Sunflowers and the Art of Effortless Leadership

E100: Lessons from a letter to Theo

I darted up the flight of stairs and headed straight for the third room. Any dilly-dallying would have robbed me of the prime spots in front of the paintings I wanted to see, undisturbed by everyone else in the queue.

The truth is, I don’t like the Sunflowers. I don’t like the colour yellow. The layers seem too washed out, almost anaemic. They didn’t move me.

The National Gallery purchased the Sunflowers exactly 100 years ago in 1924, and it’s one of the most famous pieces in this Poets and Lovers exhibition.

But it was the other works on display that truly captured my heart.

These paintings were bursting with energy, their brushstrokes seeming freshly painted, shimmering under the museum lights.

Then, I came across a quote in the exhibition:

"When the thing depicted is stylistically absolutely in agreement and at one with the manner of depiction, isn’t that what creates the quality of a piece of art?"

It’s what the Dutch painter wrote to his brother, Theo, on 9 June 1889.

It’s one of those quotes that makes sense at first glance but, on reflection, hints at something deeper — something almost essential.

For Van Gogh, the true quality in art arose when the subject and the way it’s painted align so closely they became one. He wanted the texture, colour, and brushstrokes to feel as alive as the flowers themselves, his energetic strokes breathing life and vibrancy into the blooms.

And as usual, it got me thinking. Van Gogh’s words to his brother capture the essence of how we can live and lead effortlessly.

When our actions that people notice align seamlessly with who we are, life becomes less strained and more alive.

• When we show up with joy and welcome health as the foundation of our success, we stop walking a tightrope that gets narrower and narrower.

• Instead of speeding along at 200 mph, we can put on the brakes, slow down, and disengage, bringing energy and clarity to decisions we have to make when the stakes and pressure are high.

Or, as one of my clients put it:

“You feel on fire when you can trust yourself.”

ps If you're an entrepreneur, lawyer, or high-performing professional seeking to pause, recalibrate, and lead with more effortlessness, get in touch and let’s have a conversation.

👉 Over to you

Thank you for being with me through these 100 editions.

Thank you for your comments and your inspiration.

Here’s to you living and leading with a little more effortlessness!

Where in your life or work could a little more alignment bring a lot more ease?

That’s it for this week!

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To your health, joy, and success—one step at a time!

Eric