The Brightest Bear (Blog)

[Steve Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

The Brightest Bear

[Alex]

Steve, you are a good daddy. *High Five!* Great success

[Athena]

cuutee!! great story. now that the bears are taken care of, next up is a wall of eagles?

[Erin Pavlina]

Actually I printed out a cartoon of a whale and she has begun making whales for me. I have two over my bed now. I love them! So Steve is going to have to wait on the eagles, and after she does the eagles, I'll need some owls.

[Glass Joe]

great blog entry.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Additional generic positive complement, Steve.

[tracyrtwyman]

The traced bears look more like brown elephants to me. Which reminds me ...

Do you remember the part in the story of The Little Prince, when the main character draws a picture of a boa constrictor that has swallowed an elephant, and when he shows it to an adult, he's told that it looks like a hat?

[Steve Pavlina]

The original model for the traced bear image was a wooden figurine I bought in Sedona -- it certainly wasn't an accurate replica of a real bear.

[Andrew Russell]

(Some of them look a bit like ant-eaters )

I thought it was the kid's job to make up the stories about their bear cut-outs?

Actually, to me it looks like all the traced bears have their heads down, plodding along slowly. While the unique bear has his head down, charging a path through all the others.

Good work, Steve - you've invented a "Rorschach Bear Test"

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina, 'The Brightest Bear'

The traced bears are very puzzled by the middle bear. [...] Why is he so rounded and not as chiseled?

Because he needs to hit the gym and pump some iron.

Seriously though, that's one damn good bear drawing. It may not be photo realistic, but it really spurs the imagination and has many elegant elements. The way that the fur is drawn adds texture and depth to the drawing, the rough edges add detail and frame the drawing, and the legs have good placement and proportion. You can easily imagine the bear standing up on its hind legs and coming to life.

I’d find it fairly difficult to draw a bear as well as that because I’d be focusing on trying to draw something photo realistic instead of creating something unique and actually expressing myself. I’d be trying to draw what I think a bear should look like instead of what I see when I think of a bear. And I believe the two are vastly different. The former drawing would be empty -- it would have no soul -- while the latter would represent a part of the artist who created it and act as a window into the soul. Which reminds me of something Johnny Depp said about acting:

With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it.
There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting. It's lying.
~ Johnny Depp

It goes to show that there is much one can learn from a child in terms of stripping away inhibition and predefined labels, rules and boundaries, and throwing caution to the wind. Not striving or trying to be something, but allowing yourself simply to be, just as you are, without feeling the need to conform to a pre-defined mold or the expectations of others. In a sense, being free.

I guess that’s what is known as “the magic of childhood”. Children are able to see the world in a totally different way to their adult counterparts -- the very people who are supposed to be more developed. Children see the same world that adults are looking at, but they see something more... something different... something alive. There is a depth to the experience. It has a taste, a texture, a smell, a sound... it has a feeling. Some may say it’s just a phase that you eventually grow out of and the “magic” is replaced by responsibility and greater intelligence and understanding. But I don’t believe it’s something we grow out of. I believe it’s something we gradually go blind to and obscure by our own doing (either consciously or unconsciously).

I wonder how many people looked at the bear Emily drew and just saw a “regular” old (and maybe not very good) bear drawing? How many people looked at it an analysed it in detail and saw only the parts that constitute the whole? How many people looked at it and found deeper meaning? How many people found the bear symbolic? How many people gazed at the bear and saw a part of themself reflected back at them, like a mirror for the soul? How many people could feel a sense of wonder when looking at the bear?

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to look at something, however you certainly limit yourself when you can only look at something one way. It’s like looking at something with only a telescope when you have other tools available to you, such as a microscope, binoculars, glasses, coloured contact lenses, your naked eyes, the perspective of a mountain top, the perspective of being emerged in water, the perspective of being upside down, etc.

If you never explore the other options you have available (or, at least, take a look around to see if you have any other options available in the first place), you could forever be limited to seeing only a small percentage of what you are viewing. Try living life looking through a telescope all the time. You may be able to see distant things clearly, but anything close to you would be blurry and out of focus. You’d be missing out on a vast amount of detail, detail that could become available to you as soon as you put down your telescope and explored other options.

