Happiness Tree

Rediscover Frida Kahlo and How She Turned Misery Into Mastery

This year, Frida would have been 99 years old and though she struggled not only with her health but to be respected as an artist in her own right, she is now as popular as ever. In honor of her upcoming birthday in July, I will rerun my article from last year. I do hope you enjoy it and become motivated to learn more about this melancholic figure who possibly did more to increase the popularity of Mexican art than any other single individual. 

Most of us only know the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo from her provocative images and self portraits with their trademark “unibrow”. But behind the paintings, which have become her most visible legacy, there is a grand story of tragedy and determination, love and loss, passion and romance which has sadly been obscured in the many decades since her passing. 

Let’s take a trip back to the time of the Mexican Revolution, to discover how the calamity that almost ended Frida’s life, ultimately came to define it. 

Frida Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón on July 6, 1907 in a small town near Mexico City. Though she would travel to the United States on several occasions, her permanent residence was La Casa Azul (The Blue House), where she was born and would spend the majority of her life until her death in 1954. 

Kahlo's father, Guillermo Kahlo, (1871–1941), was born Carl Wilhelm Kahlo in 1871, in, Pfozheim, Germany, the son of Jakob Heinrich Kahlo and Henriette Kaufmann. Her mother Matilde Calderón y González was a devoutly religious woman of Spanish and Indigenous heritage. Frida’s mother was often depressed or moody, leading to poor relations between them. But her father cared deeply for Frida and would come to have a strong influence on her life.

At age 6, Frida contracted polio, which caused her right leg to be thinner than her left, a disfigurement that she hid well behind long dresses. In an attempt to help Frida regain strength to her legs and make up for the time she spend convalescing from the disease, her father enrolled her in sporting activities that were more often than reserved for boys, such as swimming, bicycling, boxing and wrestling. Perhaps because of this, as she grew, she began taking on a very male appearance: dressing in men’s suits, styling her hair in a slicked back fashion. She would return to this androgynous look many times throughout her life, an appearance that was echoed by her periodic encounters with lesbianism. 

When Frida was 3 years old, Mexico’s revolution for independence from Spain began. Perhaps as many as a million people died during the revolution, many others were displaced, injured or just disappeared. And though it created tremendous upheaval for her family, Frida would later change the date of her birth to July 7th 1910, to coincide with the beginning of Mexico’s struggle for independence. Frida loved her country and came to believe that Mexico should follow Russia’s communist path. She aligned herself politically and philosophically with Marx and Stalin and even provided safe haven for Leon Trotsky during his exile from Russia. 

But the event that would most shape her life and eventually lead to her death was the terrible accident she suffered in 1925, at the age of 18. After a day of shopping and wandering around Mexico City with her boyfriend Alex Gomez Arias, She was riding in a wooden bus, which was struck in the side by a trolly. 

I provide here an excellent description here from:

Lisa's History Room

It was a gray day. A light rain had just fallen. After spending the afternoon wandering among the street stalls of downtown Mexico City, Frida and her boyfriend Alex Gómez Arias caught a bus that would take them home to Coyoacán. The new bus was brightly painted with two benches along the sides. It was nearly full but Alex and Frida found seats together near the back. The bus driver sped off to cross the busy streets on his way out of town.

As the bus driver began to turn onto Calzada de Tlapan, a street trolley approached. The bus driver rashly tried to pass in front of the turning streetcar. He didn’t make it. Alex remembers the point of impact:

The electric train [streetcar] with two cars approached the bus slowly. It hit the bus in the middle. Slowly the train  pushed the bus. The bus had a strange elasticity. It bent more and more, but for a time it did not break. It was a bus with long benches on either side. I remember that at one moment my knees touched the knees of the person sitting opposite me. I was sitting next to Frida. When the bus reached its maximal flexibility it burst into a thousand pieces, and the train kept moving. It ran over many people.

I remained under the train. Not Frida. But among the iron rods of the train, the handrail broke and went through Frida from one side to the other at the level of the pelvis.”

Frida said that the “handrail pierced me the way a sword pierces a bull.” Alex continues:

When I was able to stand up, I got out from under the train. I had no lesions, only contusions. Naturally the first thing that I did was to look for Frida.

Something strange had happened. Frida was totally nude. The collision had unfastened her clothes. Someone in the bus, probably a house painter, had been carrying a packet of powdered gold. This package broke, and the gold fell all over the bleeding body of Frida. When people saw her, they cried, ‘La bailarina, la bailarina!’ With the gold on her red, bloody body, they thought she was a dancer.

