Late at night I sit alone

And work on deadwood zen

I stir the lifeless ashes

The fire won’t relight

Suddenly I hear the tower

Chime resound.

Its single sound of clarity

Fills the winter sky.

 —Han-shan Te-ch’ing (1546-1623)

Moments of clarity have the potential to change our lives. Depression can fill your world with lifeless ashes and leave you feeling helpless and hopeless to find any joy. People come to my office seeking clarity and we step into the unlit fire and stir the ashes of their thoughts and feelings. Our time together ends for the day and the feelings remain. The weeks can become months without much in the way of change. The scheduled hour becomes a finger or toe hold on our ascent of what feels like an endless journey up the side of the mountain. Chimes resound when new connections are made between experiences and assumptions that are usually outside of our conscious awareness. Being mindful of the present moment and allowing ourselves to reflect on our thoughts and feelings without judgement transforms the arduous journey into an opportunity to discover our creative potential .