What is Your Nature?

Weekly wisdom to level up your creative life in 3 minutes, for free.

A SHORT STORY

I once had a conversation with a Sanskrit scholar in India, where we delved into the meaning of the word "dharma." While it's commonly translated as "duty," he shared a deeper interpretation: "nature."

In the Bhagavad Gita, when Krishna asks Arjuna, "What is your dharma?" he's essentially asking, "What is your nature?"

Recently, I've been reflecting on this question. In my youth, I wanted my nature to involve making a significant impact. However, with hindsight, I realize that desire is universal and part of being human.

Now, I realize that it's possible to think your purpose revolves around making an impact, only to discover that your true calling could simply be being the right person for someone else in a single moment. And that, in itself, can be the most profound gift.

In my own experience, I remember a moment in my twenties when I sought guidance from my acting teacher, Janet Zarish. Obsessed with making an impact, I asked her whether traveling the world would affect my career, and should I consider focusing more on work rather than life? Her response resonated deeply with me.

She said, "You know, Michael, one day you will get a Broadway show, and it will close. You will be on TV, and it will end. And at the end of the day, all you have is your life. So, go live your life, and the rest will take care of itself."

In that moment, Janet was the right person for me, granting me the permission to embrace my nature. Thereby, giving me the greatest gift of all. 

Who was a person that gave you permission to pursue your own nature? How can you show up that way for someone else this week?

A CREATIVE TOOL

During our fourth laboratory for Theater Mitu’s (holy) BLOOD we began exploring the construction of blood boxes to dilate the violence in the film. It was a moment that allowed us to explore the theatricality of the performance.

It revealed to us a way to reclaim the process and the piece as our own. I often find that as a useful tool in any creative process - asking one’s self - “How can I find own unique answer to this question, how can I make this my own?”

If you want to see us in action, tickets are on-sale now for our performances May 16th-25th!

A PIECE OF ART

“Continue” by Maya Angelou

My wish for you
Is that you continue

 Continue

To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness

 Continue

To allow humor to lighten the burden
Of your tender heart

 Continue

In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter

 Continue

To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined

 Continue

To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you

 Continue

To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely

 Continue

To put the mantle of your protection
Around the bodies of
The young and defenseless

 Continue

To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise

 Continue

To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected

 Continue

To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good

 Continue

To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit

 Continue

To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing

 Continue

To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name

 Continue

And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue
Eternally

Grateful,

Michael