I have been painting this piece for the past two weeks, not because I had free time, but because life felt hectic.
A bit overwhelming even.
In the middle of all the chaos, something strange happened.
As the landscape emerged from a blank canvas, the stillness in the scene began to speak.
And through that silence, I heard three reminders.
1. “What if” is more important than “What next.”
What if Rajendra Chola built a temple by the Ganges with silent mountains standing guard?
I will never know if he contemplated this idea, but I am glad I asked that ‘what if’.
The rustic looking temple may look out of place in this landscape but then it is my world.
When stress peaks, it’s “what if” that rewires our thinking and keeps us going.
2. Stillness can be faster than hustle.
Rivers don’t rush, yet they shape landscapes.
Mountains don’t move, but everything around them does.
Progress is not always loud. Sometimes, it flows quietly without a to-do list.
3. The way to move a mountain is one rock at a time.
This painting reminded me about the power of that first step. The next one. And the one after…
One brushstroke at a time.
One section, one breath, one shift in attention.
Before you know it, you have built a world. Your world.
Sometimes, when life gets overwhelming, it’s not a sign to speed up.
It is an invitation to pause. (Or paint)
Or simply let the Stillness lead.
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