Understated

Claude Monet, Haystacks at Sunset, 1890-91, Oil on Canvas

When it came to the letter "U" the word understated immediately popped into my mind, in relation to my theme. Utilizing understated writing is a big challenge these days. Our world is noisy--cluttered even. We all want to be heard. When ego comes to the fore the tendency to go big infiltrates many aspects of writing. Nowhere is it bigger than book cover copy and blurbs...well actually there's quite a list.

Being a yogi, I prefer the understated. In yoga there is plenty of time for enjoying quiet and cultivating stillness. People desiring a big bang for their buck, will be sorely disappointed with yoga. The benefits are subtle but powerful if you park your ego at the door.

One of the more subtle thinkers that has attracted my attention is Eckhart Tolle. He is well known for his book The Power of Now. Within its pages, Tolle leads us towards truth and light, through deeply-heartfelt spirituality. If you listen to Tolle, and watch some of the footage of him doing his work, immediately you'll discover how understated he is in his life and work. Here is a video of him teaching a young seeker:

Notice how quietly and gently he speaks. There is much talk and celebration around the breakthroughs possible through understanding The Power of Now but I remain very partial to A New Earth, which attempts to help us transcend the loud chatter presented by a busy ego-centered life.

Another understated thinker, spiritual guide and writer is don Miguel Ruiz. His thin book, The Four Agreements shows that we don't have to write massive tomes to touch the lives of many. His book is massive in its Toltec Wisdom but spare and understated in style and form. Its contents reverberate and resonate rather than resorting to shouting. I wrote about the transformative impact his and other works were having on me last fall in the post Welcoming Change.

Going to art museums or if worse comes to worse, looking through art books, is also a peaceful endeavor, particularly when looking at older work. There are some understated paintings that I have gone to repeatedly for contemplation dispersed through this post. Relax and enjoy!

                                          Andrew Wyeth, Braids, 1977, Tempera c. Andrew Wyeth

Portrait of a Lady, Rogier van der Weyden 1460, oil. Photo credit: Google Art Project

Notes on my Theme:

This post is written for the 2015 A to Z Challenge. During this challenge, participating bloggers post once a day, in alphabetical order. This is done 6 days per week. Sundays are off. My theme presents words that are exciting. These words serve as thematic motifs in my writing. My theme also revolves around exclamation points. The words I've chosen to explore can replace or stand alone from the dreaded exclamation point, which writers are urged to avoid.