In Part 2 of discernment and the creative process I emphasize the importance of staying connected with the creative process. To do so, we must not only embrace the spark of creativity but the grind as well.
It is the process of discernment that allows us to recognize and see through the conceptual overlay that is constantly generated by our habitual tendency to objectify everything we see. Depending on how deeply we get into this process it erodes our sense of self and stills our mind, establishing a free space from where we can see with more clarity.
But this way of seeing does not come easily. It opens up a confrontation with one’s self.
The Importance of Staying Connected with Creativity
We all have, from time to time, flashes of perceptions or sudden insights of some kind. But maintaining a connection with creativity is difficult. A single flash of perception is not enough. To be creative more often takes a great deal of work. One must learn to chase the spark and embrace the grind as Eric Wahl says.
To stay connected with creativity we have to embrace both – the spark and the grind. People who chase only the spark but don’t embrace the grind get stuck in their tracks. People who embrace only the grind and passively wait for sparks to happen are just spinning their wheels.
The Spark of Creativity and The Grind of Discernment
With discernment the grinding work that leads to more sparks is, as I mentioned in my previous article, one ‘s ability to quiet the mind. If we stay with this process long enough and observe closely, we’ll see that all thoughts and experiences come and go by themselves. We realize they are not who we are. Like soap bubbles, they rise, burst and disappear. When they rise they create tension, exposing us to a whole range of emotions. The secret is not to resist but to stay with the tension as much as we can. The tension may intensify initially but inevitably it will diminish and dissipate. In this way one can free the mind from any interference. With continued practice, this grinding process becomes easier and one goes deeper.
When the ability to be attentive grows, we begin to connect more frequently with what we see. Most importantly, trust and faith in the process deepens. The more we grind, the more we learn about ourselves and about the details of the process and the quality of our perceptions changes. The certainty that comes with it is no longer based on personal believes but rooted in direct, authentic experience.