I picked her up….and then I noticed with horror that Frida had a piece of iron in her body. A man said, ‘We have to take it out!’  He put his knee on Frida’s body and said, ‘Let’s take it out.’ When he pulled it out, Frida screamed so loud that when the ambulance from the Red Cross arrived, her screaming was louder than the siren. Before the ambulance came, I picked up Frida and put her in the display window of a billiard room. I took off my coat and put it over her. I thought she was going to die. Two or three people did die at the scene….others died later.”

It was during her 3 month confinement to bed that Frida’s father bought her implements with which to draw and paint. Frida eagerly adopted the activity and so began the development of one of Mexico’s most iconic folk artists. 

The first piece she paints is called “Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress” - 1926

Notice that already, this earliest piece shows signs of her attention to detail. The collar of her dress displays stylistic shapes which might be derived from animal forms and or patterns. Behind her, an idealized sea roils, potentially threatening to consume her. The expression on her slightly turned face provides a clue to the somber, even dark mood which would dominate all the work in the years to come. Her arms, folded in front of her abdomen, demonstrate either intentionally or unwittingly a desire to protect the internal organs which were so badly injured only months earlier. 

 

Her next work, called “ Time Flies” - 1929

This work shows her much more open, facing forward and dropping her arms to the side to indicate confidence in her renewed health. Her neckline is open and her arms are bare. She is sporting a necklace and earrings, all suggesting she is ready to be vulnerable and feminine again. The black background could be interpreted as the unknown or the darkness she left behind, now that she was recovered from her months of convalescence. The use of symbolism is still present, but in a raw, immature form, immediately digestible by the observer without too much effort: the clock sitting on top of a stack of books to the right (time) and above her head, the image of an airplane (flies) to support visually the phrase which is embodied in the title. 

This was also the year that Frida married Diego Rivera and as a result, further historical perspective is needed to understand the subtle nuances of this painting as contrasted to her earlier work. In “Time Flies” she is dressed in the more bright, traditional colors of her culture, the way that Diego preferred to see her, rather than the dark, melancholy and aristocratic attire shown in “Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress”. 

“Frida and Diego Rivera” - 1930

This year Frida becomes pregnant, but has to abort due to a misalignment of the fetus, resulting from her fractured pelvis. Frida and Diego travel to San Francisco, California to fulfill some artistic commissions there. It was during this visit that this work becomes the first to receive a public viewing at the 6th Annual Exhibition of the San Francisco Society of Women Artists. 

This painting, though loosely based on a wedding photograph, reveals much about the couple’s relationship: Diego appears huge next to Frida and though his 6 foot 1 inch frame overwhelms Frida’s petite 5 foot 3 inches, she exaggerates their disparate heights to ridiculous proportions here, but as always, there are symbolic reasons for doing so. 

First of all, Frida not only looks up to Diego in the physical sense, but she also greatly admires his skill and perceives it to be far superior to her own. A sentiment further supported by the fact that in this representation he carries the tools of his trade, (brushes and a palette), while she appears unassuming, in a peasant dress almost as if lurking in his immense shadow. 

Additionally, Frida’s parents did not approve of Diego, firstly because he was a committed communist, but additionally because of his girth. They referred to the couple as “the elephant and the dove”. Yet, they eventually conceded to let the two marry as they believed Diego would earn sufficient income to cover Frida’s inevitable medical expenses. 