To those reading this, what detail are you missing out by only looking through the lens of your current “telescope”? When was the last time you experienced a glimmer of the magic that was your constant experience of life when you were a child? When was the last time you gazed intently at the moon and stars at night, riveted in awe? When was the last time you felt literally charged with excitement in eager anticipation of doing something you enjoy tremendously?

You need not dwell on what you currently don't have, longing for days since past. Go out and find a way to reclaim some of that magic and make it a part of your life, if only for a few moments, and you too can experience the latent magic and aliveness of life.

[Michael Chui]

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer...

[ReallyGoodIdeas]

When I was about 6, I was sick, home from school one day. My mother, who was going to teacher's college at the time was off with me. I asked her to draw me a picture to colour in, she did. It was a beautiful jungle scene complete with snake. I decided then and there, that I'd never be able to compete with that drawing and gave up drawing. At 44 I've now figured out that I probably can draw, and am learning to have a go at it.

When my lovely daughter was about 3, my mother-in-law (who was an art teacher) told me to never get colouring books. She explained that children should be able to always come up with their own drawings without anyone else's imposed standards. My daughter now (age 14) does art at school and draws beautifully. She has actually inspired me to attempt to learn drawing again (" it's easy to draw Mum, you just draw what you see!")

Steve, you are great demonstrating to your daughter that her original drawings are better than any copies. You're right, Emily's original bear has much more intrinsic beauty than any copied bear could know. It has Emily in it!

much joy to you
hazel

[Blueskied]

Not being capable of drawing sucks.
I could break out in tears,too, everytime i start my graphics program.

[Scorpio]

I don't totally agree with the larger message that the 'normal' bears are all secretly envious of the 'different' bear. Sometimes the 'normal' majority has accurate beefs and criticisms towards a 'different' person. I think it's wishful thinking to believe that just because you're different and people don't understand you that you're a courageous trailblazer by default. It's like the reject kids in school. Some where unfairly ostracized, but some of them were there at least in part because they were dirty, disruptive, and anti-social...

[Dave Kaminski]

Love this blog post!

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Scorpio

I don't totally agree with the larger message that the 'normal' bears are all secretly envious of the 'different' bear. Sometimes the 'normal' majority has accurate beefs and criticisms towards a 'different' person. I think it's wishful thinking to believe that just because you're different and people don't understand you that you're a courageous trailblazer by default. It's like the reject kids in school. Some where unfairly ostracized, but some of them were there at least in part because they were dirty, disruptive, and anti-social...

The traced bears value the other bear's willingness to be unique -- it doesn't mean they value his specific qualities but rather his ability to express them openly. Even the disruptive kids in school gain a certain degree of respect, not for being disruptive per se, but simply for showing the willingness to express themselves.

[Love]

cute!

But I wonder how the middle bear feels about being the only bear like that?

[Michelle]

The middle bear doesn't like being rejected by the other bears, that is for sure. But she won't let it stop her from being herself and living authentically.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I am projecting :-).

[billybrads]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

The traced bears value the other bear's willingness to be unique -- it doesn't mean they value his specific qualities but rather his ability to express them openly. Even the disruptive kids in school gain a certain degree of respect, not for being disruptive per se, but simply for showing the willingness to express themselves.

Say's who???

I mean that literally, you can't really speak for how other people think...

The idea does resonate with me however, and it's really nice to think that we can appreciate each other for our differences and not judge them as good or bad...

One thing though...
We expect a 6 year old to draw the bear in a 'less than perfect' way, so it doesn't really make the point.

I would think a real test would be to be able to appreciate the artistically uninclined adult expression of the bear with the same awe we hold for the Mona Lisa or a 6 year's first free drawing

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Scorpio

I don't totally agree with the larger message that the 'normal' bears are all secretly envious of the 'different' bear. Sometimes the 'normal' majority has accurate beefs and criticisms towards a 'different' person. I think it's wishful thinking to believe that just because you're different and people don't understand you that you're a courageous trailblazer by default. It's like the reject kids in school. Some where unfairly ostracized, but some of them were there at least in part because they were dirty, disruptive, and anti-social...

I could be wrong, but I think Steve is trying to say that the "normal" bears are envious of the "unique/different" bear because he is expressing his own uniqueness and being true to himself. He's consciously creating his life and making use of the most empowering actions/habits/beliefs he has access to, rather then unconsciously cruising through life on autopilot, accepting whatever other people tell him (social conditioning), not replacing disempowering actions/habits/beliefs with empowering ones, and choosing the “default” option in life as opposed to the “be yourself, and be the best you can be” option.

