Permission to Flourish

Chris  Willis

Permission to Flourish

I seem to have had some difficulty with choosing titles lately…but as I was taking my walk this morning I was listening (on my Ipod) to a favourite speaker of mine. He was talking about living life fully….not being wishy washy or luke warm. It was a very inspirational talk and I got a lot from it. A phrase that came out of it was that we, as children of God have ‘permission to flourish’, to be colourful…to add colour and flavour to life.

I was reminded of a speech (well, part of it) that Nelson Mandella once gave, quoting Marianne Williamson:

“Lest we forget.”

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you NOT to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking,
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in EVERYONE!
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandella

A few comments have been made about this image…very helpful ones too. Thank you to everyone who was kind enough to leave them. Some words that leapt out to me from them were…Nurturing, covering & protection…..My dear friend Brian queried the lines and boxes that I added at the bottom of this image…and I understand what he’s saying….but the human brain is a fascinating thing…and I realise now that I probably was adding something to the image to stabilise it…. YET, NO!....sometimes it’s way too easy for me/us to live ‘within the box’ I/we create for ourselves….keeping within the comfort zone so to speak. The contrast between being trapped in the daily grind and being free to flourish and grow is huge.
May you escape the confines of life and flourish and grow more each day :-)
Blessings to you all.

Permission to Flourish belongs to the following groups:

Complex Simplicity of Art, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Art in Math, Globes, Spheres and Curves - 2 per day, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Safe Haven and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

Permission to Flourish by Chris  Willis
Permission to Flourish by Chris  Willis
  • hcroft

    hcroft

    To me it is like a queen bee nurturing her offspring – very beautiful

  • Chris Willis replied

    Hehe…good one, Heather…thank you very much :-)

  • Mia1

    Mia1

    GORGEOUS. love the colours.

  • Chris Willis replied

    Thank you for stopping by Mia…always lovely to read your comments :-)

  • gypsygirl

    gypsygirl

    Wow, gorgeous, fantastic colours and shapes!

  • Farmncamera

    Farmncamera

    At least you can do one of these…..I still can not figure out how to do one….and can’t seem to get any help?! But it looks like the topography of the world…..and 2 flags embedded into it, that are waving…..but guess there is no wind in space….or is there? But oh well.. Love the colors and movement!!! :)

  • Chris Willis replied

    I’m so sorry that I haven’t been in touch with you re learning about fractals….I will be in touch very soon :)
    Thank you for leaving your encouragement for me…it’s always nice to see the two of you smiling away :
    )

  • butchart

    butchart

    light weaver…. sending golden light and energy into the universal fabric….......b

  • Chris Willis replied

    Thanks Butch…much appreciated….you’re a pal :-)

  • Brian Towers

    Brian Towers

    You’re certainly keeping busy just now Chris and you are producing a succession of excellent pictures. The blue and gold compliment each other so well. May I just mention the only thing which doesn’t quite work for me in this one? For some reason the straight bands at the bottom seem clash with the wonderful curves. But then that’s just a personal thing and doesn’t detract from this being a delightful piece of work.

  • George Swann

    George Swann

    Beautiful work Chris, looks like a lance throught the heart to my eyes with all the contents spilling out, with a blue heart you wouldn’t expect anything red coming out would you?........but i do work in the health service so what can you expect from my brain.

  • Chris Willis replied

    Hehehe….blue blooded eh? Don’t worry about your brain, George….people can look and understand your work….mine? Not so easy. Thanks a heap for leaving your comment, it certainly gives me things to think about :-)

  • Phil Thomson IPA

    Phil Thomson IPA

    Magnificent image and stunning work, Chris !!! There seems to be that maternal feel about it being under the covering and protection. I am reminded of Psalm 91:1-4 for this. Wonderful tones and design!!

  • Karen Cougan

    Karen Cougan

    stunning
    xkc

  • Chris Willis replied

    Thanks a heap, Karen. It’s a buzz to know you like it :-)

  • Karri Klawiter

    Karri Klawiter

    This is beautiful Chris!

  • Chris Willis replied

    Thank you very much, Karri….your encouragement means a lot to me :-)

  • Dorothy Venter

    Dorothy Venter

    Chris, the colours of this image is stunning. And yes, I also see something like a bee. Great work.

  • Chris Willis replied

    Hi Dorothy….so nice to receive your encouragement…I love the colour of this one, too. Fractals have really livened me up….amazing that they’re referred to as ‘The Fingerprint of God’. :-)

  • Phil Thomson IPA

    Phil Thomson IPA

    Chris, the revamp and additions are excellent, a Blessing -70×7 !!!! The new title is “spot on” and and the words of the text, yea even Message are truly inspirational and a wonderful Blessing and encouragement !!! “Preach it sister” !!!!!!

  • Ellen

    Ellen

    Very beautiful colors and design!

  • Kathie Nichols

    Kathie Nichols

    Gosh, Nelson Mandela said that? wow! Love the words so much and they go beautifully with your gorgeous work of art Chris! :)

  • Chris Willis replied

    Thanks Kathy…you are too kind..appreciate your encouragement :-)

  • ftrlksbrght

    ftrlksbrght

    Beautiful image Chris! Thank you for sharing those words from Nelson Mandela with us… Very, very inspiring!

  • Chris Willis replied

    Not a problem….other than CJ letting me know that they weren’t actually his words…evidently he was quoting Marianne Williamson. Never the less, inspirational words, eh?
    Thank you for the encouragement…much appreciated :-)

  • C J Lewis

    C J Lewis

    A beautiful design and colours Chris. The verse above by Marianne Williamson that Nelson Mandella used in his speech is such a true and wonderful truth…love it :)

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