New Age, Alternative,
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Opening
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Negative
Space
By Viola Nelson An
artist sometimes sketches a figure or the
shape of a thing by drawing the empty area
around it. By focusing on what is not there,
the artist's eye can better see and
create the shape of the solid object. This
technique is called using “negative
space”.
I
call “negative space” what goes
on in your life when you're busy trying
to put together the fabulous life you want
for yourself. It's what goes on in between
constructive efforts. It's the annoying
details that can cause mental stress and
anxiety - the things that really shape your
life in between constructive, energy-expending,
goal-oriented activities. You wish these
details would go away, but they don't
-they must be dealt with. But as annoying
as they are, and as unavoidable as they
are, they contain the seeds that could take
root and blossom into a great foundation
for your life or, if ignored, become the
elements that form the downfall lurking
to happen despite all your efforts.
Much
of life is negative space. The gap and worry
between the end of college and a satisfying
career and finding your true niche is negative
space. I've been floating around in
negative space for years. The days off of
working out when your body is resting and
restoring and really building muscle is
negative space. One day, you look and your
body has a different shape and form. Negative
space is what goes on when things are really
taking shape.
Sometimes
negative space is darkness. Deep, soul-searching
times of grief and solitude and inner searching
are negative spaces. These times of reflection
and inwardly seeking answers and resolution,
fighting through the pain of growth seem
like empty, painful times. What comes out
of this seemingly unconstructive personal
drought is often, and should be, healing,
reconfiguring, and strengthening. Like getting
good, restful sleep, time “off”,
not “on”, is what heals us. Negative
space shapes our lives.
Who
appreciates the hole in a doughnut? The
sweet meat of the doughnut takes perfect
shape around its middle. Without the hole,
the doughnut would be a different pastry...
It needs its negative space to be what it
is. Ironically, the hole in the doughnut
holds it together. The hole makes it whole.
Negative
Space article continued next page, click
here!
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