Sep 10
30
Cocooning, Art and Reinvention
Last week I attended an art exhibition and was drawn to this charming picture by Graham Franciose. I love this concept of reinvention, which I believe is a process we must undertake from time to time if we are to survive and flourish through the different stages of life. There are always reasons to put off change but life is change, and it has a way of imposing change on us no matter our opinion on the subject – easier, I think, to be in control of change.
Here’s a short exercise to help you look at change and its possibilities for you, at whatever your current stage of life:
- Stand in front of a full length mirror and imagine you are meeting you for the first time.
- What can you tell about you just from looking?
- What traits do you perceive and why: self-assured or timid, friendly or intimidating, fun or serious, dependable or flighty, successful or just getting by, powerful or tentative, caring or cold?
- Would you want to get to know you better?
- Would you like to do business with you?
- Would you ask you for a date or like to go to a party with you?
Remember not to be more critical of yourself than you would a stranger, most of the people I deal with cut others a lot more slack than they do themselves, so be friendly! Most of us can give positive answers to some or most of these questions.
However, if what you see isn’t yet who you really are or want to be, it may be time for some cocooning and metamorphosis. Cocooning allows nature to make fundamental changes in the structure of life forms as a part of the cycle of life, and makes for very beautiful butterflies. Our advantage as humans is that we can make changes whenever we choose to, no need to wait on Mother Nature. So take some quiet time for yourself to decide on your current priority. Then make a plan and get started on your goal: learning something new, an exercise program, a spiritual change to make you more centered and happy with yourself, or even a new career.
Jean LeFebvre founded Panache Personal Color and Image Consulting in Austin, Texas to help you learn to make the most of every business and personal encounter. After many years as an interior designer Jean has returned to her roots to offer individual consultations, seminars and workshops on all aspects of personal color, image and wardrobing. Jean trained with image consultants Robert Pante and Earlene Herman and with makeup artist Robert Huerta to hone her image and color consulting skills. As a designer, she has a unique perspective on the architecture of the body and its visual communication.
