One Apple A Day #1207

Remember to hold.

Mosaic during the 5th century. Original from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.

It's early morning, and I'm sitting beside her. She finally fell asleep after some restlessness. I listen to her breathing slowing down and finding its regular rhythm.

Inhale and exhale.

I always thought that breathing is a perfect metaphor for every creative process in life.

Inhale and exhale.

However, while I'm here listening and letting this rhythm quiet my mind, I notice something. There are more than two movements in breathing.

They are four: inhale, hold, exhale, and hold.

She's taking a pause between inhaling and exhaling and vice versa.

Inhale, hold, exhale, and hold.

How often, in my yearning to create something, do I forget those pauses?

Yet, I can see now how important they are. For breathing and also for my creative process.

I breathe in new information and knowledge, but instead of holding them to let them become insights, I rush into exhaling to assemble or create something. And then, I don't even take the time to look at my creation because I'm already chasing something new.

Those two pauses are fundamental. After inhaling, hold on to the information and inspirations acquired to extract some valuable insights. After exhaling, hold on to what you just created to savour it, celebrate it and make yourself empty to welcome new inspirations.