Timeline of Frida’s Adult Life 

Year	Event
1932	Frida’s second pregnancy ends in miscarriage
1934	Physiological problems cause Frida to abort her 3rd pregnancy. She also receives an emergency appendectomy. Later that year, she undergoes surgery to remove the ends of several toes on her right foot, presumably resulting from complications of the accident. Frida discovers that Diego is having an affair with her sister.
1936	Frida undergoes yet a 3rd operation on her right foot.
1937	Frida has her first showing of her work in Mexico, at Galeria de Arte at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
1938	In October, Frida travels to the Julien Levy Gallery in New York for her first solo showing of her work. Her pieces range in price from $150 to $600 and half of them are sold.
1939	Frida travels to Paris. Her painting “The Frame” becomes the first Mexican work of art purchased by the Lovre. She returns to Mexico and suffers a fungal infection on her hand and severe back pain. The pain forces her to begin drinking heavily. The doctor prescribes extended bed rest and traction on her neck. This same year, Frida and Diego file for divorce.
1940	Diego Rivera is sought for questioning in relation to the assassination of Leon Trotsky. Diego flees to San Francisco and due to her association with Diego, Frida is detained for 2 days and interrogated. Frida suffers from a severe kidney infection and anemia. Again she is prescribed extended bed rest. Later that year, Diego and Frida reconcile and re-marry.
1941	Frida’s father dies of an apparent heart attack and Frida goes into a deep depression which impacts her already ill health. Frida has two major exhibitions this year, in Mexico and in Boston.
1942	Frida sells her apartment and writes to government officials to support Diego in the construction of a museum to house his pre-Colombian artifacts.
1943	Frida enjoys many exhibitions, she begins teaching painting at a prestigious institution in Mexico City but is then prevented from traveling due to her poor health. She begins teaching out of her family home in Coyoacan.
1944	Frida undergoes extensive surgeries on her back and leg and is confined by several corsets and body casts. Her students complete a mural at the Hotel Posada del Sol but the owner is not satisfied and has it destroyed. Her work is exhibited in the U.S and Mexico city. She begins a diary which she will maintain until her death.
1945	After reading Freud’s “Moses and Monotheism”, Frida paints “Moses, her visual interpretation of the book.
1946	Frida receives a prestigious prize for her work “Moses”. She undergoes a bone-graft operation and is confined to an iron lung for 8 months, during which time, her health deteriorates and she is put on high doses of morphine.
1947	Frida turns 40, but celebrates it as her 37th birthday, as she changed the date of her birth to coincide with the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.
1948	Diego Rivera begins an affair with Maria Felix and considers a divorce from Frida
1949	Frida’s sister pleas with Maria Felix to end the affair with Diego for the sake of Frida. In June, the affair abruptly ends. Gangrene becomes apparent on Frida’s right foot.
1950	Frida undergoes no less than 7 operations on her spine, mainly for infection in her bone grafts. Diego spends many nights in a room next to hers. When she is well enough, she paints.
1951	Following her discharge from the hospital, she spends the majority of the year in bed.
1952	Frida begins a series of still life paintings, perhaps in part because a portrayal of her actual pain and suffering would be too severe for the canvas and also, still life requires less detail then her self portrait, which she may have been unable to paint due to her heavy use of alcohol and pain killers.
1953	Frida had her first solo exhibition in Mexico, but doctors tell her she is too sick to leave her bed. She she has her bed carried to the exhibition and then returns home to a reunion of friends. Later this year, her leg is overcome with gangrene and has to be amputated below the knee.
1954	April 19th, Frida is admitted to the hospital for unknown reasons. She writes a three page letter to the doctors and nurses and everyone who ever took care of her to thank them for their kindness. In June, she contracts bronchial pneumonia and is confined to bed. Her health seems to improve. But on July 6th, against the advice of her doctors, she takes part in a political rally against American actions in Guatemala. Her health worsens and she is never seen in public again.
July 13, 1954	Seriously ill with pneumonia, Frida dies. The cause of death is determined to be pulmonary embolism. Her last written diary entry reads: “I hope the exit is joyful - and I hope never to return” - Frida   That afternoon her coffin is placed in the entrance hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, attended by an honor guard. On the 14th of July, more than 600 people came to pay their last respects. Her body was cremated later that day. Her ashes were placed in a pre-Columbian urn which is on display in the "Blue House" that she shared with Rivera.

What can we learn from Frida’s life and how she coped with adversity?

Frida’s life was punctuated by much physical pain and suffering. She was the victim of betrayals by her husband, Diego Rivera, as well as her sister and others. She spent many years alone and isolated in bed, enduring countless surgeries, protracted recoveries and the life-long effects of the horrible accident she suffered at 18.

Additionally, in the early 20th Century, Mexican artists and in particular women were not recognized or celebrated. None of these seemingly insurmountable circumstances stopped Frida from creating her provocative images and providing us an intimate glimpse into her unique physical, cultural and spiritual challenges.

 

You may not like Frida’s paintings; you may not agree with her politics, or her promiscuous lifestyle; there are certainly many areas of Frida’s life in which one could find fault. But in spite of or perhaps because of the many tragedies in her life, she found the time, the inspiration and the energy to create enduring artwork that remains as a poignant reminder that vision, determination and a commitment to excellence ultimately defines who a person is, rather than what happens to them. 

What dreams do you claim to not have time for, or are too tired to accomplish? What goals seem out of reach? What stops you from living life to the best of your ability, in spite of your circumstances? 

