Hi, I have been failing since 2008 to establish a reliable morning and evening meditation practice. That is, until the first 3 months of this year. As a consequence, though so far 2016 has been “normal” externally, my perception of daily reality has changed:
[ Your Experience of Reality = (External Circumstances) X (Internal Perception) ]
You may enjoy reading below about this simple equation and its implications. I also share some portraits, paintings and the news that I’ve started working with the Google Cultural Institute.
Be well, and as always hit reply if so inclined!
Miguel
PS: if this is the first time you receive my seasonal update, see here why I do this.
—Portraits in Progress:
To give you a peek at the creative process this time I’m sharing all works in an incomplete state. And well, sometimes they look better than finished!:
“Untitled”, charcoal over canvas panel.The little niece:
Comte chalk on paper.This model is always available for weekend practice:
Self-portrait, oil on canvas panel.Want more art? You can follow my journey on Instagram: miguelmayher@
Perspective:
“If it is considered “normal”, it must be suboptimal”
“It takes brains to be a realist. It takes guts to be an optimist. It takes nothing to be a pessimist.”
“A little intelligence, without wisdom, is a dangerous thing.”
Article:
Improving Daily Life Without Changing Your Circumstances.
[ Experience of Reality = (External Circumstances) X (Internal Perception) ]
If that equation holds roughly true, what contribution to your experience of daily life would you allocate to external circumstances vs internal perception: 50/50? 80/20? 20/80? Keeping that split in mind, what percentage of your daily hours are you allocating to improving each? The answer is bound to surprise you. Click here to read the full article.
Mini Paintings:
These are practice still lives, oil painting over canvas panel (18×12 cm) completed in one sitting, as a way of relearning color:
Her pretty Converse
East n West
Pirate Pillow.Learnings from Documentaries:
After a long pause from proactively intaking information, I have started again, so let me share some golden nuggets. Have you come across non-mainstream ideas worth sharing?
– Why Greatness Cannot be Planned: “You cannot find things by looking for them” – Kenneth Stanley. A Computer Science perspective on why goal setting is misguided.
– The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: “I don’t like honours, I appreciate it for the work that I did… I don’t need anything else… I already got the prize which is the pleasure of findings things out, the kick in the discovery – those are the real things!” – Richard Feynman. A physicist Nobel prize winner shares his views on learning.
– Jiro Dreams of Sushi: “I fell in love with my work and gave my life to it. Even though I’m eighty five years old, I don’t feel like retiring.” – Jiro Ono. A three star Michelin master shokunin (artisan) devoted to perfection through making sushi.
Now
At The Lab in Google’s Cultural Institute in Paris.I have started working with the Google Cultural Institute to digitize humanity’s cultural heritage. If you have director-level contacts in European based cultural institutions (existing partners include from Tate Modern London to Musee D’Orsay) please do drop me a line.
Next
I will be traveling in the next 3 months to Toulouse, Berlin, TelAviv, Granada and Madrid. Possibly San Francisco too. Let me know if around and up for a brainy breakfast
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