Catching the big fish

Where do ideas live?

I’m reading two books right now — The Creative Act by Rick Rubin and Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch. I read a bit of each each morning. Both of these creatives use the analogy of fishing for generating ideas and inspiration.

I like to fish. My dad introduced me to fishing. One time in Mexico, I went deep sea fishing and caught a fish. I reeled it in for what must have been hours. Sweating and wondering when anything would surface.

Then, finally, a big, beautiful fish appeared. It was so big, I needed help to get it in the boat.

me catching an actual big fish

Rubin says, “The artist casts a line to universe…we walk to the water, bait the book, cast the line, and patiently wait. We cannot control the fish, only the presence of the line.”

In fishing, and in art, I have to wonder if it’s that last part that’s the most important. The patiently waiting part. Waiting is not something we’re accustomed to. In the waiting, there’s so much room to give up, get distracted, get down.

Lynch’s take is a little different. He says ideas are like fish, but that he’s interested in the “big fish” and that if you want to catch a big fish, you’ve got to go down deep. That everything that is a thing comes up from this deep level. And that the deeper you can go, the bigger and more beautiful the fish.

Going deep requires a lot.

Rather than standing at the shore, we may have to take the boat out to sea. We may get sea sick. We may feel lost. We may doubt our strength. And when that fish comes, we may not be able to wrestle it into the boat alone.

Over the weekend I heard myself say to a friend that I don’t have the materials I need to do the work I want do. This might be true. Or it might be a thought that holds no truth at all. Some lie I’ve concocted to keep me from the work.

I don’t know.

What I do know is that I want to be ready. I want to be a strong, open channel. I want to create the habits that hold up the work. I want to be in position for when those big, beautiful fish bite.

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To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. — Lao Tzu

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I Need Space print — available now

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Deep breaths. Sad news yesterday and no words for it. Will leave you with these from my friend, Cory Goode:

The arc of the moral universe will not bend toward justice on its own. It requires the *active* participation of those who believe that justice is achievable.

Jump + Pray,

Joce

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