Empty your Cup, Fill Your Well

A Cup of Tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master, received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Ahh, yes. This teaching has come to me in many different forms this year, and I’m slowly learning to listen. Whenever I see themes coming up over and over in my daily routine, I know its time to slow down, and pay attention to that feeling. Over the past few years, I feel as though I’ve been going through a period of my life that could be called, "The Great Awakening of Emme", or "Emme: Becoming a Renaissance Woman", or "How Emme Got Her Swerve On", Or how about: " Emme: The Story of How One Woman Discovered She Was Stuck in a Box, and How She Got Out of It." I’ll be sharing more of this story over the next few weeks and months as this blog develops and I get brave in sharing just like I am encouraging all of you to do!

One thing I definitely wanted to share with all of you is this: I am absolutely passionate about encouraging each and every one of you to believe in yourself, your passions, and your dreams. Bottom line, I want you to know in the depths of your soul that you are enough, just as you are, right this minute. I want you to believe that your work as writers, photographers, artists, beginners, dabblers and dreamers can and WILL brighten someone’s day if you reach out to connect with those around you, online and in "real life". I know that so many of us in this online community are on the same interior journey, wanting so much to find a way to live our passions, our dreams, and to make a real difference in the world. The Found Art Project is all about providing a space for you to do that.

The story above is a little food for thought that I’ll leave you with this weekend. Is there anything in your life that is taking up too much room? Maybe just doesn’t fit right anymore? What can you let go of , in order to make room for something new to come in? Perhaps its an old thought pattern, old belief systems that are holding you back from standing in your own power. Perhaps its something more tangible, like too much clutter in your home that steals your happiness and zaps your energy everytime you look at it. (I'll be talking about this more in the future, with 4 kids under age 10 in a small house, I am personally very well acquainted with the clutter monster!) Too much TV? Dare I say, too much internet time? (Personal cringe of recognition here!)

These are things that fill your cup, but drain your well. Your well of creativity, your well of personal power, your well of believing in yourself.

This weekend, see if you can spend just 1 hour (or more!) doing something creative that you absolutely love that you’ve been putting off. Fill up your well this weekend with love, whimsy and lots of rest and play.

Don’t forget to leave a comment in Wednesday's Post in order to be entered for the drawing! So far, the odds are pretty good! :)

Today, I’m reposting Jodie’s painting, in new and improved format! For some reason, the file was acting wonky and we weren’t able to see ALL the loveliness! I love it even more now!Please consider sending something in of your own. It may be exactly the thing someone needs to see that day. I'd be honored to post your work!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!