What of your limitations exceed those of a petite girl, from a small village, nestled in the heart of an impoverished country, oppressed by rigid views of women’s roles, who suffered a life altering accident that would keep her in the hospital or bed-ridden most of her life?

The next time you say “I can’t, think of Frida and the many other pioneers throughout history that could have said the same and yet, chose to never give up. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this or other articles "The Happiness Tree".

Please contact me: Shane Mathias

Also, please enjoy my other blog: Men Decoded 

 

Truth Seeker vs Believer - Which is the More Righteous Path?

On general principles and to clarify the opinions that follow, it is never my intention to make you believe something, only to present the information and let you be the judge.

For regular readers of mine, this may seem like a contradiction, as I have stated in the past “this is the truth”, about several things, a statement I now wish to amend, where ever it appears in my writing.

I say this now, because it occurs to me that way too much “belief” is being trotted out as “the truth”, a practice which has throughout the ages, been used to deceive and control entire populations. Much of the “New Age” publishing network (to which I suppose I am unintentionally aspiring), gains it’s following by exploiting that fine line between truth and belief, ironically creating a community that defines itself as free thinking, but really is more cult-like in nature. 

It’s not hard to understand why. Belief is much easier. By believing, one can fall back on and be supported by a world view that others have created. Believers don’t have to “reinvent the wheel”, they can tap into a matrix that has been accepted by thousands of others as “the truth” and feel secure that their path is the righteous one, as it is shared by so many “like-minded” individuals.

Regardless of what happens in life, there is already a convenient explanation to provide solace for the believer. So comforting is this system of beliefs, it must be defended at all cost, because it forms the a protection that the believer uses to shield them from the pain of having to overturn all their preconceived notions and self deception, when life’s often confusing and frustrating situations present themselves. 

Belief also satisfies the often desperate need for community and camaraderie. By believing in a particular set of ideas, one who might otherwise feel self conscious and misunderstood, suddenly “fits in”. The immediate availability of meetings, retreats, chatrooms, book clubs and other events serve to hold this  disparate community together and reinforce the integrity of it’s belief-based infrastructure. 

Truth-Seekers, on the other hand travel a much more solitary path. For this type of individual, belief takes on a completely different meaning. That being “whatever conclusion his current level of understanding has led him to”. The Truth-Seeker embodies open-mindedness, as he or she is willing to allow their conclusions to be amended or even overturned if verifiable evidence indicates the necessity to do so. They are not attached to a particular mindset, but rather remain in constant pursuit of that illusive singularity: truth. 

The Truth-Seekers constitution does not allow for a one-size-fits-all explanation of life’s conundrums. He believes in the power of his mind to dissect and then reassemble the elements of events and situation in his life to create clarity and thereby, provide answers. This indeed entails more work and uncertainty than the externally directed path of belief, but the truth-seeker values this process as an activity which builds character and deepens his understanding of himself and the world around him. 

When one adopts an accepted point of view and ceases to evaluate those people and things that come into his life on their own merit, he stunts personal growth as well. He trades critical thinking for a virtual box that contains a predigested view of humanity, creation, the universe, even truth itself.

History is replete with examples of how this reluctance to engage in a pragmatic evaluation of the facts, en masse, becomes the momentum behind some of man’s greatest inhumanity. Nazi Germany, the Crusades, Salem Witch Trials, the Spanish Inquisition and discrimination of all kinds are shocking examples of how the systematic promulgation of a distorted belief among groups of people binds weak-minded individuals together in a sort of blind rage against an entity they have come to see as the source of all their problems. 

How Does This Apply to Each of Us Individually?

When we change the focus of truth vs belief from a macro view to one that applies to your individual life experience, we can say with certainty, that knowing the truth doesn’t always lead to happiness, indeed, it may reveal unsettling realities about ourselves or relationships with others. But being denied access to that truth is a type of insidious evil that individuals, government and corporations use to control us and to promote their nefarious aspirations. 

"knowing the truth doesn’t always lead to happiness"

If in fact you desire to live in the light of clarity, you must make the pursuit of truth in all your affairs an ultimate priority. Additionally, if living with integrity is a value you hold dear, you must not deny friends or family access to the truth. To control others by withholding facts or engaging in deception is cruel and may ultimately result in self harm through the course of unanticipated consequences. 

Truth seeking is characterized by self reliance and flexibility in thinking. One who seeks truth is aware that their view of self, others or the world around them is malleable and amenable to change. Believers on the other hand have a rigid view of their world and their place in it. They rely on an outside entity to create and define a system of beliefs that followers must adhere to. If someone or something does not jibe neatly with this credo, it is derided, disregarded or considered a threat their status quo. 

