From Stress to Serenity: The Therapeutic Power of Making Pottery

The other day there was a free pottery class on offer, so I took it.

I never really had an inclination toward making pottery, but I had never done it before so I thought it would be fun, and it was.

However, like a good romantic encounter, I got a lot more out of it than just a bit of fun.

As I was on the wheel, the clay molding in my hands, I felt a sense of calm.

I consider myself a relatively calm guy anyway, and I know how to induce calmness within myself when needed, such as through breathing exercises, meditation, sex, or a good workout. But I was pleasantly surprised to feel this same sense of calm while creating something.

Pottery is not a simple task, but it isn’t that complicated either. This is true for the vast majority of things in life.

Nothing is as simple or as complicated as it seems. When you look at a skilled person, what they do seems very easy, but they just make it look easy because they are good at it.

As you dig deeper, trying to learn it yourself, you discover the intricacies and complexities that lie within.

Once you become good at it, perhaps even a master, you reclaim the simplicity. The art or craft flows through you.

This reminds me of a quote from Bruce Lee:

“Before I learned the art, a punch was just a punch, and a kick, just a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick, no longer a kick. Now that I understand the art, a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick.”

I think one reason I never got into the creation of art or music, other than lack of talent, is that I never really saw a return on investment in it. I just couldn’t imagine myself being able to make money from it.

Now I know that return on investment can come in many shapes and forms, such as a sense of calm or joy. In this sense, the act of just doing is rewarding. The enjoyment or the calming effect is the return on investment.

I think one of the keys to a life of contentment is to find something that you would happily do anyway, regardless of the money, and then figure out how to use it to help others while making money from it.

This is pretty much the Japanese concept of Ikigai.