I’ve devoted a chapter of my book, Becoming a Sun, to Taking Action. Of course, Taking Action isn’t a virtue in your life unless it is an intelligent action. There are so many factors that have to align in our human experience for any action to be productive. And still, act we must if we are to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

I’m inspired by these words from Shakespeare. They speak to the need for timely action:

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There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

That was Brutus in Julius Caesar. He was considering the fate of the Roman Empire. But for things large and small in a human life, timely action is the difference between success and failure.

The impulse to act is a fickle thing. I have found this writing songs. In an off moment, a tune comes into my mind. Not a whole song, just a little one-line melody. Walking down the street, it just wanders in! Maybe I give it a whistle. But soon, I’m on to other things. And sometimes it doesn’t come back.

On another day, I hear a tune and I run into the house. I sit down at the piano and work out the notes. I write it down on staff paper. Or into my music notation program. There it is – not only the little tune I first whistled, but the whole song behind it! The verses, the chorus and the bridge. Words and music, and finally the accompaniment.

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So when I lose a little tune that has slipped in and out of my mind, I wonder, What else have I lost?

Steven Spielberg says this about the inspiration to act:

When you have a dream, it often doesn’t come at you screaming… Sometimes a dream almost whispers. The hardest thing to listen to – your instincts, your human personal intuition – always whispers, it never shouts. Very hard to hear. You have to, every day of your lives, be ready to hear what whispers in your ear. It very rarely shouts.

The creative urge has been called a still, small voice. Taking your own creative urge seriously enough to act on it separates you from the mediocre and the unexciting. It confirms that you are a creator. It makes a statement to the world – and to yourself – about the unique being that is you.

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I just returned from Norway, England and Wales, and then British Columbia, Canada. I followed my own creative urge to meet people around the world and give my gift. To be honest, I’m not really the kind of person who seeks travel in his life. In many ways, I’m a homebody at heart. But I listen to the urge within me. And so I find myself traveling the world.

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know that I’ve made a difference in another person’s life. When I see someone with a smile on the face at the end of the workshop and I know they’ve experienced something they never have before, it’s all worth it.

I believe that taking action on the creative urge within us is a habit. It is a muscle to be exercised, which grows over time as we work it. And when we develop the habit of acting on the creative urge within us, we feed our heart and soul in a way that no one else can for us. It impacts our psyche. We are valuing who we are and what we have to give to the world.

So how about you? What is the still small voice that is calling you to act now? What is the tide that has come in for you? What is the dream that you are called to live today?

 

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laurance mendes
laurance mendes
May 25, 2016 1:46 pm

Brilliant again. I would call muscles that live musically “musicles.” I sense that I will write music called that. Also a variation on musicals. I am knowing a joy right now, I feel loved by creation, in the Spring of it all. Becoming A Sun is magical reality. I clear my clouds so that my Sun can shine. Today I met 2 new folk separately and was transported to a new place. I was in the right place. Far more shining to do. Thank you.

Michel Vaillancourt
Michel Vaillancourt
May 25, 2016 1:56 pm

Dear David,
How great it is to touch your spirit through these writing.
The love of life being express as you share with us your travel experience is an inspiration to us.During your many ventures, I kept love though flowing toward you and the blessed one offering support in your quest to invite people to transcend their limits.
As for myself,I have been inspiring my immediate world to let go of the limits the mind is setting for us, acting on the heart, creating a feeling of fear that has no basis in our reality.I have been giving the still small voice room to have it place in the present moment, inspired by The seven steps to the temple of Light. I have felt the tide of love overwhelm my being as I have stood still in the beautiful nature that surrounds us in this blooming spring unfolding.
I have dreameth that my spirit was being fused with my divine being and that my words and actions were a true blessing to my world, transforming it into a heavenly creation, allowing people to feel the intense pleasure life has to offer.I am touching the tip of this amazing dream and it has and is becoming my present moment, So blissful.

Thank you for sharing your stimulating action with me, I am privileged to be connected to you in such a loving way.

I know that the next few mounts will be full and challenging for you and all the wonderful angel surrounding you at Sunrise Ranch. My love and blessing will be with you during those creative events.
One with You,
Michel

Irene de Groof
Irene de Groof
May 26, 2016 3:02 am

Dear David

I feel and experience my dream in everyday Life , listening to the small voice inside of me .
Today it was do the garden and paint a wall ..as I did
My garden is gently growing , with also birds and butterflies who are coming in , {also in a methaforical way }
As tonight I cook a lovely meal for a new friend etc .
It resonated with me when you said “There are so many factors that have to align in our human experience for any action what is productive “Yes !

Thank you for the invitation for the workshop of becoming a Sun , it would be lovely to be at the Ranch.
This time I need to take care of my finances so I cant make it .The dentist need to be payed and some old things need to be replaced
There is lots to do here also taking care of a sick old friend who brought E.D.L in The Netherlands .

Anyway I feel gently happy and thank you for your inspirational words .

Love Irene

Margaret Gunn
Margaret Gunn
May 26, 2016 4:01 am

Dear David
It is good to read your words at a time when those shallows and miseries are with me having lost a fight with my Council to stop them selling public land next to my property which I wanted kept open for trail use.
Now to see if State government policies regarding saving open space have any ability to over turn Council. Not going down without a fight!
Thanks again
Margaret

Marion Carlisle
Marion Carlisle
May 26, 2016 6:12 am

Dear David,
I was very nourished and empowered by your Healing Chant day in Llanrihan, West Wale recently. Now, reading your insights and the quote on timely action, I’m struck how it sheds light on my actions this week, which were not timely. Yes, listening within for an alignment to emerge, would be more intelligent than just following my restless ego that says ‘OK, lets do it now!’

Many threads have returned since attending your workshop and indeed, I notice the small yet strong intuitive voice within again that urges me to EXPAND into new creative areas. It is so important to listen and honour this voice, because the form and outer action is still not clear.

How lovely that you are a pianist and write songs from snippets that come to you. The piano is also where I’ve gone to compose music inspired by nature, and write songs from a first line that just seems to pop up.

I will be ordering your book.
Peace and timely actions to you and your community,
Marion Carlisle

Kari Bye
Kari Bye
May 30, 2016 1:56 pm

I found a new friend. Or did she find me? We both seem to have that in common that we have learned and experienced a lot about trusting the creative urge within. Listening to that still small voice, and feeling the strength coming with it, to act on what we have to give the world.

Moira McDougall
Moira McDougall
June 6, 2016 2:36 am

Oh that my Still Small Voice within would feel free to ROAR! Thank you David, for your response to the creative urge within you, which becomes a gift you so willingly share! Love, Moira.

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