I have chosen the path of truth. It would be my wish that you would consider the merits of that choice and investigate if perhaps this is the “Rosetta Stone” through which you will interpret the often cryptic clues to your true path, that await discovery all around you . 

 

-Shane Mathias

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New Article - Why Are Men Obsessed With Sex?

 

Women especially will love this new blog: 

Men-Decoded.com

In this weeks article, you will learn why men fantasize about other women, even if they are happy with their current relationship. 

Furthermore ladies, you'll learn how to evaluate a man's likelihood to stray, what to do if you suspect your current partner is losing interest and how to return his focus to you. 

 

Enjoy and tell your friends. 

  Men Decoded

A New Forum for Women to Learn About the Men in Their Lives

Please visit my new site for women

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The goal of this new exciting site is to enlighten women on the sometimes confusing behavior of men, what drives them, how they think, how to pick a good one and how to create and maintain a great relationship with them. 

We will enjoy a no-holds-barred discussion that covers every topic from sex to finances, work to psychology. I look forward to receiving your questions and feedback.

I'll do my best to answer every question and respond to each comment.

Now there is a place for women to go to read real, honest, open and frank discussions about the issues that are important to them, related to the men in their lives. Join the conversation...

Men Decoded

-Shane Mathias

 

The Transformative Power of Touch

  

Touch can be a way of conveying a message, but first and foremost it defines boundaries. 

As you travel around the world, each culture has a very different relationship to touch. In Southern Europe, it is not uncommon for men to embrace each other and even add a glancing kiss to each cheek. In certain Asian countries, physical contact is not part of the greeting at all. 

Between Men and Women, touch is an ever evolving dance that can determine the future of the relationship, depending timing and quality. 

 

Our skin, while being the largest organ we have, is also incredibly sensitive to stimuli from the outside world. And that is nowhere more evident than when two people come close together and make contact.

Touch has an amazing ability to convey a wide range of emotions alone or when combined with verbal communication. A handshake, a squeeze of the arm, a warm embrace, a kiss on the cheek or the neck, all say very different things and can either serve as an asset: sending a clear and welcome message, or can be an unwelcome and inappropriate gesture, that is ultimately confusing and off-putting.

Knowing how and when to be intimate and with what degree of intensity is a very powerful skill or art really, that should be practiced and refined to enhance and clarify your communications, giving them much more impact and making them memorable experiences..

But touch is also extremely important for our physical and emotional health, enhancing it in many different ways: raising levels of oxytosin, a bonding hormone; reducing blood pressure; slowing heart rate; relaxing muscles nerves and blood vessels; decreasing depression and elevating mood; improving digestion; warming skin; increasing circulation and the list goes on and on. It has been shown that babies who were touched frequently became more well adjusted adults, with a more balanced emotional makeup and better health. And then they often go on to be more comfortable giving and receiving touch with others, later in life, including their own children.

In the context of a relationship, researchers have observed that touching rises steadily in the beginning and peaks somewhere early in marriage. Couples tend to settle on a frequency of touching that is mutually acceptable, with perhaps one compromising more than another, but usually with each reciprocating on a one to one ratio.

But even if a couple has many other things in common, if their frequency of touching is out of sync from the beginning, the relationship is more than likely doomed.

So, it would be fair to say that touch varies from person to person in it's power to affect happiness. For someone who likes to give and receive touch, it is imperative to find a partner who is closely matched in that way. And the same would be true for one who is “touching challenged”. But regardless of their innate tolerance for touch, almost everyone needs to satisfy some baseline in order to feel cared for, reassured and desirable.

Touch is of course also the gateway to sexual intimacy and this is an area where couples can continue to experiment and improve: learning each others erogenous zones and triggers, as well as adjusting speed, pressure, timing and sensitivity.

But touch may be most effective in communicating the truth about our feelings and emotions. Touch is often spontaneous and therefore, perceived as more authentic.

If lovemaking between humans was just the act of intercourse, as it appears to be in most of the animal world, it wouldn't be nearly as powerful a force to bond people together. It is because of the deep, non-verbal messages of caring, understanding, selflessness and comfort that are communicated by touch during sexual intimacy, that it has the ability to elevate the experience into the realm of the majestic.  

Whatever the context, someone who is intuitive regarding how and when to touch others holds great power to relax and therefore, influence acquaintances, friends, business associates and lovers. Appropriate and welcome touch has the ability to promote happiness for all participants, the givers as well as the receivers.

