I have been watching a lot of films lately. Partly because I’m editing one; but more importantly I’m trying to be more patient, disciplined, and mentally prepared in life — and training. It’s not easy in the day of Social Media.
When I was preparing for my first Ironman I would eagerly log onto Facebook for the inspirational posts. There was always a flood of workout recaps and this either made me feel guilty or gave me motivation.
But I have become increasingly frustrated with this strategy. The real stuff is inside us, not cloaked in headline chatter of strangers.
Serendipity often presents itself if we’re listening and last night I was blown away by a documentary on performance artist, Marina Abramovic, who pulled off one of the more incredible feats of mental strength I have ever discovered. For three months, she sat in silence for her exhibit “The Artist is Present,” at the Museum of Modern Art.
Talk about patience.
This is how her installation is described on the film’s website:
ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, FROM EARLY MARCH UNTIL THE END OF MAY, 2010, SHE WILL SIT AT A TABLE IN THE MUSEUM’S ATRIUM, IN WHAT SHE DESCRIBES AS A “SQUARE OF LIGHT.” MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN HER, ONE AT A TIME, AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TABLE. THERE WILL BE NO TALKING, NO TOUCHING, NO OVERT COMMUNICATION OF ANY KIND. HER OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE A LUMINOUS STATE OF BEING AND THEN TRANSMIT IT––TO ENGAGE IN WHAT SHE CALLS “AN ENERGY DIALOGUE” WITH THE AUDIENCE.
Talk about discipline.
What captivated me most was how the people reacted to Marina’s energy. By the end of her exhibit people were sleeping outside MoMA for a chance to sit in the chair across from her the next day. She gave each person her full attention. Her eyes pierced their souls and many described it as a healing experience. The only place Marina could go, was deeper into the moment.
I mean, can any of us sit in silence for 10 minutes, let alone 9 hours a day for 3 straight months?
Talk about mental preparation.
How did she prepare for this? The film didn’t focus much on methods, but there was an omnipresent stream of anxiety leading to her exhibit. It reminded me of my preparation for Ironman, which more or less centered on the unknown. Would it be the end of the world if she didn’t finish, no, but the potential was very real.
Somehow, Marina had to prepare for the unknown. Sitting in silence for three months can only happen one moment at a time. Focusing on the end by guiding the current breath in the right direction.
The Hardest Part
On the surface, her feat was exactly the opposite of an Ironman. We travel 140.6 miles, she didn’t move an inch.
But those hours she spent sitting on a chair sound exponentially more difficult than racing a triathlon.
For me, moving is the easy part. Patience, discipline, and mental preparation are the real challenges.
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