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The Calm Sea by Gustave Courbet (See notes on this painting at end of this post)
This unrefined posting is a vulnerable (a bit scary) effort to "work on self" - and to let others know in case a conversation would help others as well or they might add to the following? I like the sound of the word equanimity best yet use similar words inter-changeably here. Some of us may react to be told by others to seek balance - maybe when younger or maybe much of our lives? Or maybe we tell this to ourselves a lot? Yet, perhaps they say this because they see the need? Maybe finding our own special word to use will help?
Suggestions are welcome from others who recognize the dilemma of seeking and maintaining equilibrium.
Just as I was making this second attempt at such a post and personal effort, a priceless little poetic letter came from a dear friend who will remain un-named here.
(Thank You dear wise friend of such a beautiful soul - what a gift! You are giving me the courage I have needed to make this effort and to do so in this transparent manner!)
Here then are some notes of no particular, planned order as time is lacking for now.
Items here may be paraphrased from others yet merged with some of my own advice to self. Items here in quotes are from a list-serve discussion I found by "accident" a few days ago on The Enneagram # Four (which I here admit I am.) For more on the Enneagram, there's a wealth of material available by easy search online or bookstore. You will also find two posts with "Pearl" in the title on this site. Look at May and maybe early June in Blog Archives lower Right Column. (Earlier, I was looking at healing techniques from The Fourth Way discussions on equilibrium but since that is mostly unfamiliar to me, I felt that I should wait on that approach. However, there appears to be some solid help in that direction.)
I confess here that a #FOUR is encouraged by some Enneagram perspectives to "head toward the healthy #ONE so I do look for them yet like healthy fours they are often found in their less developed forms and instead more on the compulsive end. So, I must still keep looking because:
"Fours learn to address emotional realities rather than indulging in them. It's remarkable how the objective/subjective duality seems to be overcome with the line between four and one."
Someone mentioned in this enneagram discussion: "Several of my favorite creative people ever to live were Fours, including Marcel Proust (novelist), Fredric Chopin (composer), Ingmar Bergman (director), etc. These people I cited were all prolific creators with huge outputs, and created large bodies of high quality work, because they were able to see that anything which cannot be expressed or shared has no bearing on a reality beyond the self."
One wise soul said that for some of us (emotional, passionate and creative/artistic types?) we need to be able to have the "capacity to stand in emotion and not invite any more in, not get stuck in any emotion, not push our emotions at others. To perhaps be merely a conduit?"
In order to be effective truth must penetrate like an arrow - and that is likely to hurt. 'Posthumous Pieces' by Wei Wu Wei
A body is said to be in equilibrium when it is at rest or continues to be in steady linear motion - according to Newton's second law of motion.
Breathing Helps Equilibrium: "Teachings of philosophic value encourage the attainment of a state of balance and harmony."
I found these gems and more to follow:
"Equanimity is the unattached awareness of one's experience as a result of perceiving the impermanence of momentary reality. It is a peace of mind and abiding calmness that cannot be shaken by any grade of either fortunate or unfortunate circumstance."
I seek more consciously more calmness lately as during my most challenging moments in life. Yet for less challenging and sometimes easily joyful portions of my days, nights, moments and relationships, I know I can't substitute "numbing out" or escape now in my hardest "exams". So, I am remembering in my present difficulties not to "train away" or make impossible joy.
The Dalai Lama has been quoted as saying something like this:
Whenever possible be kind - kindness is always possible. (and this includes to ourselves.)
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** More on the Painting "The Calm Sea" : In Gustave Courbet's The Calm Sea (1869), the view of calm waters is seen from the coastline at Trouville. It demonstrates the fresh color quality and careful observation associated with plein air painting.
Picture of a seascape by Gustave Courbet, The Calm Sea. Gustave Courbet's The Calm Sea is an oil on canvas (23-1/2 x 28-3/8 inches) that is on display at
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
With his easel set up on the shore, Courbet was able to record the light and the moving clouds over the serene sea. The result is a work that evokes atmospheric sensation rather than detailed observation.
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