Note: For the first part of this review see Book Review: The Angel Inside Part 1
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After learning these valuable lessons from the Statue of David, a quick trip to a sculpting workshop unveiled a few more lessons learned from the sculpting process:
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6. Plan and Prepare -
"Sometimes in life you can go back . . . but you will find a little planning and preparation will save you years of frustration and regret. Always do the sketching and drawing first."
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"Many people never draw out what they want their lives to look like. They do not create the miniature sculpture to decide if the actual sculpture is what they will want to have as a finished statue . . . Many young people, and older people . . . do not do enough planning, preparation, and investigation about what they want their lives to become. They either drift through life and allow circumstances to push them to and fro, or they make rash, ill-conceived plans, then move too quickly, realizing too late that they have made a mistake, and a very bad one at that. And it is a mistake that affects their very lives! Planning . . . real planning, eliminates most of that . . . my advice is not to move too fast. Fast enough to get where you want to be, but slow enough to do it right the first time."
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7. All Accomplishment Starts With One Swift Action -
"Every successful endeavor begins with one swift action . . . In the grand scheme of things, virtually no one pursues their dreams. Yes, they dream. In fact, I believe that we humans are born dreamers. Some even plan, or prepare. But very few ever start. And therein lies the problem . . . The key to your success . . . will be whether you apply what you have learned here, or whether you write it off . . . This artist could plan and prepare for weeks, but if he doesn't pick up the hammer, aim, and then strike the marble, he will never get to that beautiful lion that I am sure resides within the stone. He must start, that is the key. Action is the beginning of accomplishment. Without it, you have only wasted dreams and good intentions."
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8. Embrace the Stages of Chipping, Sculpting, Sanding and Polishing -
"There are times when the Supreme Artist chips away at us, other times when he is sculpting us, other times when he is sanding, and then times when he is polishing. All of these are needed to create a beautiful life, just as they are needed to create a beautiful sculpture . . . the problem . . . isn't whether people can see the process, but whether they can accept it. And furthermore, most important, whether they can embrace it . . . Yes. Embrace it. You see, if we simply accept it, we are still not necessarily a willing participant in the process; that is, we are not necessarily participants with positive attitudes. That is key: a positive attitude about the process."
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NOTE: For specific quotes on each of these processes please see Review - Part 3. They are excellent and you won't want to miss them!
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9. Sometimes Success Takes Years: Be Content -
" . . . life must be paced. There are seasons to life . . . The key is to enjoy each stage while you are in it and understand that success takes time . . . there are exceptions, but for most, life unfolds . . . slowly and over time. Every stage is a proving ground. Only after we have mastered each stage are we given the opportunity to move forward. It takes time at each stage to build a foundation for future success, to learn the lessons that we must learn and to develop the skills that we will need for the future."
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"The amazing potential of the mind is that we can shape what we will become and believe . . . By what we think about. The secret is, we think about what we tend to think about . . . begin to tell yourself these things each day. Set aside time each day to make those statements to yourself. In doing so, over time, you will reshape your thoughts to become the thoughts you desire."
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10. No One Starts With The Sistine Chapel -
"Most people cannot accomplish their masterpieces until they have gone through the process of growing and learning from their experiences. Of course, there are a few exceptions, but for the vast majority of people, their life work is a process and a progress . . . Whatever you have as your work, do it with excellence. Excellence is what will open the door for further opportunity. Many young people want opportunity, but here is a secret for the ages: Live your life and do your work in the embodiment of excellence, and opportunities will flow your way . . . live in the moment. Yes, we should dream. We should have visions of what lies ahead for us. But what will take us there is not the dream, but the excellence we demonstrate each and every day."
"In the end, we will reflect back on our lives as people who are deeply satisfied not only in what we have accomplished, but even more important, in what we have become."
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"Enjoy yourself now. Live your life with excellence. Become a person whom others will be proud to know. Do the best you can at your work. Above all, be passionate about what you do and how you live your life."
I found this little story to be very motivating and impactful! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a short, easy read. I hope you enjoy these quotes and found something that rang true for you.
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Sharilee Guest, Founder and President
"It's never to late to do the right thing or the smart thing and enjoy the benefits it brings." - Richard Paul Evans
"The miracle is this-- the more you give, the more you have." -Leonard Nimroy
"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." -Sir Winston Churchill
"You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read."
Charlie "Tremendous" Jones
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