Watching Ottmar Leibert, (a flamenco guitarist) in concert the other night, I was struck by the strong attraction we all feel towards someone following his passion and doing it so genuinely. Yes, he has much talent, but it is more than just the talent that attracts us, it is the fact that he pours it out from his soul, from the source that all of us tap into for any creativity. We are all attracted to that genuineness, whether it comes from a great talent like his, or from watching a friend spontaneously dance to music. We admire anything that comes directly from that inner presence without pretense, without going through our personal ego filters.

It inspired me to ask myself what “dance” I would do on that stage in front of that crowd if I had the stage available to me? What would be my passion? I know that whatever it would be for me (inspirational words or African dance, or something entirely new), as long as it came from that deep source, the true heart, from action that comes from a knowing within myself, from spontaneity, genuineness, and an expression that wells up from my own passion, it would be appreciated.

We recognize that source when it bubbles up in anyone; we admire it, and are drawn to it. And we need to let it out in ourselves. We need to not be afraid of expressing it in the world. It comes from the true Self, without thought getting in the way. It is us at our most creative, whatever we do. And when we stifle it, we are stifling the higher Self, the Source. It is not just the arts that come from this Source. It is where Einstein’s equations came from, and where the inspiration for my writing this comes from. It is fundamentally who we are, when we get out of the way.

I am not suggesting that we completely let all our inhibitions go, such as anger and resentment, which come from the Adapted child in us that alters our behavior to please others. Rather I am suggesting we let the unbridled Natural child in us play, which it would do freely if we let it. It is the part of us that is passionate, that can sing, dance, play, express words, write, swim, run, paint, garden, or solve math problems with gusto.

I think this is why we all appreciate nature and animals so much. Nature has no pretense, and animals are completely themselves. They make us smile and laugh because they are transparent, and it delights us. Let us delight each other in the same way.