STO LAVORANDO


Rest is good as working : 
                    There is a famous story of Michelangelo that in 1501 he received a request by a council in charge of decorating the Florence cathedral to sculpt the statue of the biblical hero, David. He was given a block of marble to work with. Now this block had been laying for 40 years in the cathedral because two major artists had refused the project citing that the marble was of a poor quality. Michelangelo knew how big this project was and so for the next four months, Michelangelo woke up, went to his studio and stare at the block of marble for a whole day and then head back to home for dinner. One day a visiting prince asked him, “What are you doing?” “Sto lavorando,” was his reply. Translated: “I’m working.”

                 Finally one day in September of 1501 the chiseling started and in three years, Michelangelo had produced one of his most famous sculpture in the world, the statue of David. In today’s fast paced world, it seems like the most important thing is action. Thinking of what deal to chase next, which series to watch next, restaurant to visit next, project to do next. And it makes sense because we have been taught action produces results but this story of Michelangelo shows that sometimes it is fine to sit and take a break.
There is a study done by Human Behavior Scientist called, ‘epiphany learning’ which simply is research of how human beings experience eureka moments, when finally a solution to a complex problem if found. What they have discovered is that these moments almost never happen when consciously thinking about something but when taking rest, taking a shower, a walk, knitting or even simply working out. This is because the unconscious continue to work on a problem even after your conscious stops thinking about it and the only way to hear the unconscious it taking a moment of inner reflection.
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               So when cornered by life or a problem; take time and go for that walk, or jump into that bath tub and take a long shower, take a short holiday, put your phone in flight mode or find an empty conference room in the office and just reflect. Because it is important to remember that a rest is good as working.