Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life Part 2 of 20: Living Creatively
March 31, 2009 by dr. lam
The 6th Verse of the Tao Te Ching:
The spirit that never dies
is called the mysterious feminine.
Although she becomes the whole universe,
her immaculate purity is never lost.
Although she assumes countless forms,
her true identity remains intact.
The gateway to the mysterious female
is called the root of creation.
Listen to her voice,
hear it echo through creation.
Without fail, she reveals her presence.
Without fail, she brings us to our own perfection.
Although it is invisible, it endures;
it will never end.
I particularly love this verse because I can relate to it so very well. I have a tremendously creative spirit that I feel is unbounded. I also have a great feminine sensibility about me, i.e., I am sensitive to people’s emotions and thoughts more than many of my male colleagues, peers, and friends. I am very much attuned to my creative and my “feminine” side. I think Lao-Tzu is focused on seeing ourselves as infinitely creative and who do not perceive boundaries to that creativity. I recall so many people seeing my paintings that I made that adorn the walls of my office and of my building and say, “Wow, I would never feel so confident to put any of my paintings for others to see.” I thought, “Why not?” It never even occurred to me that someone else’s judgment of my art even mattered.
I think as children we are infinitely creative and are rewarded for our creative input. As adults, we are so berated by other people about what is considered good or bad, that we become introspective and reclusive in our opinions and thoughts. I am not entirely immune to this, but I exercise a profound and unfettered creativity in my artistry as a plastic surgeon (obviously with your assent and consent) as well as in almost everything that I do.
Today when you go out look at a child and see how a child is unrestricted in his/her creative energy that is almost inexhaustible and not bound by societal dictates and constraints, by gender norms, or by arbitrary standards of quality. Then go out today and free your creative sensibility and get in touch with your feminine nature whether you are a man or a woman. It shouldn’t matter. Think of how you will express your own creative energy through a vibrant individualism that radiates to others. Live creatively.
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17 Responses to “Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life Part 2 of 20: Living Creatively”
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That’s it, o.k., I do see that. (the feminine side) The most excellent obgyn I ever knew was someone I would have described as having strong feminine nature–it was all Yankee candles, Mint Milanos and a very Tuscan office. He was also unattractive physically and not at all alpha, not a tad. (Hope it’s o.k. to say Dr. is attractive and maybe a tad (ha!) alpha.)
Dr. L, zap this entry of mine if it’s too goofy.
Intriguing topic!!!!!!
Have a great day!!!
i like it. there is a great topic coming up in a couple of weeks on “feminine” leadership. it is really good.
it is weird that we just talked about the feminine stuff yesterday and here is another blog on it. don’t worry, there are only a handful on that subject.
This is a really good post!
I really liked that point about kids having unrestricted creative energy and that this is encouraged in childhood, but that when we become adults we are influenced by what other people think is good or bad. I also think that one of the reason’s why men in general don’t have this “feminine” side is that they possibly feel like society considers it as not macho (it is macho though), and thus they feel like they have to stifle their creativity in this area. Just a theory.
Dr. Lam, it shows that you have a really good self identity that you aren’t influenced by society in this way. That was a really good example about your art.
I think though that the mere fact of calling this creativity “feminine” predestines this concept to be viewed as a feminine quality though. Just my thought..
Hey, I love that living creatively idea!!! Very well put! I’m trying to be more creative in life.
Thanks, Dr. Lam, for this great post!
Excellent points, Heather. One thing I like about you a lot is that you are honest here(and fun, sweet, smart). Like saying you want to be more creative, I really appreciate that. Too often we wish to paint a perfect picture of ourselves, the truth a Dorian Gray tucked in the attic. I desire to be more creative, as well. But I do have presence!!:P (I’m poking fun at myself-don’t look in MY attic!)
i am working on the concept at this point of my blogs coming up in a few weeks. i’ll share one related point (but won’t reveal the source): we as humans are separate from the animals because of one thing which is creativity of our imagination. it is what has helped us shape skyscrapers, build supercomputers, etc. if we look it like that we can do great things when we exercise our creativity!
Thanks, Nord!! That was sure nice of you to say that. That makes me feel really good. I will say that sometimes I am too honest, to a fault…lol I say things how I see them and sometimes it gets me in trouble.
Hey, Dr. Lam, I really liked your idea of people being creative in comparison to animals, but some animals are creative too, such as spiders; they make very creative webs….or well that actually may just be instinct. I also think that people have more than just creativity than animals, I mean there’s a conscience, there’s speech, there’s higher intellect…to name a few. But that was a very good observation and creativity is probably the number one main difference. I look forward to reading those blogs!!
There you go overblogging again..lol I think you’re going to have next years blogs done in advance..lol
i am actually just finishing 2011 and moving into 2012. is that overblogging?
I think that’s the definition of overblogging..lol
like i’m doing right now?
Yes, it’s one of those really rare addictions where someone is stuck blogging their life away..lol
thank goodness, i don’t have that problem.
Hey, at least you’re in a state of inspiration and that is all good!
Good night!
bonne notte!
[...] dr. lam placed an interesting blog post on Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life Part 2 of 20: Living …Here’s a brief overview(the feminine side) The most excellent obgyn I ever knew was someone I would have described as having strong feminine nature–it was all Yankee candles, Mint Milanos and a very Tuscan office. He was also unattractive physically and not … [...]
My comment just got wiped out when I tried to submit – ah well. Anyway, I love this verse! I understand it like this: that the feminine, life-giving, creative spirit is everywhere as seen all around us in creation (thinking of “Mother Earth” here) and that it will always prevail, no matter what destructive forces there may be. Trying to tap into this spirit is what will make us “perfect” as we are becoming part of this creative process.
namaste
sorry. yes. namaste!