The Path of Not Here
How Getting Lost is the Best Way to Find Your True Artistic Path
I learned about the 'Path of Not Here' while delving into the world of a wildlife tracker on a podcast. This concept, used by Boyd Varty, a renowned tracker, is not just about following animal trails but also a profound metaphor for navigating the unknowns in life.
In the expansive Sahara, trackers like Varty follow subtle signs: the barely perceptible swish of a lion’s tail in the sand, the faint imprint of paws that might suggest a sudden turn. Here, every sign is a narrative piece in the puzzle of the natural world.
Losing the track is not merely a setback but a part of the tracking process itself. It teaches resilience and the ability to stay composed under uncertainty—a skill that proves invaluable in both the wilderness and in our daily lives.
Imagine the moment of surprise when a tracker raises their head to find that the familiar has faded away, replaced by the unfamiliar. Such moments, often unsettling, are chances to see one's surroundings—and oneself—with fresh eyes.
Sometimes, trackers find themselves so far off the known paths that they feel utterly disoriented, unable to discern up from down. This 'Path of Not Here' is a poignant analogy for those times in our lives when traditional markers of progress and direction fail us.
Choosing which way to go—right or left, up or down—can feel paralyzing. Like a tracker at a vanished trail, we sometimes stand frozen, overwhelmed by the possibilities and risks of the unknown.
Embracing the Mess of Creativity-In creativity, just like in the wild, we start with a tiny spark—an idea that’s barely visible. And let’s be honest, it’s scary not knowing where this little idea will take us. But here’s the thing: that fear? It’s part of the adventure. We’ve got to embrace the mess. When we do, we open ourselves up to all sorts of possibilities that we never could’ve planned for. So, when you feel lost in your creative work, remember that it’s not just okay—it’s necessary. That mess is where the magic happens.
Finding Your Way by Getting Lost-Sometimes, in our creativity, all our usual tricks and paths just don’t work anymore. We feel stuck, like we’re wandering without a map. But guess what? Being lost is actually a good thing. It’s our chance to explore new territories, to throw out the old maps and make our own. It might be uncomfortable, but it’s in those “lost” moments that we often find a brand-new, brilliant idea that we wouldn’t have come across if we’d stayed on the familiar path. So let’s celebrate getting lost—it’s really just exploring, and who knows what amazing places we’ll find?
By seeing the creative process as a wild, sometimes messy journey into the unknown, (insert Frozen 2 song here), we can learn to cherish the unexpected turns and realize that sometimes, getting a little lost is exactly what we need to find our truest, most creative selves.
The 'Path of Not Here' is not just a challenge but an opportunity. It compels us to develop new skills, to trust in our own intuition, and to learn that being lost, at times, is exactly where we need to be to find our true path.
