person will rush to their next appointment or task, and the world will continue to tell them half-truths, lies, and fake news. Perhaps they will even tell themselves half-truths, just as I sometimes do. Yet, each person on this plane also has the ability to make the world a truer, more authentic place. There is enough fakeness out there; let’s counter it. Thanks to Rosemerry and Brian for reminding me that I can do one creative rhythm every day by finding the truth in every moment and being there for a while … the world as it is, is an infinitely interesting place! My truth in this moment is that on my return flight later today, I’ll have a window seat!
Brian and Rosemerry’s video conversation reminded me of a few things:
- How I sometimes tell myself half-truths and miss the moment.
- How I often strive to do something good, perfect, and profound for others and then miss the simple truth.
- How, in leadership positions, we often struggle to tell the truth, perhaps because we are scared.
- How important it is to again commit to finding a simple practice (or mindset) to create and find truth in the moment.
REFLECT
What is true for you – do you trust your own experience in this moment as valid and true?
Do you perhaps tell yourself stories about yourself that are untrue?
Where in your life are you confronted with the inability to acknowledge the truth?
What is true for you while reading this blog?
RESPOND
Find one daily creative discipline to create something true. Whether it is to take two minutes to take a photo, to pray, to feel, to speak, to write, to see …
Go and acknowledge something true! It will be infinitely interesting!
You can find Rosemerry’s daily poems here or watch her conversation with Brian Draper here.
Do share your creative stories or soulful ideas to [email protected].
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