It’s not so much a matter of being different, but having the courage to embrace who you really are at your core, beneath all the social conditioning and disempowering action. We’re all unique, but unfortunately the vast majority of people don't behave this way, and what’s even more unfortunate is that for the most part, the decision to do this is not even a conscious one.

Death is not the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.
~ Norman Cousins

It will indeed be a great day when there is no longer a same-colour “backdrop”, but a vast spectrum of beautiful colours shining brightly.

[Scorpio]

Steve and others clarifying the message of the post

Ah okay. Thanks for clearing that up. No beef with that message

[billybrads]

Originally Posted by Bruce Achterberg

I could be wrong, but I think Steve is trying to say that the "normal" bears are envious of the "unique/different" bear because he is expressing his own uniqueness and being true to himself.

Listen Steve seems like a brilliant man and this site and the people on it are really helping me reawaken to my true self, but can we add traced paper bear mind reader to Steve's list of credentials.

I think a lot of people are perfectly happy doing what they are doing and I don't necessarily think they look at the unique in envy. Who's a clone anyways? Every person on this planet is different in their own way.

But if I may play mind reader for a second, sure there can be something going on beneath the surface, but with the exception of people who have an 'exceptional' talent, the oddballs aren't usually envied or even reveared.

[dalante]

Very cute picture. It reminded me of my childhood drawings

[The Wise Turtle]

As a preschool teacher I loved the drawings that my kids did. They really are evidence that we humans can be creative, expressive, and fearless if we want to be. It's so sad when we lose those qualities because we are forced into "fitting" into a society that is pretty darned unhealthy.

The worst thing we can learn as we grow up is that things are "supposed" to be a certain way. We don't start out that way, but most of us are forced into believing this, and it does us a great disservice, because when reality hits, and things don't always turn out the way we expect them to, we suffer. If we can somehow communicate to our young friends and family the idea that nothing is absolute or perfect in this universe, I think we will find that they grow up to be far healthier and happier than they would if they were given the impression that the universe was a black vs. white or true vs. false kind of place.

One of the best lessons I ever encountered in my life was gained from reading a book on scientific/mathematical complexity and fuzzy logic. It taught me, literally, that the difference between day and night is relative.

It also occurs to me that all of those lovely brown bears are unique and all them are also the same, depending on how you choose to look at them. Sometimes you need to move in a little closer to see the unique or similar qualities, while other times the similarities and differences are obvious from far way. But always there are some similarities and some differences. So, while the non-traced bear may have many obvious special qualities that make her stand out from the crowd, she also has many obvious qualities that she shares with all her companions (being brown, being rounded, being two dimentional, etc.). It's good to be different and creative and expressive and it's good to share things with others too, like compassion, goals, health, and ideas.

Anyway, thanks for sharing (!) those lovely bears with us, Steve!

-Turtle

[billybrads]

Originally Posted by The Wise Turtle

It also occurs to me that all of those lovely brown bears are unique and all them are also the same, depending on how you choose to look at them. Sometimes you need to move in a little closer to see the unique or similar qualities, while other times the similarities and differences are obvious from far way. But always there are some similarities and some differences. So, while the non-traced bear may have many obvious special qualities that make her stand out from the crowd, she also has many obvious qualities that she shares with all her companions (being brown, being rounded, being two dimentional, etc.). It's good to be different and creative and expressive and it's good to share things with others too, like compassion, goals, health, and ideas.

Anyway, thanks for sharing (!) those lovely bears with us, Steve!

-Turtle

hallelujah!!! u r quite wise aren't u

[Glass Joe]

Originally Posted by The Wise Turtle

The worst thing we can learn as we grow up is that things are "supposed" to be a certain way. We don't start out that way, but most of us are forced into believing this, and it does us a great disservice, because when reality hits, and things don't always turn out the way we expect them to, we suffer. If we can somehow communicate to our young friends and family the idea that nothing is absolute or perfect in this universe, I think we will find that they grow up to be far healthier and happier than they would if they were given the impression that the universe was a black vs. white or true vs. false kind of place.

One of the best lessons I ever encountered in my life was gained from reading a book on scientific/mathematical complexity and fuzzy logic. It taught me, literally, that the difference between day and night is relative.

