Starting a fire in the fireplace for the first time since it got cold outside, I remembered something deep in my body, in my breath... that you have to love the flame in order for it to grow under your air. Have you ever tried this? If you blow too hard, it doesn't stoke the fire at all. And blowing too softly does nothing; it will still go out. However, a firm yet gentle loving breath will stroke the fire and make the kindling catch. You give some of the breath of your life to the life of the fire.
So it is with whatever creative endeavor we seek to bring to a new level. The spark, the small flame of our idea is so vulnerable and needs our loving care to guide it to the next level of coming into existence.
This isn't some woo-woo idea about just feeling the project is important, but is really putting our own physical work into the project, in the right amount, with the right timing. In this way it comes alive, but is not killed with our zealousness or a burn-out on enthusiasm. New projects literally can inspire (breath into) us. Some people get so excited they forget to sleep or give proper care to the idea, meaning rest. Instead, they breath too hard - they act on it and act on it and spend all their energy right away, burning it up as they go so there is nothing left at the end of the day or at the end of the week, and their enthusiasm burns out.
What project or work are you thinking of as you read this? How can you give gentle pressure to your effort, without overkill? Around the holidays, so many people put so much effort into pleasing others and getting to all their friends and family that it can feel empty - like they are too exhausted to actually enjoy the fruits of their efforts, and they are burned out and restless on the actual day of celebration. How can you back off, but still give that controlled and loving effort to the work at hand?
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