Day 140 of 365 - Circling Back on Change
Have you ever visited, or seen photos of the interior of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City? It was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a cylindrical building, wider at the top than the bottom. Access to exhibits is via one long continuous ramp which spirals around the outer edges from the first level to the top. Because each level of the spiral is slightly wider than the one below, on each floor you can look down to the ones below with different perspective.
My singing teacher, Jocelyn, likes to refer to this architectural example in our group classes from time to time. For those of us who have been attending these classes for some time, she wants to address spoken or unspoken concerns that as individual students we 'always seem to be working on the same thing'. What she reminds us of with the Guggenheim example is, that we are not really 'stuck' on the same level. We have actually moved up the spiral of gradual change, and when we think about it with perspective, can see the difference.
I think this is a fine example to use when considering change in any aspect of our lives. It came into my awareness again from my perspective of life review. As I move into my senior years, it seems more and more often I am reminded of past decisions and actions and their consequences. As well, it becomes more apparent which issues I seem to be dealing with year after year and wondering if they will ever significantly shift.
If I look at aspects of life that way, it can feel discouraging, as if I am stuck in the same rut which I just keep circling around. But in truth, some shifts, albeit minor sometimes, have occurred and I can see that when I shift to that spiral perspective of life.
For example, in many ways I am a dabbler in a variety of areas of interest. You may have noticed this by now if you have been following my blog. I will learn about something, apply it in some way to my life for a period of time and then move on to something else that catches my attention. My harsh inner critic might ask why I didn't just stick with something to see what a long term outcome will be. That kind of hindsight perspective is not particularly helpful, because I can't change that past decision.
When I think back on the many different approaches I have taken towards the goal of improving my health and vitality in the last several years, I can react similarly. I've tried this thing, and that thing and then something else. But, if I look down from my current level in the spiral, my learning of each new approach or technique has built on previous ones, so that my overall knowledge about how my body works is significantly improved. It may be true that I have not yet achieved my expected goal or found the magical solution, but each step on the path has led me to another.
And, to be fair to the rut view as well, sometimes it takes years to recognize, acknowledge and then deal with negative repeating patterns in our lives. So, what's my point here? Don't give up on yourself. You have probably come further than you thought on your spiral of change. Life is cumulative. Perspective matters. I challenge you to test out these ideas by examining some area in your own life which, on the surface, never seems to shift. Circle back on change and look again.
My singing teacher, Jocelyn, likes to refer to this architectural example in our group classes from time to time. For those of us who have been attending these classes for some time, she wants to address spoken or unspoken concerns that as individual students we 'always seem to be working on the same thing'. What she reminds us of with the Guggenheim example is, that we are not really 'stuck' on the same level. We have actually moved up the spiral of gradual change, and when we think about it with perspective, can see the difference.
I think this is a fine example to use when considering change in any aspect of our lives. It came into my awareness again from my perspective of life review. As I move into my senior years, it seems more and more often I am reminded of past decisions and actions and their consequences. As well, it becomes more apparent which issues I seem to be dealing with year after year and wondering if they will ever significantly shift.
If I look at aspects of life that way, it can feel discouraging, as if I am stuck in the same rut which I just keep circling around. But in truth, some shifts, albeit minor sometimes, have occurred and I can see that when I shift to that spiral perspective of life.
For example, in many ways I am a dabbler in a variety of areas of interest. You may have noticed this by now if you have been following my blog. I will learn about something, apply it in some way to my life for a period of time and then move on to something else that catches my attention. My harsh inner critic might ask why I didn't just stick with something to see what a long term outcome will be. That kind of hindsight perspective is not particularly helpful, because I can't change that past decision.
When I think back on the many different approaches I have taken towards the goal of improving my health and vitality in the last several years, I can react similarly. I've tried this thing, and that thing and then something else. But, if I look down from my current level in the spiral, my learning of each new approach or technique has built on previous ones, so that my overall knowledge about how my body works is significantly improved. It may be true that I have not yet achieved my expected goal or found the magical solution, but each step on the path has led me to another.
And, to be fair to the rut view as well, sometimes it takes years to recognize, acknowledge and then deal with negative repeating patterns in our lives. So, what's my point here? Don't give up on yourself. You have probably come further than you thought on your spiral of change. Life is cumulative. Perspective matters. I challenge you to test out these ideas by examining some area in your own life which, on the surface, never seems to shift. Circle back on change and look again.
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