Life as art...a balancing act
I look at " life as art ". It makes sense to me that the very act of being requires creativity and can improve with self-reflection. Reading, meditating and experimenting have allowed me to put together a holistic , creative way of balancing life. I have created a mindmap of the areas in my life in which I want to be sure to develop and unify.
When you are creating art, it is always good to take a step back and reflect on it, asking whether it needs color, a certain linear quality, a better balance. These are some of the elements and principles of art.
The elements of design are line, form, color, value, texture and space. These concepts are organized by the principles of art . The principles of art are balance, movement,repetition contrast, emphasis, balance, pattern and unity. So, I decided to apply these elements and principles to the big art of my life and see what would happen!
The materials that I build my life with are artwork, spiritual growth, physical needs, intellectual development, relationships, environment (surroundings) and riches (both financial and other). I knew it would be difficult to remember these areas on a daily basis, so I made them into an acronym, ASPIRER. I like that word , so I remember it easily.
Each day, I plan my activities and goals around these seven areas. Some occur more often than others, but I generally touch base with each of the areas at least once a week. No real pressure, just a gentle reminder to balance myself with my goals. Kind of a visual nudge, I guess.
Color is constantly influencing me from choosing what to wear, to creating an appetizing meal, to seeing a rose -to -lemon sunrise on my way to work! Its broad spectrum and depth delight me everywhere I look! Color changes in relation to its surroundings. This brilliance of color color and its changeability cause me to be aware of the corresponding qualities in my life. It reminds me, also, how who or what I am near to has a great influence on how I perceive things!
Color, anyone?