On Meta-Commitment

Me and My Artwork, an accomplishment I achieved through commitment. I almost never dared to commit to before out of fear, doubt, and laziness. Voila! A little push and I discovered a new talent!

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.” – W. N. Murray

Every one of us is on the way to surpass what we are at the moment. As soon as we envision what we could become, we are often plagued by the challenges we may come across. It pesters and stains our enthusiasm. A cloud of uncertainty and doubt looms inside our mind and oversees our decision making. It makes us feel comfort in the present just because we feel vulnerable and uncompromising. It is cowardly to lose the fight just because it is uncomfortable. On the other hand, it is honorable to keep on going despite turbulent circumstances.

Challenges we encounter act as a measure or gauge of our maturity. It is a reminder of how far we have come. The more complex our problems, the prouder we must be for we have reached another level in our development. Without challenges, our small steps will remain small and we will not be able to take big leaps. We will be likely to contain ourselves in the four walls of our idealism. We will not know the realities that we might encounter and discount the fact that it is better to face adversity now than later in our journey.

It is also common for us to delay matter to another day. Without noticing it, we can accumulate a heap of delays and time is eventually wasted. By dealing with problems head on, we will realize that we can gain the right knowledge and right experience. We become resourceful and creative. The next time we encounter a similar problem, we can pat ourselves on the back and take comfort knowing what to do now. Let us compel ourselves to engage in a process of learning and relearning.

Conscientious repetition then translates into habit. It takes 21 days to build a habit. Imagine sacrificing just a few moments everyday in exchange of a better future. It is awkward and annoying at first, but as long as consistency and focus are maintained, wisdom and momentum are developed. It becomes engrained in our routine and for a long while we cannot live without it. A special meaning is attached and a hunger to create becomes second.

Commitment builds a good foundation. We may encounter difficulties and self-doubt in the first few tries. Like learning to ride a bike, we can encounter bruises and scratches. But if we think about it, time heals all wounds and we become wiser. It is bad to commit and retreat from endeavors just to realize we have built only small mounds of sand castles. Why not transform that meager heap of soil and work endlessly into a fortified stone tower?

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Roland Andre Malic is a creative writer and blogger who took writing and speech courses in TalkShop, under the mentorship of Sheila Viesca, CEO and Director of Communication. Still finding out his niche in life, he is on the way to self-discovery by traversing creative ventures, a step at a time, which include writing and blogging. He also finds joy in watching mind-boggling films, reading about art and history, and exploring musicians and artists from eclectic genres.

Worthwhile Anticipation

Shadowed by Waiting?

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

Sometimes we feel as if everything seems to be not working despite all our best intentions and positive efforts. We often question whether what we are doing is worth it. At worst, we might end up quitting because there is no indication that what we are doing is right. There is no instructor to give us three stars for a job well done or an alarm that would warn when we are about to tread the wrong path. We are left to be blindfolded reaching out into uncertainty for something to hold on to. It is a painfully long wait. However, patience is the key to a worthwhile anticipation.

Patience lessens the stress. Impatience is brought about by expectations not met. In a way, being annoyed pulls us down instead of lifting me up. We must accept that events do not favor us all the time so we must take everything in as it should be. If we stay within the lines of strict ideals, we will not welcome sudden chances of opportunities. These may open new pathways for us or broaden our field of scope. They will present a lateral growth in perspective and possibilities.

Once the inevitability of uncertainty is accepted, maintaining patience can also mean maintaining a state of mind ready for positivity and productivity. Worry just creates a spiral of expectation and disappointment. I say we must set aside the one that upsets us and do something else just to take a breather. Find an activity that fosters a different kind of thinking process. Go for a hike, swim a mile, read a novel, eat a cookie. Travel to India, volunteer in a non-profit organization or play in a band. Rest your mind and reclaim energy from another source. Once we resume, we will have fresh pair of eyes and brain for revitalized and stress-free decision making.

After pampering ourselves, we must go back and focus. The purpose of distraction is to replenish our source of inspiration and not a permanent escape. Maybe the blockages we encounter are just interrupted adrenaline rushes. We must not forget what we are striving for. Even though we need a good break we are still responsible for our work.

It is understandable to be painfully waiting for the end of our suffering and sacrifice. It is important to sometimes lower our standards and welcome uncertainty. This way we do not become stringent and rigid on ourselves. When times get rough, we can distance ourselves for a while and look at it as a whole picture. Only then will we fully realize how far we have come and it is not worth giving it up. It will take time but it is going to be worthwhile and gratifying.

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Roland Andre Malic is a creative writer and blogger who took writing and speech courses in TalkShop, under the mentoring of Sheila Viesca, CEO and Director of Communication. Still finding out his niche in life, he is on the way to self-discovery by traversing creative ventures, a step at a time, which include writing and blogging. He also finds joy in watching mind-boggling films, reading about art and history, and exploring musicians and artists from eclectic genres.