What matters most?
According to an article in Journey Christian News:
"Editing is eliminating that which is nonessential so the essential can show through. Lin Yutang wrote, 'The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.' When we stop trying to do it all, stop saying yes to everyone, then we can make the highest contribution toward what really matters. Editing is not about getting more things done; it is about getting the right things done. It does not mean doing less for the sake of less. It is about making the wisest possible investment of our time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential."
A guiding principle we should ask ourselves with each piece of art, and with our lives, is this: "What matters most?"
For me, I've whittled that question down to four pillars I try to focus my life around. They are the following:
1. Health. I exercise, eat responsibly and get enough sleep. Without our
1. Health. I exercise, eat responsibly and get enough sleep. Without our
health, it's hard to get the most out of life.
2. Family. Family is an essential ingredient to a fulfilling life. It doesn't
have to be blood relations. For some folks, it's close friends
or even their pets. But love matters in a well rounded life.
3. Faith. This relates to believing in something greater than yourself. For
some, it's a particular religious faith. For others, it's a feeling on oneness
with nature. Getting outside of yourself helps you focus on others and
the world around you.
4. Passions. Without art and creative expression I'd be an unhappy guy.
So, I've ruthlessly edited my life to amplify my passions. I've said no to
commitments that keep me away from the artistic passions that bring
me joy.
The article in Journey Christian News shared the following observation:
"As people age and approach their final breath, many of them discover the power of editing. They recognize what matters most, what will stand the test of time, and what is essential. Wouldn't it make more sense to edit our lives now, determining what is most important, rather than waiting until the end of our life?"
Do yourself a favor, with your art and life. Take a moment to sit down and mentally edit. For your art, ask yourself what you can edit to possibly enhance the work.
For your life, examine the things that are inessential. Ask yourself what life would look like if you edited those things out. Yes, some things are beyond our control. But you'd be surprised how much we do have dominion over.
The overlooked benefits of ruthless editing are better artwork and a simplified, more meaningful life. So grab a red pen, slash away at the unnecessary, and start creating the artwork and life you always dreamed of.
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