Mastery in pursuit of mindfulness…
I take a great deal of my craft skill in this wonderful ‘hobby’ for granted, that comes from holding these same tools and working with the same materials for over 35 years…
In more recent times, certainly the last decade I’ve become increasingly aware of the mindful benefit I take from certain aspects of practice - and yesterday, whilst pondering on a new article for Ribbons I happened upon the thought that resulted in today’s blog title.
I had heard or read something recently, about craft and mental health, that referenced mastery as an important element, especially (for some reason, don’t shoot the messenger) for men. It struck me that whilst running a train on Paxton Road requires little mastery, finding headspace in the day to day craft activities that created it perhaps does…
In parallel to this, my partner asked a great question yesterday - how does someone who has a latent interest in trains, perhaps had a train-set as a child, start in this hobby as an adult? This made me reflect on how that might feel, how every activity required to build a layout would be new, that to recreate the models in magazines and the internet could feel so very distant, that building a mastery through a lifetime of engagement wasn’t something accessible. Would engaging in the hobby become a stressful activity, another thing to fail at, for someone who started on advice from a friend or medical practitioner, perhaps as an answer to finding struggles in other aspects of their life?
Do I find tasks mindful because of mastery? For example, I love ballasting and find this deeply meditative. Is this a result of being comfortable with the skills involved, a sense of mastery, allowing my mind to become quiet?
Yet Paxton Road and Coalbridge Street are mindful layouts, tactile, easy to operate and they just work, without distraction. They’re conception has required skills and practice, but as objects, I could let a newcomer play trains and once they found comfort in the controls, they too, might find that sense of calm?
Is deliberate practice in pursuit of mastery why we do this - and the meditative state that can follow a pleasant by product… in today’s distracting and stressful world, perhaps recognising the latter is just as important?
Anyhow - I’ve written and re-written this piece several times in pursuit of mastery (!) - it can go now. I hope it makes you think, but if not, enjoy the picture. Until next time, more soon…
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ReplyDeleteSorry you’ve removed the comment Kevin, I think it was a rather insightful reflection, thank you.
DeleteDespite tinkering with model railways since my teens, I can't honestly say I've ever mastered any part of it. Some days things go well and I like what I've done and show it to people, other days I walk away from the layout utterly frustrated by my inability to create with my hands what I see in my mind. My current N gauge layout being a case in point, it's just ground to a halt and left me completely disillusioned despite the wealth of N gauge rolling stock and supplies I own. I think the mental state I'm in can be helped by a good modelling session but it can also affect me negatively when things go badly. I find that the simplest layouts I've built have been the most effective but they don't necessarily improve my modelling skills. Your blog as always, provokes thought and inspiration (I won't be tackling a chassis kit anytime soon!, the lopsided mess of an O gauge brake van lurks in my store of disasters to be remedied in the future!).
ReplyDeleteAny news about Ribbons? Will it be available soon?
Take care
You mention a frustration with your own craft skills. I learnt under the tutoring of my Dad, alongside my best friend. I practiced together and apart. I’m still learning today.
DeleteI do get frustrated. I do walk away when it doesn’t go well.
Perhaps I could offer a paid mentoring service, remotely, and / or offer modelling retreats where practice of craft, and mindfulness overlap?
I think I could probably encourage most towards an airbrush or soldering iron…
Ribbons - see todays blog post.
Or is it mindfulness in the pursuit of mastery? I certainly think that a clear head is helpful in being able to develop and improve techniques. It's certainly better than getting totally stressed out about gluing minuscule lengths of styrene strip together for example.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting question Ian. I certainly hoped my pondering aloud would gather some reflections. You mention the pursuit of mastery is fraught with frustration… perhaps, as you say we are in pursuit of mindfulness - but that certainly isn’t in our minds whilst we wrestle with learning the craft…
DeleteI wonder instead, if we brought mindfulness INTO the practice. Recognising the frustration within us, accepting it, not fighting it. Putting the tools down for a moment, a breath, an acknowledgment and continuing. The feel of the tools, the tactile nature of materials, the regular repetition in activity, all lend themselves to this approach? I’ve pondered a book on the subject previously…
I've read this blog post several times over this week as I've had a tricky modelling time myself and to a point where I'm doubtful of my ability when it comes to being able to concentrate (and see properly) on bending some tiny wire. A task that I have done previously years ago now seems beyond me. I've walked away from it again this morning. Glasses and magnifying glass put away for now. ..
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