An essential concept in design theory is the use of negative space: the area around and in between the subject matter. Basically, the idea is that what you leave out is as important as what you put in. For example, if I decided to paint a landscape, the spaces of sky and the deep shadows help support the shape of the trees. Even though the object (the positive space) is what people tend to notice, the negative space is what keeps the eye moving through and around the painting. The cooperation between the positive and negative spaces make the painting continually engaging.
The same can be said of the mind.
This past month, I found myself on an unexpected journey of fascinating concepts about the fundamentals of my beliefs. As I struggled to examine my mindset about God, love, humility, relationships and suffering, I become acutely aware that I needed to challenge my every thought. My mind moved through negative space where I struggled to write for I could not articulate the inner quest. What I held as foundational was as important as what I did not hold as foundational. The question What is left out? kept my mind engaged. As I transitioned from being the object to being the space around the object, I found myself on the precipice of reorientation of assumptions and beliefs.
Those negative spaces in my mind helped to form positive thoughts:
- Having a disease is just a physical condition under which I function. My suffering is not the object in my life’s painting; it is the negative space which helps to frame my portrait.
- My image is not only in the likeness of God, but I share that image with all of humankind. When I suffer, others suffer; and, when others suffer, I suffer. In our suffering, we share our humanity; just as in our joy, we share our humanity.
- The negative space around each person paints a picture of how they are joined to the next person. In return, they then become the negative space of the next person. Each one of us is the object and the non-object.
Let us begin to experience the world through our neighbor’s eyes; let their sorrows be our sorrows and their joys our joys.
I love your metaphor as I contemplated it. A tree observed as positive space looks very different through the seasons, green and full in summer, brilliant in fall, skeletal in winter, yet the same tree seen from the negative space looks very much the same. The essence and identity of the tree doesn’t change, the impact it has on our senses runs the whole range of human experience. We present ourselves very different depending on our ‘season of life’, but the core of our identity remains.
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As usual, Jasper, you offer an insightful and contemplative comment. I love your assessment of the seasons: We appear as if we are different. Yet, at the same time, we remain. Thank you.
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Impactful words as ever, rose. And your painting is beautiful, understated and magnificent at the same time.
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*Rose, excuse me.
Let us begin to experience the world through our neighbor’s eyes; let their sorrows be our sorrows and their joys our joys.
Also, I wish the world would take on that mantra…not an entirely new hope but always there.
Have a good day, Mrs.
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Me, too. I wish we would stop the ego-centric, narcissist lifestyle so prevalently touted in today’s world. So, I hope that I can continue to live my hope out in my own life.
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Yes.
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Thank you, Anita. Your compliments are humbling in all the right ways – for you are a well-crafted wordsmith, and I hold you in high regard.
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I appreciate that. You’re very kind.
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I like the idea of negative space to form positive thoughts and how they join us to the next person… Thx. JC
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Thank you. We do forget the we are the “not” to someone else’s “is.”
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This was fascinating. Sounds like the beginnings of a TED talk or something. I’ll read this again and let it soak in more.
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Thanks, Jerry. Kind of a grassroots’ non-expert TED talk. 😀
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I always love ya you silly girl 🙂
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A very thoughtful and intelligent post Rose 🙂 But my main reason for leaving a comment was to say ‘Well Done’ for offering to support Tammy with her ‘Power of One’ vigil on Thursday, my thoughts and prayers will be with the two of you 🙂
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Thank you and thank you. 😊
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You’re most welcome Rose 🙂
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
This is an interesting way to look at it. I hadn’t thought about it like this before. ~ Connie
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Thank you 😊
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