Through You

Many times when we’re building something, creating art, making a sale, cooking food, etc, we think of us doing that act. We think of that end result happening because we did it. And while yes, this is true, I want to take this week’s Deeper Thought’s post to shift our mindset a bit here so that we can be more present in the moment and think of these things coming about because they’re happening not because of you, but through you.

This is a concept I came across many years ago when I bought a copy of “The Tao of Jeet Kune Do,” by Bruce Lee. I understood what it meant, but never gave it much thought until recently. It wasn’t until I started making wood carvings and building furniture. I would take a block of wood and a few different knives and start cutting away at the wood and after a time a face starts to appear. Sometimes that face had a hat, or antlers, or a beard. Sometimes simpler and more whimsical, others more deep seeing and more detailed. By the time I was done I had a uniquely carved wooden spirit, different from every single one I had done previously, or will ever do again.

Now yes, I can say I carved this little nature spirit, or effigy, because I literally carved it myself. But one thing I love about the hobby is it causes me to be grounded. It keeps me in the moment. And for a hobby like that you have to be in the moment. You have to be paying attention to what you’re doing as well as what is happening around you. You have to be aware of your thoughts and emotions because one wrong move and one wrong slip of the knife can cause a serious injury.

The more of these little guys I made my thought process drifted from “I did this! I made this! This is here because of me!” to over time realizing that that figure was always there in the wood, but it manifested itself THROUGH me. This is the exact same thing Michelangelo meant when he said in reference to his statue of David, “The image was there. I just needed to remove what was in the way.” Many artists understand this concept over time more easily because there’s often inspiration propelling them into their work.

I take time to remember this not just when I’m carving little figures. I take time remembering this when I’m in my shop and building furniture. Random pieces of wood have been cut, shaped and given a new form through me. That furniture didn’t exist until it manifested from a thought, followed through action aligned with its creation. The energy from thought to creation didn’t flow because of me, but instead I was a conduit for that creation to take place.

The server or bartender that creates an exceptional dining experience at a restaurant is doing the work to make sure you’re taken care of. The feelings you have during that time happen through them. They made sure the order was right, timed and coursed your order properly, and made sure your drinks were never empty. All that because they were a conduit for that pleasant dining experience (tip your servers and bartenders btw. It’s a hectic job.)

That big business deal you closed might have been because you’re the one who made the deal. But whether you were the initiator, the seeker, or the negotiator, the events throughout the process happened through you. The happy customer, the happy business owner, and/or your happy increase in funds all came about through you, your words, and your actions.

Those random ingredients in the fridge were just that, random ingredients. But through you a delicious meal for your family, as well as the quality time around the table because of that meal all happened through you and your energy.

The next time you’re building something, creating art, making a sale, cooking, working out, playing with your children, or anything else, shift your mindset to seeing the results of what’s happening being something that happens through you, and the ways it happens despite what’s going on around you. Seeing how you’re a conduit for something to happen through you lets you become more present and aware of the moment.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you all have an enlightening day.