Map 1. How to Cultivate the Richness of Experience.
Map 1: a 20 mile bikeride, 5-15-21
I wrote down the question “How do I cultivate richness of experience?” in my journal during a self-led writing “retreat,” a first of its kind. I had set 5 days aside to write—- without a plan or objective. I had no problem taking four days to vacation but for some reason, this type of prioritization of self took a sort of herculean strength and courage. It brought up all of my worst fears and showed me what my mental structures were made of.
On the third day, I felt really sluggish and groggy, likely from fighting my demons for two days, and I jotted “how to cultivate the richness of experience” down in my journal and forgot about it. I decided to get some fresh air and move a bit, so I hopped on my bike and headed to my favorite coffee shop Cathedral Cafe in St. Johns, Portland.
To clear my head, I started consciously breathing using circle breathing. (I learned this is an important step to rewiring synapses. More below.) After about 30 or 40 minutes on my bike, I was feeling pretty good and I began to think about how to visualize thought forms. In my mind’s eye, I saw different colors, lines, and shapes representing the patterns of my thoughts. When I arrived at the cafe, I noticed a new art exhibition on the wall with an artwork entitled “Thought Patterns.” I couldn’t believe it. What serendipity!
Waiting for my coffee, I scrolled through Instagram and noticed two friends’ posts of beautiful art that I’d never known to paint. I was mesmerized and inspired. With coffee in hand, I sat down and started drawing with the pens I had brought. I immediately felt the limitation of this medium for what I wanted to express. I hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in 20 years, even though I loved it. Why? In short, a part of me believed painting was not productive and, thus not valuable. So, I never created space for it.
I finished my coffee and headed to the nearest art store with renewed vigor. I was in and out in 5 minutes, picking up many of the colors used above in two new-to-me mediums — watercolor and gouache. I also bought a lot of little tiny pens.
On the ride home, I thought of all the ways that creating visuals could actually improve my workflow, streamline communication, and improve my well-being and health.
When I got home, I noticed the question I wrote down in the morning and was in awe. How could a 20-mile bike ride spark such rich discovery and potential for a welcomed change in my life?
With my new paints, I made a map of my experience. The power of maps began to sink in. Maps can be a way to anchor an experience so the retelling can be easier.
The creation of the maps can lead to new revelations and connections. In this case, it looked to me like a newly rewired synapse. My experience and learning of the day seemed to sync with the research my colleague
Luea Ritter at Collective Transitions shared with me about stages to rewire a synapse:
Clear and cleanse a synapse: Let go of outdated or irrelevant mindsets or limiting beliefs. Awareness of these beliefs may be catalyzed by a new experience that brings up or triggers strong emotions.
Attune and restore: After updating beliefs to present moment experience, take time to rest, digest, and integrate the experience with moments of silence or stillness.
Activate and stimulate: Immerse self in a new undefined experience. States of exploration, curiosity, and movement help to activate and stimulate sensory organs and perception channels.
Rewire and reconnect: Rewiring synapses can happen through conscious movement, intentional actions, and intentional dedication that engages the senses.
Sensemaking and relating: There is a moment of relating by checking, correlating, and referencing previous experiences that can help give a new experience meaning.
For me, the bike ride became a type of moving meditation fueled by intention. I used drawing and painting as a form of sensemaking and reflection.