Sometimes we see, hear or do something that changes our lives forever.  

Monet’s ”Water lilies” was one of those pivotal life experiences for me.  I was 12 when I first saw them at the Art Institute in Chicago.  They transported me into a world of color and depth that fed my soul and felt like home.

That visit sparked a life-long interest in Monet and his work. He was a man who took a challenge put before him, discovering a gift and a joy that would be part of his life forever.  Later, he founded the French Impressionism movement.  His life’s work and this particular style of expression inspired and influenced artists of his time and those that followed.

Currently, I’m reading Claude Monet’s biography.

I find it fascinating that he — who I associate with big beautiful ‘get lost’ in color artwork — actually started out with charcoal caricatures.

Story has it In 1856 Eugene Boudin invited him to come paint with him outside at 5 a.m.  Startled by this request, Claude laughs and responds,

“Why that early hour is unreasonable!!”

(my sentiments also).  Boudin responds, “Of course it is unreasonable!” He then tells Monet he’ll bring everything he needs — all the supplies, the easel, everything — all he needs to do is show up.

Eventually, he puts it as an outright challenge.  Boudin became his mentor and taught him to use oil paints as well as “en plein air” (outdoor) techniques for painting.

Thankfully for me, and much of the world, Claude Monet accepted that challenge. Once he got started, he never turned back and his new discovery and passion made him famous.  Wow! Thank goodness. I couldn’t imagine a world without Monet.

But what struck me about this story was Monet’s categorization of Boudin’s request as “Unreasonable.”

The definition of Unreasonable is “exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation, not guided by or based on good sense.”

Whether or not Claude actually said this, it started me thinking. What if he’d not taken the challenge? What if he’d let something stop him from getting up at O’too-early that morning?

How many wonderful things do we have because of those who have done unreasonable things?

Inventor’s sleepless nights, scientists exploring theories that others think are crazy.  Writers and artists battling their inner demons of an unnamed resistance – and  pursuing their creative inspiration and producing a completed work.  Entrepreneurs taking risks and being willing to fail, fail or succeed in front of everyone. Someone might think those things were unreasonable.

3 Take-aways from Monet:

1.  Take A Challenge.  There’s something in us that rises to a challenge.  It calls upon our superpowers, taps into a part of us that’s sleeping, and literally (and figuratively) wakes us up.  What can you present to yourself as a challenge to help you move forward toward your passion?  Maybe it’s simply the challenge of discovering  your passion?  If you’re stuck for ideas, start with a small challenge, like waking up 10 minutes earlier. Or if you’re ready for a big challenge, take a trip around the world.

2.  Be Equipped.   Boudin was equipped, thus so was Monet.  You need to have the ‘equipment’ and tools to succeed.  What do you need to equip yourself with for success in accomplishing your challenge? What resources do you need? Money? Time? People? Technology? Make a list!

3.  Try  “unreasonable” things.  This one is a biggie.

What can you do that might be a little unreasonable but could also be constructive in expressing your gifts?

Share your thoughts in a comment below – I’d love to cheer you on.

Just like Monet, if you answer the challenge, You might be surprised at the outcome — and history might be glad you did, too!

“If you knew how much work went into it you wouldn’t call it genius.” 

Michelangelo

Webster’s definition of vision : a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination. My definition: Vision is a combination of wishes, dreams and ideas with vivid imagination based in possibility.  There is a realistic edge to it, as wild as it may seem.

According to legend, an awestruck admirer looked at Michelangelo’s finished statue of David and asked him how he’d done it. Michelangelo replied: “David was always there in the marble. I just took away everything that was not David.”  Story has it the piece of marble was humongous “scrap” piece.

In 1501, when Michelangelo started his work,  he promised his patron to carve a statue from this block without cutting it down or adding other marble.

He knew what he was going for.

He had the vision of what “David’ was going to look like.  I imagine he felt the essence of it inside himself and the marble. We’re talking marble here, so  he must have had a deep knowing of what he was creating.

While this is a fabulous example of vision, it also makes realizing your vision sound easy.But easy is the furthest thing from the truth….

Having a vision definitely pulls you forward,  It can feel a little like being enchanted — you can’t stop walking towards it.

At least that’s how it can feel when your vision is clear.

However, when it’s not so clear, it feels more like a wrestling match than a walk into a beautiful enchanted meadow.

You might have an idea of what your vision or dream is, but it feels buried somewhere deep inside. Or you might not have a clue.

Either way, good chance there were times in your life when you wanted something and you made it happen. It was worth whatever it took to make ‘it’ a reality. You did the hard work and didn’t let anything stop you.

Realizing a bigger vision is a lot like that. Start by giving yourself  permission to imagine what your realized dream would look …

“Michelangelo worked with his hammer and chisel to remove the marble that was in the way of his vision of David. I believe we each have a masterpiece inside of us waiting to be revealed.”

Three Steps to Realizing Your Vision

1.  Get clear on your Vision. What makes your soul sing? What Big Bold Dream gives you a smile when you think about it?  Think about a time in your life that     you had a goal and you made it happen. Perhaps this was a trip, a surprise for someone you care about, something you wanted to own.

2. Get clear on what it is not. Sometimes, when we think about what we don’t want it reveals what we do. Write a negative list, and then reverse it.

3. Taking away what it is not. What do you need to let go of in your life?

What vision is inside you waiting to be brought into reality?

What step are you on?  How clear is your vision?

Please share in a comment below. I would love to hear!