It also occurs to me that all of those lovely brown bears are unique and all them are also the same, depending on how you choose to look at them. Sometimes you need to move in a little closer to see the unique or similar qualities, while other times the similarities and differences are obvious from far way. But always there are some similarities and some differences. So, while the non-traced bear may have many obvious special qualities that make her stand out from the crowd, she also has many obvious qualities that she shares with all her companions (being brown, being rounded, being two dimentional, etc.). It's good to be different and creative and expressive and it's good to share things with others too, like compassion, goals, health, and ideas.

Anyway, thanks for sharing (!) those lovely bears with us, Steve!

-Turtle

Originally Posted by billybrads

hallelujah!!! u r quite wise aren't u

Agreed. Thanks for the wise comments Turtle.

Last night, for some strange reason, I felt like writing a "chapter 2" to the brightest bear story. But I didn't post it above because I never finished it and I didn't think it contributed anything to the thread.

But here is what I wrote so far.

Although quite perturbed at first, almost all of the grumpy brown bears eventually came around to loving their new neighbor. After living with the new bear they nicknamed "whitey" for a while, they came to see that they too were all different from one another as well. They started to notice that some of their fellow brown bears had longer noses, while some had shorter noses. And some brown bears had larger muscular bodies which made them stronger, while others had leaner bodies which made them faster. They saw that some bears were naturally better at playing basketball, while others were better at football. While still others preferred more artistic or analytical pursuits.

Because of their bright colored neighbor, (almost) all the other brown bears began to see that even their color "brown", which once unified them together, was beginning to blur. The so-called "brown" bears saw that each bear had different shades of brown and each had different textures of fur that reflected light differently. They started to ask each other philosophical questions like "What is 'brown', really?", "Is there an ultimate brown?", and "If tree falls in a forest and no one is there to see it, is the tree still brown?"

Sure, some of the brown bears resisted this new world view and lived the rest of their lives in quiet desperation as they longed to go back to the old days of just being brown, when times were simpler. (One grumpy bear even went so far as to write "The Brown Bear Manifesto".) But eventually their umbrella unifying word "brown" lost most, if not all, meaning to most of the bears. They preferred using richer words to define their colors. They much more preferred to use words like "maple", "chocolate", "sepia", "taupe", and "burlywood #3".

[merlynnie]

I actually got tears in my eyes reading this post. What an amazing lesson on so many levels - that the art created from your own heart is so much better than so-called "perfect copies", that IT IS OK TO DO IT YOUR OWN WAY and you are always free to do so...

Another poster wrote:

Originally Posted by Scorpio

I don't totally agree with the larger message that the 'normal' bears are all secretly envious of the 'different' bear. Sometimes the 'normal' majority has accurate beefs and criticisms towards a 'different' person. I think it's wishful thinking to believe that just because you're different and people don't understand you that you're a courageous trailblazer by default. It's like the reject kids in school. Some where unfairly ostracized, but some of them were there at least in part because they were dirty, disruptive, and anti-social...

I will just say, that in HS I was definitely an oddball - I didn't fit into any "group" and didn't try to. I made my own clothes. I drew blue feathers and roses all over my jeans and wrote poetry on my sneakers...and I have had DOZENS of people I went to HS with (I'm in my mid-30's now) come up to me, REMEMBERING my name (though, I usually have to ask theirs) and say, "I always looked up to you, wished I could be like you. You just did your thing and didn't care what anybody thought!"

I WAS a "bright bear" and while I took a lot of getting made fun of -- on the outside -- on the inside they DID secretly admire me...of course, I didn't know this at the time, and it was pretty lonely, but SOOOO worth it to always and still be MYSELF.

[Keith]

Beside the point I know, but:

The middle bear is the most 'bear-looking' and naturalistic of the lot - he just has his head down around his left foreleg rather than sticking forward like the others. His colouring also looks more like fur than the others...

[garg]

I like the middle bear the most

And his expression is great

[ostara]

hi steve, i've never responded but have read your site for many months now. I'd just like to say thanks for your positive comments and articles. Your most recent article has certainly highlighted what i'm already aware of and what needs to be changed about myself. i want to be like Emily's bear in the middle to be unique and original. While todays article was short and sweet i feel that like the bear in the middle it has a lot to say and gives you a lot to think about. Thank you very much for your silent support and encouragement and i look forward to hearing more words of wisdom