SCULPTOR OR SCULPTURE?
When we are talking about ourselves, about who we are, about what we commonly refer as “our lives”, are we sculptors or sculptures? Are we creators or creations? Or, are we both? We all could easily reflect about our lives and come to the conclusion that we are both. But I am not referring about our life in general; about what we have done in, or with, our lives; or what we have built externally in terms of finances, family, fame, image, profession, etc.; nor what we have accomplished professionally, artistically, or in any other way. To the contrary, I am referring to what we have built internally as us, as individuals, as human beings…who we really are inside. So, let me repeat the question more precisely: when we are talking about us as individuals, as human beings, are we sculptors or sculptures? Before you answer and to help you do it, I am going to tell you a story, which should give you a perspective on how to answer this question.
There was once a man of scarce resources, who had a normal life but who, since early age, started working on a piece of wood. Every day he would carve and work on his sculpture. After some time, someone who really liked his work offered him to buy it for a decent amount of money. The man was tempted to sell it but thought about it and finally decided not to sell it. He wanted to work more on it because he saw his work not as done but as a work-in-progress.
A few years passed, and again, he got an offer; but this time, the offer was for a lot of money. The offer came in a time where he could definitely use the money because of his financial situation; but, once again, he thought about it, and after much thought, he still decided not to sell and to continue on with his work. According to everyone around him, the sculpture was beautiful, but his only thought was the vast amount of time and effort he had put into it. Although he could really use the money this time, he was not able to let it go. He just wanted to continue with his work. To the contrary of everyone else, he didn’t see his work as beautiful or perfect but as a work-in-progress.
Many years passed, and once again, an offer was made that, under normal conditions, could not be refused. This time the offer was a very large sum of money, but the man did not even have to think about it. The answer was a resounding “no”. After so many years, there was no money that could pay for the amount of time, effort, love, and sweat that he had put into that piece of wood, which was the most exquisite sculpture in the eyes of everyone else. But, for him, it was not perfect, beautiful, or unbelievable. It had simply become a reflection of him…a part of him.
Now, think of that piece of wood as what you have been calling “your life”, as who you really are; and think of the man as yourself. Have you been continuously working on your ego, character, temper, identities, emotions, habits, prejudices, values, body, mind and energies? Have you been continuously working on yourself to be a better human being, to improve yourself at all times, to be the best you can be all these years? Or have you given up on yourself a long time ago and have gone the easy way by allowing your beliefs, family, work, society, religion, etc., decide who you are? If you have been saying or thinking: “An old parrot will never learn how to talk!” “This is how I am,” “I am who I am,” etc., then you are just reflecting that you are happy the way you are. If you are happy the way you are, if you are happy with the way your life is, if you are happy with the way things are, then you have given up on yourself completely, or at least partially.
We cannot talk about life as something external, something outside of us. We are life! For us to have a life, we must be alive. So, there is no difference between you and life. Therefore, we should never be satisfied with the way we are (our life is), or the way things are. If we stop working on us, we are actually partially dead, even if we are still alive. We just gave up on ourselves. Once you say that something is good the way it is, that is the beginning of the end! You may think you are fine the way you are, at least according to yourself, but will your spouse, children, coworkers, employees, neighbors and friends think the same? Are you making their lives miserable on some scale or form? Are you spreading your negativity, fear, resentment, jealously, envy, selfishness, etc., (your misery) around you with your words and actions? In other words, are you part of the problem or the solution?
Nothing or nobody should ever consider him/herself, or be considered, done, special, or complete. Everything should be considered work-in-progress regardless of how complete and/or beautiful it is because everything, especially us, always has room for improvement; and we still have the time, energy, and ability to cultivate and better ourselves, to make our life and the life of others better, to make things better, and definitely, to make the world better.
We spend all our lives trying to change the outside, so we feel comfortable and secure with ourselves. If one day we decide that we do not like our spouse, work, car, etc., then we change it for another; if we feel unloved, then we find someone to love us; and like that, we keep changing and changing the outside trying to fix issues that are not outside but inside of us. This is why we are always unhappy with our spouses, work, government, leaders, family, etc. If we really want to change what is happening to us, our experience of life, we must do so by changing ourselves, by looking inside, and not the outside. If we change ourselves, if we make our life pleasant, if we feel good, the ripple effect around us can, and will, be enormous. And today, during this challenging period that we are going through (COVID), it is the perfect time to reflect and make some very fundamental decisions that can change or transform our lives and the lives of so many.
So, let me ask you again: are you a sculptor or a sculpture? The easiest answer again is to say that we are both. This is true for everyone. We were sculptures before we were sculptors, if we ever were sculptors. It is true that we are the product of the sum of our life experiences, including the experiences with our parents, educators, mentors, institutions (religious, political, ideological, philosophical, etc.), and all other experiences in our lives. So, from that standpoint, we are all sculptures and will continue all our lives to be sculptures. But then the questions are: are you working constantly and incessantly on becoming a better person, a better human being? Are you, or your life, that piece of wood in the story? Are you cultivating yourself to make of your life (you) the most beautiful flower, the juiciest fruit or a priceless piece of art?
In the end, it does not matter what the answer is. The purpose of these questions posed here is to make you think and reflect deeply. In the personal development path (spiritual path), there are no regrets, remorse or guilt about what we have or have not done. There is only the opportunity for growth based on our experiences, on the lessons learned. Regardless of your answer, today is a new day, a new opportunity to be sculptors, to make our lives and the lives of everyone that we touch the most beautiful sculptures we can make. It is not about being perfect, it is about finding excellence in whatever we do. It is about finding the light insight of us and letting it shine and brighten our path and the path of everyone around.
We might not be able to change the world, but we can definitely change our world. As Mahatma Ghandi once said, "Be the change that you want to see in the world." Isn’t that enough? If we can change ourselves, we are no longer part of the problem, but become part of the solution. If we change ourselves, we will influence positively anyone around us. The ripple effect of that cannot be any less than a wonderful world for us and for future generations. Let’s start with our lives and become seekers of our true potential and endless possibilities. Let's be sculptures but, more importantly, let's become sculptors, true sculptors of ourselves and our lives. Let’s allow the light that we are to shine and brighten this world. Remember, what you think you are, you are not. What you do not think you are, you are!
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Author: Maurice Correa
Website: pathtoone.com
Blog: p2oblog.blogspot.com
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