How to let go and find your balance - a lesson from Painting

When I paint, I never know exactly what will appear on the canvas. I don’t start with a fixed image in mind. Instead, I trust the process, allowing the colours, shapes, and movement to emerge organically.

Of course, I use my knowledge about composition, values, hues, and focal points. But this isn’t what drives the painting. Instead, I see that as my left brain creating a safe container, a framework that allows my right brain - the intuitive, creative part - to flow freely.

'Ocean Bliss', with its organic shapes, softens and creates a sense of balance in this very organised space.

Structure and Surrender

This balance of structure and surrender feels like a metaphor for life itself. We learn skills, develop strategies, and create plans. But if we hold too tightly to control, we can stifle the very thing we’re trying to create. Real flow - whether in art, work, or life - happens when we trust what wants to emerge.

When I paint, I enter a state of presence. The mind quiets. Time dissolves. A sense of bliss takes over. It’s in this space that I feel most connected - to myself, to nature, to something beyond words.

A Reflection for You

What if we approached life this way? What if, instead of trying to control every outcome, we allowed space for intuition, for presence, for what naturally wants to unfold?

I invite you to experiment with this idea. Whether in a conversation, a project, or even a simple walk, notice where you might let go of control and trust what arises instead.

How do you balance structure and spontaneity in your own life?

Warmest wishes

Kirsten