Emptiness

“Emptiness” has an overwhelmingly negative connotation. Many people feel empty because they’ve lost their sense of purpose. Others relate emptiness to a loss of motivation. A reading by Vimala McClure recently challenged me to embrace a new perspective, one that is applicable to leadership and to life. McClure writes, “The empty spaces make wholeness. The emptiness in a pot makes it valuable; you can fill it with water. Pay attention to what isn’t…What you do not say resounds. What you do not do impresses.” Where is there emptiness in your world? Do you have empty spaces in your calendar, or is it packed full? Do you have room in your position, or are you stretched to the max? Do you have voids in your social network, or do you struggle to maintain all your connections? If you allowed a bit of emptiness to creep into your sense of purpose, might you find a higher purpose? If you embraced the moments when you’re not motivated, might you reconnect to your deepest aspirations? If, as McClure suggests, emptiness is what creates space for opportunity, do you have enough of it in your life? Or in an attempt to be fulfilled, have you crowded out opportunities to grow and to expand? Might the empty pot be more attractive than the full one, because of the opportunities it offers? What might be possible if you embraced opportunities for emptiness? Spend a few minutes reflecting on these questions. If you’d like to talk about it, let’s find a time to talk.