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The Blank Canvas That Is Life
In last week's episode of EZ Conversations, I spoke with Catia Batalha about her journey into yoga, shamanism, and Indigenous practices — and how she integrates Eastern philosophy into her work as a psychotherapist.
We spoke about yoga beyond the poses. About embodiment. Presence. Surrender.
But the most powerful moment in our conversation came when Catia shared her experience of losing a baby through miscarriage. At the time, the grief felt disorienting and meaningless. It wasn’t a “lesson.” It was pain.
And yet, over time, that loss became a turning point — not because it was good, but because she chose to meet it with openness. That openness led her toward deeper spiritual inquiry and growth.
Like most of us, Catia emphasized that the meaning of her experiences was unclear as they unfolded. Meaning revealed itself slowly — through willingness.
As I reflected on our conversation, I experienced my own moment of perspective.
My wife gave birth to our daughter last week.
Watching her endure pregnancy and labour — and witnessing her step into motherhood — overwhelmed me with emotion and gratitude in a way that is hard to articulate. It has been inspiring to watch my wife grow through her journey, especially when you get a front-row seat to that transformation. It reframed my own journey. The struggles. The detours. The growth that once felt random but now feels formative.
Around the same time, I watched a clip of Jeff Bridges describing life as a blank canvas. He said we all get to give it meaning.
That idea has stayed with me.
The blank canvas is empowering precisely because it does not promise certainty.
When we stand before it, we don’t know the final image. It can feel intimidating. Undefined.
But it invites participation.
We all have agency to make our mark — imperfectly, gradually, honestly. Some strokes are bold. Some hesitant. Some are darker than we would prefer. But together, they create depth.
The power is not in controlling the outcome.
It is in remaining open to the process.
As I hold my daughter, I am aware that she has her own canvas now. I cannot script her picture. I cannot predetermine her colours. And perhaps that is the point.
Life unfolds not through rigid attachment to how it should look, but through openness and willingness — through trusting that even the unexpected adds dimension.
In therapy, I often encourage clients to loosen their grip on a fixed outcome. Attachment can make every deviation feel like failure. But what if the detour is simply a new colour? What if the darker tones create contrast that gives the entire painting meaning?
Openness is the artist's posture. Willingness is the movement of the brush. Non-attachment is the trust that the image need not be finished today.
We do not know where we will end up.
But we can place the next stroke.
The canvas is still open.
If this reflection resonates, I invite you to listen to my full conversation with Catia Batalha on EZ Conversations. We explore grief, growth, Eastern philosophy, and the courage to find meaning when none is immediately visible.
And as you reflect this week, ask yourself:
What is the next brushstroke you’re willing to place?
A snippet of the Episode
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“This world is but a canvas to our imagination."
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