SFUMATO

There is an Italian word, sfumato, which literally means ‘going up in smoke’. It is a term that is used in painting to describe the soft, smoky effect created by layers of tiny dots that blend imperceptibly into each other. This technique is closely associated with Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and her ambiguous smile. Is she happy or sad—or perhaps both? The shadowy sfumato around her mouth and eyes makes it diffi cult to tell. Management consultant Michael Gelb has used this word to describe the experience of holding ambiguity and uncertainty and, in much the same way as ‘Janusian thinking’, he has identifi ed this as one of the features of an effective and creative thinker. It really can feel like we are going up in smoke as we learn to hold our sadness in an accepting and fearless heart, and it certainly does generate transformative energy. Many people intuitively know there is a precious gift within it, even if they cannot say exactly what that gift is.