The Making of Me

 'Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.' Michelangelo.

On 30th Street in Boulder, Colorado, there is a sculpture of a man chiseling himself out of a block of stone. His head, torso, arms, and thighs have already been carved from the stone. His right hand holds a hammer above his head ready to strike a chisel he grasps in his left hand. He is forming his right knee.

The sculpture represents both the present state and potential of a self-made, self-actualised person.

To reach our human potential the hammer and chisel will need to be used often and with diverse levels of precision and purpose. Some of us will place the hammer and chisel on the ground and declare ourselves, 'finished' while others will keep the tools close to them, ready to perfect their sculpture, change aspects of their sculpture, make it more beautiful, sincere, authentic. Some of us will see the block of stone as motionless while to others it represents potential, possibility, creativity, self-actualisation.

How do you see your, 'sculpture'?

Is it finished, does it represent the destination of your life, or does it represent the journey?

Are you still learning and growing, or do you feel comfortable with the status-quo?

As you look at your sculpture do you feel that it is complete and that there is no more work to do, that you are fully formed? Are you holding your hammer and chisel or are they on the ground?

Do you like your sculpture?

My sculpture is incomplete, and some days it is covered in bird's mess. Sometimes I want to kick it, but that would hurt me more than it.

A lot of the time though, I pick up my hammer and my chisel and I get to work.

The work involves the whole sculpture, the heart and soul, the actual body, and the mind.

I understand that I must take care of my physical body by eating nourishing foods, exercising, and getting enough sleep but I also know that my soul needs attention. It has had years of absorbing the opinions and energies of (other) people, it has experienced a lot of wear and tear. It also carries scars and wounds from traumatic events, it needs to be cleansed of negative energy, it needs to be made whole. I want the soul of my sculpture to be healthy, wise, and happy.

I take myself out for a walk-in nature. I watch birds in my garden through my binoculars, I study the fur on the fox as he slinks around the fallen branches of a tree. I breathe in the fresh air, my lungs expanding as birdsong fills my ears.

I stretch into my yoga poses.

I enjoy a guided meditation.

I am mindful of my energy centres (chakras) and try to keep them cleansed and balanced.

I inhale essential oils; Eucalyptus essential oil helps in soul healing.

I practice an 'Attitude of Gratitude.'

An attitude of gratitude is so important, it improves your mood by releasing feel good hormones. It significantly reduces stress levels and improves vitality. It also boosts self-confidence.

I re-arrange my crystals and turn on my Himalayan salt lamp.

My sculpture is unfinished, but it's glowing.