Practice and master this skill and begin to witness how amazingly and effortlessly the right touch can positively transform your most important relationships.

-S.E. Mathias

If you enjoy my articles, you'll love my book, which will be coming out later this year. Stay tuned to the Happiness Tree to find out when and where it will be available. 

Also, check out my Happiness Store where you'll find happiness themed articles that you'll enjoy using or sending as gifts. 

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MAYBE THIS WILL BE THE YEAR YOU'LL SHARE YOUR STORY WITH THE WORLD?

As I sit here reflecting on the whirlwind of activity that transpired late last year, while preparing to publish my first book, I am reminded that it is often useful to reflect on one's experiences, to take advantage of whatever life lessons may be revealed . 

Yes, my book “The Happiness Tree”, is now available published by Balboa Press. When it’s available, details will appear here as well as Amazon and other major book retailers. 

What is it like to live a year of your life, circumscribed around writing? Well, it’s certainly not for everyone. Though I believe writing is one of the best ways to get to know yourself and disseminating your internal machinations to the wider world can be fun, interesting and provide important points in the “Purpose” section of your Happiness Tree. (Read the book and you’ll understand).

 

 

 

It is a solitary activity, requiring long periods of introspection and research. For me, that doesn’t present a problem, because I am a bit of a lone wolf by nature, so I gain enrichment from my time alone. For those however that enjoy or feel they need ongoing activity or excitement to feel alive, other methods of expression may be more suitable. 

As with any process that is intended to produce something, there must be a plan. For example, if you’re making a piece of furniture, you’d want to have a clean, well organized work space that is free of tripping hazards. You’d want to lay out your tools where they are visible and easily accessible. Plenty of room to move around and good ventilation would also be essential. 

With writing, I like to start with a framework to give my thoughts direction and structure. So I determine the trajectory of my ideas ahead of time by constructing a trial table of contents. Of course, as the content grows and evolves, that table may change, but by knowing what I’ll be writing about next, I can tailor my current ideas and illuminations to lead in that direction.  

I believe there are also two other critical factors to successful writing: 

Environment -

I always write in the same place. I have a very comfortable chair that looks out on my garden. I am an avid gardner and take pride in and inspiration from the flowers, fruits, vegetables, birds and bees that live there. I have a calming fountain nearby that sends the soothing sounds of trickling water into my ear. All of this tends to set my mood and makes up a kind of virtual “bubble” in which I place myself for writing related activities. Once in my bubble, my body and brain are relaxed, my mind is energized and open and the thoughts flow freely. The comfort and ergonomic quality of my chair means that I’m sitting in a posture that lends itself to my arms hanging at the right angle for typing. My neck is not bent in an unsustainable position and my lower back is supported and relaxed. 

Discipline -

Energy, weather, mood and mental acuity all have their own rhythms. If you wait for the perfect moment or frame of mind to write, your pages will remain forever empty. You must learn to “compartmentalize” your life to some degree. Meaning, whatever is going on outside your “writing bubble”, will have to wait. You put life’s issues in a box, for safe keeping and make a personal promise to revisit and deal with them later. By so doing, you’re setting an intention to not procrastinate in the resolution of life’s nagging details, but rather to return to them when you are better prepared to give them your undivided attention. 

Additionally, it’s useful to know when you are the most creative. Have you discovered when your creative juices are more likely to flow? I know for myself, it’s in the early morning, just as the sun is coming up. The quiet, contemplative surroundings help me drill deep into my senses and subconscious to extract pure, well formed concepts that might become obscured in the harsh light of midday. 

There is so much more I would like to share with you on the enjoyment and the process of writing. But in the pursuit of balance, it’s now time for me to get up and start moving. I can feel my body becoming achey from not having left this position for over an hour.

I suppose, there in lies another lesson:

Honor your body and it’s needs. Life is a dance, an art that is punctuated by periods of movement and rest. Take advantage of each stage of your body’s natural rhythms and you’ll be surprised how much you’ll be able accomplish and how much more fulfilled and relaxed your life will become.

As you’ll discover if you read my book, or do a search here on my blog for “creativity”, I feel personal expression is an essential component of Sustainable Happiness. Whether it’s writing, painting, sculpture, gardening, sewing, or making the interior space of your home aesthetically pleasing, it is imperative to find a way and a means to bring your personal message and vision to the wider world. 

I hope you found this article informative and would love to receive your feedback.

 

-Shane