In Buddhism, a mandala is a beautiful, intricate, circular sand painting of many colors that depicts the relationships among the celestial bodies in the cosmos and represents the turning of the wheel of fortune. Jungians say a mandala can be a depiction of the parts of the self, united in harmony and balance. It’s an exquisite symbol that visually renders the cycle of life, from birth to death to birth again. Yet, after spending countless hours creating this work of art, the one who has designed it and meticulously laid the colored sand will sweep it away, obliterating the carefully constructed lines. As the image of the mandala fades into memory, its creator reflects on the impermanent nature of everything we experience.

When dramatic shifts occur in our lives, we can become nearly paralyzed with fear, anger, grief, and resentment. We enter a state of shock and forget that with loss comes rebirth. On some level, we understand that we must design a new life, a new mandala, but we struggle between trying to figure out what we want to do next and being overwhelmed by the intense emotions associated with loss. Clinging to the past, we resist the opportunity to embrace the creative process that requires us to let go of the mind’s limited way of thinking about ourselves and the situation at hand. But if we can find the courage to enter this process, to experience the state of consciousness Buddhists call “open mind,” accessing our deepest, or core, creativity, we can begin to tune in to what we most want for ourselves. You can ensure that your new life is in sync with your deepest values. You can let go of your attachments to what was and what you thought would be. You can choose to let go of fear and trust that a palette of many colors, some of which you may never have seen before, will be available for creating a new mandala: a new life of beauty that’s in harmony with the song of the soul.

Step 1: Let Go

The art of creative transformation begins with the willingness to be mindful of your hidden resistance, examine it, and break it down so that you can sweep it away like sand on a doorstep. If unwanted change has occurred, you’re likely to become angry or upset, and struggle to regain what’s been lost. You might find yourself closing your eyes to any other avenues available to you, and obsessing about the past and reclaiming what was once yours. This resistance blocks you from recognizing that what lies ahead for you might actually make you happier than you’ve ever been. If all signs point to the need for change, it’s important not to deny them and cling to the status quo even as it’s slipping away.

Step 2: Tune In

The second step in the creative process is tuning in and listening to the wisdom of your soul by achieving open mind, the state in which core creativity takes place, beyond the limitations of the mind’s thought processes. Whenever you reconnect to this core, authentic self through open mind, the temporary circumstances of life stop distracting you.

To master the art of change, you must stop identifying with this false self, which insists, “I can’t,” “I shouldn’t,” and “I’ll never” and wants to replace what’s lost with something that feels familiar. You must instead identify with the soul and its calling, a calling you can only hear in a state of open mind. Your brave, authentic self urges you to let go of your fears, take risks to live more deeply and fully, and take the leap to achieve your destiny. By accessing your soul, you’ll unleash the driving force of your passions, and send yourself sailing into uncharted waters and climbing new mountains. Trust in this journey and know that when the fog of uncertainty parts, the way will be clear and you’ll be exactly where you need to be.

Step 3: Move Forward

In the third and final step in the art of creative transformation, you’ll learn how to further hone your mandala, altering it where necessary and putting the finishing touches on this work of art—and you’ll learn to recognize when it’s time to sweep it away. Accepting that discomfort and suffering are a natural part of life, you’ll understand that happiness ebbs and flows, and that you can’t be a Zen master at all times. You’ll never be able to fully eradicate the little voice in your head that harshly judges you with thoughts such as, “You’re no good” or “You’ll never succeed.” In many ways, this voice is like an undertow in the ocean, trying to pull you out to sea and away from what you want. To be successful at surging forward, you have to learn not to be sucked into the undertow, and instead to “surf with the saboteur,” that nay-saying inner voice. Having received the wise counsel and the creative ideas of people you respect and trust, you can use your mindfulness meditation practice to connect with your authentic self and determine the best course for you.

So open yourself up to mastering the art of creative transformation, to sweeping away the old mandala, whose sands may have already begun to blow away in the winds of change. Trust in this process, which you’ll always have available to you when you need to work with the sands and the winds that are a part of life.


excerpt from Wise Mind, Open Mind by Ronald Alexander