The Groove 192 - Why It’s Radically Important for You to Live In the Present
WHY IT’S RADICALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT
Living in the present is not merely a state of mindfulness or momentary awareness; it is a profound philosophy that underpins the creation of remarkable work. We are always prey to so many distractions and plans for the future, or we dwell too much in the past. The ability to anchor ourselves in the present moment has become a transformative skill.
When artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and innovators immerse themselves fully in the present, they tap into a wellspring of creativity and clarity that transcends the mundane. Throughout history, those who can be in and capture the present moment are paradoxically the same ones who hold the key to being remembered in the future.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée (later Le Brun) was born in Paris in 1755 to modest origins, yet her father, renowned for his skill in pastel portraiture, provided the family with connections to artistic and affluent bourgeois circles. She was fully embedded in her present time, aware of the people and circumstances that surrounded her, so much so that her intuition even saved her life (a quality that can never be developed without being in synch with the present). These are some of the guiding principles that she had in her toolbox:
Be Equally Attuned to the Present AND Excellent at What You Do
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Self-portrait in a Straw Hat, 1782. Oil on canvas.
Ask yourself these questions: what is of importance right now? What are the things that demand your attention and should be discussed in public through writing, painting, film or any other medium? And once you have the answer to that, how can you get better and better at it?
Portrait paintings were solemn endeavors in the 18th century, whether for governmental purposes, business, historical documentation, or personal life. They were created for royalty, nobility and their followers, or the middle class, who typically could only afford works in pastel. Vigée Le Brun had no formal education, but her father had encouraged her gift for portraiture. He died when Vigée Le Brun was 12. Her mother, wanting to keep her motivated, took her to visit museums and private collections in Paris and later enrolled her in informal painting lessons.
By being in the present, Vigée Le Brun knew she was good at her job and knew that people craved being immortalized on canvases, so at 15 she opened her studio and word spread fast of her prodigy and skills.
Seeking an escape from her domestic life, she entered into a strategic marriage in 1776 with Jean Baptiste Pierre Le Brun, a painter and prominent art merchant who courted her by allowing her to copy paintings that he owned. She wanted to get better at what she did, and he accompanied her to Holland and Flanders to study the works of Rubens and the Dutch masters, promoted her art, and partly relied on her finances. Soon recognized as Madame Le Brun, she emerged as one of the most sought-after portrait painters of her time.
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Marie-Antoinette en gaulle, 1783. Oil on canvas.
When she was 23 years old, Vigée Le Brun was summoned to Versailles to create a portrait of Marie Antoinette. She achieved such acclaim that she swiftly became a semi-official artist of the court, earning a substantial income for her work. This was her tipping point. We know exactly how Marie Antoinette looked thanks to the more than 30 paintings that Vigée Le Brun did of the disgraced queen.
The artist’s reputation was solidified by Marie Antoinette, whose patronage facilitated Vigée Le Brun’s admission to the Royal Academy in 1783, despite its prohibition against artists married to art dealers.
Vigée Le Brun’s success from 1778 to 1789; was such that she wrote in her memoir that she had earned more than one million francs (around $3 million dollars today).
An acute presence in each moment allowed Vigée Le Brun to observe and understand the nuances of human expression and character. By immersing herself fully in the interactions and environments of the aristocracy and royalty she painted, she was able to create portraits that not only captured physical likeness but also conveyed deeper insights into the social dynamics and cultural zeitgeist of her time.
The More In-The-Now You Are, The More Intuition You Build
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Portrait of Muhammad Dervish Khan, 1788. Oil on canvas.
When you are grounded in the present, your intuition strengthens because you are more used to subtle cues and signals from your surroundings and inner self. By staying mindful and fully engaged in the current moment, you develop an increased sensitivity to emotions, intentions, and the energy of situations.
Vigée Le Brun’s intuition saved her life. Her esteemed role at court made her vulnerable to increasingly scandalous accusations, including claims that her success stemmed solely from her physical appeal and that she did not actually paint her own artworks. As the French Revolution erupted in October 1789, she faced imminent risk of arrest and even execution. She planned a quick escape from France with her daughter Julie because she knew what was to come. She recounts in her memoir that her friend, Madame Filleul, someone who was also in the circles of Marie Antoinette, had admonished her and tried to prevent her from leaving because the Revolution would eventually bring happiness. A few days later, the Jacobins had guillotined Madame Filleul too.
The same intuition that guided her success as a painter saved Vigée Le Brun and her daughter’s lives when they escaped to Italy. As Paris descended into chaos, she spent her 12-year exile at the courts of Naples, Berlin, Vienna, London, and St. Petersburg, capitalizing on Europe's intense interest in all things French and establishing herself as one of the most highly sought-after portrait painters of her era.
The heightened awareness that comes from being in the present allows you to make decisions more intuitively, tapping into a deeper understanding that goes beyond rational analysis. As you practice being in the here-and-now, you cultivate trust in your instincts and intuition, which become invaluable tools for navigating life's complexities with clarity and confidence.
It’s All in Adaptability
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Life Study of Lady Hamilton as the Cumaean Sybil, 1792.
The power of adaptability is closely intertwined with being in the present moment. When you are grounded in the present, you become more flexible and responsive to changing circumstances. By maintaining a keen awareness of the current situation and environment, you can swiftly assess challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends.
Le Brun had accumulated wealth by painting portraits for the aristocracy, though she had to abandon every penny, along with her husband (a situation made less distressing by her lack of affection for him). Nonetheless, she flourished.
Her ability to stay present in her artistic process also facilitated her rapid adaptation to new environments during her exile, where she continued to thrive as a sought-after portraitist across Europe. By embracing the present moment, Vigée Le Brun not only enriched her own artistic legacy but also left a lasting imprint on the history of portraiture and cultural documentation.
Had she been crying all along about what she had left behind instead of focusing on the new opportunities in front of her, not to mention the preservation of her own life, Vigée Le Brun’s career wouldn’t have been what it became. The artist thrived in the 1790s and stood out among French painters of that era by establishing a second career overseas that was almost as successful as her initial one.
Vigée Le Brun's paintings reflect the dawn of a new societal structure with enduring optimism, remarkable craftsmanship, and a keen sense of style. When she returned to France in 1801 to great fanfare and cheering crowds, she had done something that very few artists had: navigated a financially lucrative worldwide career and successfully transcended the gender biases that hindered women's advancement in the arts.
This adaptability enabled Vigée Le Brun to adjust her strategies, behaviors, and decisions in real-time, ensuring that she remained effective and proactive rather than reactive. Ultimately, your ability to adapt stems from a deep connection to the present, where you can leverage your intuition, insights, and resourcefulness to navigate uncertainties and thrive in dynamic environments.
Being in the present enables you to channel your undivided attention and energy into your craft, fostering a deeper connection with your work and allowing your unique voice or vision to emerge authentically. You also cultivate a fertile ground where ideas flourish, solutions crystallize, and innovations unfold organically. Living in the present isn't just a prerequisite for producing remarkable work; it is the cornerstone upon which creativity, productivity, and ultimately, profound achievement, are built.