Agnes Martin’s brilliant advice about finding our way in to what makes us happy by paying close attention to what we respond most positively to echoes Joseph Campbell’s notions on that topic:
“The way to find out about happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you are really happy — not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what is called following your bliss. We are having experiences all the time which may on occasion render some sense of this, a little intuition of where your bliss is. Grab it. No one can tell you what it is going to be. You have to learn to recognize your own depth.”
I think an important part of the hero’s journey (that I’ve been thinking/writing about lately) is just this self-analysis of what we resonate to in the world. This can help us stay on the right path in our work and the rest of our life. Thanks for your fine words and images about all that, Samantha! 🌱
I love this: 'You have to learn to recognize your own depth.' Espcially when so much of pur culture calls us to the shallow end of ourselves. Thanks for this added conaxt. It also makes me relaise that it aligns with Czicszentmihalyi's definfion of flow and the kind of quiet, firm happiness this state engenders in us.
“Culture calls us to the shallow end of ourselves”. Perfectly said, Samantha!
MC’s notion of “flow” is for me one of the most valuable psychological concepts I’ve ever encountered. You and I both found work that triggers flow in us, and we were so fortunate to do so. I encourage people to figure out what activities generate flow for them as a means to choosing a satisfying career. I wrote about that in some depth (with a little glimpse of my earliest career insight!) in this piece if you and your readers are interested:
A timely post. It’s so hard to put aside what is happening in the wider world and focus on what is perfect, and beautiful and true. Going to carry this with me today.
I think we all have access to what is beautiful within us. Sometimes, maybe often, it lies buried beneath layers of rubbish, things, our woes, the ways of the world, but beauty cannot be extinguished, and we must find a way to help it surface. It's always worth the effort.
It reminds me of a Buddhist parable of a poor man who lives in a mud hut, who goes off in search of riches never realising that the walls of his hut are made of gold and jewels hidden under the mud. Our buddha nature is right here already in us. It's just buried.
Thank you for writing this very inspiring post! Made me curious about Agnes Martin, so I added her book to my wishlist. Yes, beauty… especially the times we live in. I just want to make something beautiful.
Yes. Right now delight is a good cup of coffee, the first wink of sunshine we've seen in days (we had snow yesterday!) and the curlews calling in the quiet air, before the next gale rolls!
Hello Margaret, the book I have is no longer in print, which is why I didn’t reference it. Agnes Martin: Writings/Schriften, published by Hatje Cantz Publishers, 1998. But you can find many other publications with her writings that are widely available.
Lovely, Sam. Sorry to miss the Life Boat again today. I shall be floating away on a cresting wave at the Japanese Print Exhibition in York! Hope you all have a peaceful and productive session. Hugs to all.
No better pursuit than escaping the reality of the depressing day and the world’s woes than a walk in bonkers weather and have a good shout in the wind and rain. Embracing
nature in all its forms is the real truth of being alive.
Indeed so Douglas, and we get plenty of 'bonkers weather' here in Orkney! Yesterday gale force winds, hailstones, snow, rain. Just now sunshine and birdcalls. Later today, forecast gales, rain, hail...
It’s not even about ‘happiness’ it’s just ‘being’. It’s in the moment, connected to the infinite lattice of thoughts and sensations in four dimensions of space and time. Perfection of the instant for as long as it lasts. Done, and the page turns to another double spread, and the last one fades into memory, but the new spread beckons - open arms into the nothingness of every conceivable possibility. No wonder artists just have to keep going until the light fails.
Yes, well put John, I agree. I also think that what Martin calls simply 'happiness' is really the state of 'flow' that Czikcszentmihalyi described and defined so well.
Agnes Martin’s brilliant advice about finding our way in to what makes us happy by paying close attention to what we respond most positively to echoes Joseph Campbell’s notions on that topic:
“The way to find out about happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you are really happy — not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what is called following your bliss. We are having experiences all the time which may on occasion render some sense of this, a little intuition of where your bliss is. Grab it. No one can tell you what it is going to be. You have to learn to recognize your own depth.”
I think an important part of the hero’s journey (that I’ve been thinking/writing about lately) is just this self-analysis of what we resonate to in the world. This can help us stay on the right path in our work and the rest of our life. Thanks for your fine words and images about all that, Samantha! 🌱
I love this: 'You have to learn to recognize your own depth.' Espcially when so much of pur culture calls us to the shallow end of ourselves. Thanks for this added conaxt. It also makes me relaise that it aligns with Czicszentmihalyi's definfion of flow and the kind of quiet, firm happiness this state engenders in us.
