Finding unshakable peace in movement, not in stillness.

This is a short essay in reference to a painting called “Peace is a dance” I finished recently. It happens often that a vivid, symbolic image suddenly comes in my mind—one whose meaning I don’t fully understand yet. I then turn many of those images into paintings. And as I am painting each piece, I am slowly discovering what it really is about. It is usually connected to a theme that I am experiencing in my life, but might not even be aware of. Usually these images that pop up in my mind are telling me something that I need to learn or acknowledge at that moment in my life.

As I see it now, the image of this painting came to me as I was exploring the themes of facing changes, resistance to uncertainty, shedding worries about the unknown and finding a way to be steady in myself no matter what is going on..

There seems to be a persistent struggle, a contrast between what we strive for in life - stability, certainty, and what life continuously gives us - change, loss, a push to grow. It seems this is what it means to be alive- to face constant uncertainty and changes. And I feel that there is no way around. There is no trick in hacking the system, no way to outsmart uncertainty.

The real art and skill is not in controlling the chaos but in moving with it. Grounded in self-trust, guided by inner knowing and filled with childlike eagerness for what’s next..

As a human that’s wired for survival, uncertainty can feel so threatening. If we don’t accept the nature of things and go willingly into the unknown- we tend to find ourselves overwhelmed by anxiety. That tends to spiral down more with time and creates its own doom loop. It is challenging to break out of it and reconnect to inner resilience - the human spirit that persists, welcomes adventure and explores, rather than consumes, reacts and fears.

In my experience, it is really important to consistently keep track of where the focus lies. If I am moving from survival and worries or am I tapped into resilience and deeper knowing. Am I being strongly anchored in something that can withstand anything.

In the kind of world we live in - I find true peace to be an ongoing practice, not a pause.

I’ve been finding out over and over again that by clinging on to things I don’t save myself from losing them. Instead I lose my peace, my clarity and trust in myself.

What this painting has been reminding me is to accept that nothing ever truly stays still. Things don’t stay fixed. The dandelions are a great symbol of this. At first, I didn’t understand why dandelions appeared in the image in my mind, but I later realised they symbolise transformation—how a single flower becomes an abundance of new seeds. Even if it looks like the end, like death at first, it’s just the continuity of things..

I can either be resentful and fight the change or I can embrace the flow of things and move with it. Preferably graciously, but, let’s be honest, more often than not - incredibly clumsily. As long as there is progress in the right direction- who cares!?

Another message this painting has been giving me is to stop projecting my fears into the future. To become aware of the worries I carry and let them all be released. These were the first lines that came to me as I saw the image of the painting in my mind:

Let your worries go.

Let them

Like birds

Fly away.

It is certainly not easy, but with time and practice, definitely achievable. It has been many months on and off of me working on this painting. And in this time I have been consciously practicing exactly that - instead of focusing on all the ways things can go wrong or where some things might be against me, - bring the focus on everything that already is great and all the wonderful possibilities of the future. It has done wonders for me and how I show up in my life every day.

Again- not always easily, and often clumsily—but once I find my momentum, it’s the only way I want to live.

Of course fears keep showing up, and there might be some grief to move through. But we as humans have the incredible capacity to hold it all simultaneously. To be overwhelmed by grief, be consumed by fear and still let ourselves go on, put one foot in front of the other.

I believe we’re being harder on ourselves than we need to be. With all that we have been through we are still brave enough to choose life. To keep going. To live. To face things.

And in my experience - the more we let in softness and are gentle with ourselves - the more life responds with the same.

And if we take a closer look around - we can see that we are actually surrounded by immense well-being.

Real, lasting peace is not in control, predictability or comfort.

The most profound inner peace is found by moving with the dynamics of life. It is in openness, in flexibility, in being playful. It is in being with whatever comes my way, accepting it and deciding how I want to move further. Not reacting, but responding, being creative. Not to anxiously await the next hit, but be eager and dive into the unknown.

In the ever changing flow of things, is there ever a solid foundation we can rely on? And if there is - what is it?

This is something I’ve been reflecting on for a long time. And the answer I’ve been discovering is - Self trust. And trust in life.

The only way for me to live freely and at ease is by cultivating trust in myself. To be clearly grounded in my own values and live by them. To treat myself with deep respect. To connect to my inner knowing no matter what is going on around. And be assured that when I fall, I will pick myself up again. Even if it takes a long time, even if it is a struggle.

When nothing feels certain, I turn inwards.

There is something in me that feels timeless, boundless. There is a warm connection to the intelligence that created me, that created you and every living thing on this planet. I connect with it. I feel it is always there. That is the one thing that never changes. It is always there.

Always reliable,

Always at ease.

And it brings me at ease.

At least for a moment.

And then -

For a moment again..

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View the finished painting in gallery here

Watch a short film about this painting, the process of creating it and the themes it talks about  here on youtube

If this piece speaks to you and you would love to have it - you can sign up for early access here and be among the first to know when the limited edition prints become available.