Pause A Moment

Eric Hoffer understood that our demand for immediate gratification in all things undermines our creative human potential. He points out that the action that occurs instantly is "characteristic of the animal world, where action follows perception with the swiftness of a chemical reaction."

Man, on the other hand, is a defective animal. It is because man had to compensate for his lack of inborn skills and sharp instincts that he became a creator.

"In man," Eric Hoffer writes, "because of his rudimentary instincts, there is a pause of faltering and groping, and this pause is the seedbed of images, longings, forebodings and irritations which are the warp and woof of the creative process."

It is the pause that matters most. Hoffer quotes Peter Ulich in order to underline the social and creative significance of the pause:

"Rarely is anything more important for the rise of civilization than the human capacity to put an interval between stimulus and action. For within this interval grow deliberation, perspective, objectivity--all the higher achievements of the reflective mind."

In other words, creativity is dependent upon "the damming up of impulses and cravings." By however much we act immediately on our impulses, by so much do we fall short of our creative human potential.

On the other hand, a lengthening of the pause between desire and action increases the likelihood of a truly creative response.

A lengthening of the pause may open the door to creativity, but only hard work will bring our talents to fruition. Hoffer had little faith in spontaneity and inspiration as the driving forces behind a great achievement. "Creative people believe in hard work," he writes. "At the core of every genuine talent there is an awareness of the effort and difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that by persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized."

Hoffer also wryly added that "it needs great effort to make an achievement seem effortless."

The Times They Are A Changing

It is probably true that most people dislike change.

However, what people are usually referring to when they say that they do not like change is that they do not like change for the worse. Rather than risking change that may have a negative impact on their lives, they resist change of any kind.

Unfortunately, in seeking safety in the "status quo," these people often sacrifice change for the better as well.

What's more, change is happening all the time and much of it is not in our control. Ultimately, it is how we respond to change that is going to determine our attitude toward life.

Most of us respond enthusiastically to positive change--a higher paying job, a new romantic partner, an improvement in our health, etc. It is the unpleasant changes in our lives that pose a challenge. 

Whether or not we heed the admonition to "do as a wise man should and prepare for ill and not for good," I have found the following suggestions helpful for navigating the turbulent waters of unexpected change:

• Hope for a better future. Hope can steel the human spirit when faced with challenging circumstances. It is important to remember that all change is transitory and that, if you play your cards right, you will have statistics on your side that things will improve.

• Play your cards right. If you are going to hope for a better future, it follows that it is vital that you make the right choices in your life. Sometimes the situation will call for action. Sometimes it may require you to hunker down and weather the storm.
  

• Have an unshakable conviction in the ultimate meaning of life. It is easier to accept your fate if you intuitively know that there is an ultimate meaning to your existence.

One of the benefits of steering by these guidelines when you are faced with unwelcome change is that you will grow more confident in your ability to handle whatever challenges the future holds for you. You will learn to sense the possibilities in change--even in change for the worse.

In other words, to paraphrase the poet William Ernest Henley, you will be the master of your fate and the captain of your soul.

Pastimes

A nostalgic view of the past is a consolation prize given to those who did not have the awareness to appreciate the event when it was actually happening.