DISCOVERING THE MASTERPIECE WITHIN

You can have a paint-by-numbers version of your life, or you can start with a blank canvas and create a masterpiece.

Jim Collins

One of the most respected artists of the Renaissance period is Michelangelo Buonarroti. In 1501, the Italian artist was commissioned to create a statue of the biblical David, the symbol for strength and courage adopted by the city of Florence. Thirty-eight years earlier, an artist by the name of Agostino di Duccio had begun work on the statue, but he mistakenly blocked the marble and soon after deemed the stone unusable. Thirteen years after Agostino's failed attempt, artist Antonio Rosselli was commissioned to salvage something of the marble, but he too believed it to be flawed. This same block of marble, nicknamed "The Giant," which had been stored for many years in the courtyard of a church, was presented to Michelangelo. He deemed the Carrara marble "spoilt" but still believed he could make use of the discarded Giant and create a masterpiece for the city of Florence to embrace. He worked night and day for nearly three years perfecting the piece.

Michelangelo chose to portray David as a muscular young man whose consummate beauty made him reminiscent of a magnificently structured Apollo from antiquity. David's facial expression showed a quiet confidence and intensity, while his body reflected a relaxed stance, poised and ready for his battle to begin. This depiction of the David was different from past portrayals, which focused on the young warrior's post-victory pose of serenity and pride, as he stood over a conquered Goliath. Michelangelo's intent was to capture David's overall character, strength, and courage, which he felt was a more inspiring portrayal than focusing on the end result of the battle.

Upon completion, the seventeen-foot, eleven thousand-pound statue was placed in the Palazzo Vecchio. Because of its magnificent perfection, Michelangelo was viewed as the greatest sculptor of his time by the Florentine people. He was only twenty-nine years old. When the brilliant artist was asked how he could have created such an amazing work of art out of a flawed, "unusable" block of marble, he replied, "David was underneath the excess marble all along; I simply had to free him. In every block of marble I see a statue, see it as plainly as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls which imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to other eyes, as mine already see it."

Michelangelo's vision for and creation of the David serves as a pertinent example of the immense potential we all possess. In the same way the master sculptor was able to visualize the masterpiece within the stone, we as human beings must be able to envision a masterpiece within ourselves. The work of art Michelangelo was able to free from the marble represents the masterpiece each of us is capable of becoming. The flawed excess marble and rough walls from which David was freed can be viewed as the negative belief patterns of self-doubt, guilt, shame, regret, and fear that hold us prisoner at various times in our lives. When we are provided with the correct tools, we are able to free ourselves from negative belief patterns and build into our lives the essential elements required to become a living masterpiece. Making the commitment to discover and develop our masterpiece within should be seen as one of the most loving, personal gifts we can ever give to ourselves. The fact that the marble was left discarded for nearly forty years, also reminds us it is never too late for us to begin the process of discovering the masterpiece within.

FEBRUARY 1992

The responsibility to discover the masterpiece within lies solely in our own hands. We must come to a crossroads in our lives, where we either make the choice to aggressively pursue the path of discovery or choose to settle for second best or far worse. For some, the choice may be made during a crisis, while for others, the light may go on in the stillness of their hearts with little or no fanfare. As fate would have it, in February of 1992, in two separate countries, the authors both made the pivotal decision to take responsibility for their past, present, and future life choices. No longer would we allow toxic people, toxic thoughts, or outside circumstances the power to influence us or steer us off the path of pursuing our dreams. We reclaimed the belief that there was a masterpiece to be found within us and stepped wholeheartedly back on the path.

February 1992: Claudia's Story

Some of my earliest memories as a child have to do with the excitement of going with my family to see movies at our local theater. One of my favorite films has always been The Wizard of Oz. I was eight years old the first time I saw the film at a classic film screening, and I will never forget the moment Dorothy, in sepia tones, opened her front door to the vibrant, breathtaking color in the land of Oz. In the days following, I remember deciding that if grand adventures could happen for Dorothy, maybe they could happen for me as well. I dreamed of traveling to far away lands, and I set my plan in motion. Curious as to how others had achieved success, I, as a third grader, began to devour all the available biographies in our school library. Honest Abe Lincoln, who walked six miles to return five cents; Helen Keller, who refused to be a victim to her blindness and deafness; as well as J.C. Penney, who started with only a cart selling his wares were a few of my preferred inspirational life stories. The thought occurred to me that if these people started from humble beginnings and achieved success in their lives, maybe I could as well. School...