“Culture calls us to the shallow end of ourselves”. Perfectly said, Samantha!
MC’s notion of “flow” is for me one of the most valuable psychological concepts I’ve ever encountered. You and I both found work that triggers flow in us, and we were so fortunate to do so. I encourage people to figure out what activities generate flow for them as a means to choosing a satisfying career. I wrote about that in some depth (with a little glimpse of my earliest career insight!) in this piece if you and your readers are interested:
https://bairdbrightman.substack.com/p/finding-your-right-work
A timely post. It’s so hard to put aside what is happening in the wider world and focus on what is perfect, and beautiful and true. Going to carry this with me today.
I'm glad to hear this Liza. I wrote it because I needed it too!
I think we all have access to what is beautiful within us. Sometimes, maybe often, it lies buried beneath layers of rubbish, things, our woes, the ways of the world, but beauty cannot be extinguished, and we must find a way to help it surface. It's always worth the effort.
It reminds me of a Buddhist parable of a poor man who lives in a mud hut, who goes off in search of riches never realising that the walls of his hut are made of gold and jewels hidden under the mud. Our buddha nature is right here already in us. It's just buried.
I love this!
I love your posts...always so insightful, honest and inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey X🌊🌎💫💚🌷
Thank you Roberta - I'm so happy to hear that they are inspiring and helpful!
Thank you for writing this very inspiring post! Made me curious about Agnes Martin, so I added her book to my wishlist. Yes, beauty… especially the times we live in. I just want to make something beautiful.
Thank you Sam. I laughed out loud at "An artist is a person who can recognise failure."
Oh yeah...we know it very well indeed! I love how dry she is about it.
I searched and saved for reference the Agnes Martin text about beauty as well. Thanks. Now for a walk in the woods on this cold damp morning.
Thank you for sharing - this was just what I needed to read this morning
You're welcome, Sheila!
I needed your words today, and I concur with every word. Thank you, Samantha.
“I want to pay attention to delight.” You and me both Samantha, love this post.
Yes. Right now delight is a good cup of coffee, the first wink of sunshine we've seen in days (we had snow yesterday!) and the curlews calling in the quiet air, before the next gale rolls!
I would be grateful if you could indicate the title of the book of Martin's writing to which you refer. Thank you.
Hello Margaret, the book I have is no longer in print, which is why I didn’t reference it. Agnes Martin: Writings/Schriften, published by Hatje Cantz Publishers, 1998. But you can find many other publications with her writings that are widely available.
What a beautiful reminder to focus on the positive. Nature always uplifts if make time to meet her. Hooe to join you on the life raft again next week.
It would be lovely to see you again Kim!
Great writing. Great thoughts. Thank you.
You're so welcome Cindy, though I'm just passing on the great thoughts of a finer mind!
Lovely, Sam. Sorry to miss the Life Boat again today. I shall be floating away on a cresting wave at the Japanese Print Exhibition in York! Hope you all have a peaceful and productive session. Hugs to all.
Oh wow! Sounds well worth the trip! Look forward to seeing you when you're back.
Beautiful. Thank you for writing this. I am going to hold on to that idea that beauty cannot be completely destroyed. 💚
Me too, Jane, me too. 💚
No better pursuit than escaping the reality of the depressing day and the world’s woes than a walk in bonkers weather and have a good shout in the wind and rain. Embracing
nature in all its forms is the real truth of being alive.
Indeed so Douglas, and we get plenty of 'bonkers weather' here in Orkney! Yesterday gale force winds, hailstones, snow, rain. Just now sunshine and birdcalls. Later today, forecast gales, rain, hail...
It’s not even about ‘happiness’ it’s just ‘being’. It’s in the moment, connected to the infinite lattice of thoughts and sensations in four dimensions of space and time. Perfection of the instant for as long as it lasts. Done, and the page turns to another double spread, and the last one fades into memory, but the new spread beckons - open arms into the nothingness of every conceivable possibility. No wonder artists just have to keep going until the light fails.
Yes, well put John, I agree. I also think that what Martin calls simply 'happiness' is really the state of 'flow' that Czikcszentmihalyi described and defined so well.
I think so, it’s the sort of experience that you always had, before you even knew of its existence, and which knowing about is irrelevant.
I had so many Aha! moments reading that book!