Sunday ☕ : The Magic of Depth

Dawn breaks early across the Texas landscape this morning, carrying its own special music — mockingbirds competing for attention, the rustle of new spring green leaves dancing in the warm breeze, and the hoot of a confused owl perched atop our water tower. There’s something magical about these mornings here on the long porch that wraps around this Texas ranch house, where I sit with my coffee reflecting on whatever comes to mind.

This morning, as I watch the intricate dance of nature unfold around me, I’m reminded of how often the most valuable treasures require us to dig beneath the surface. We live in a world of quick fixes and instant solutions, yet the most transformative answers often lie several layers deeper than our initial search. Chances are if I were to dig deep on my own property, there would be a massive cave that would fit the Empire State Building — or at least an aquifer filled with spring water.

The Doctor’s Verdict

Years ago, I faced a non-life-threatening physical issue that left me in constant pain. My doctor delivered what felt like a life sentence: "Nothing can be done. You’ll need to learn to live with it." While most people trust their doctors without question, I don’t. I respect them, respect their time commitment to medical school and their experience, and I’m willing to listen. But I also know all humans – doctors included – have biases and tend to get set in their ways. So I’m always asking, "What if they’re wrong?"

Medical Certainties That Weren't

The reason doctors must keep their licenses current with continuing education is because what are thought to be facts are often proven wrong. What seems safe today becomes tomorrow’s danger. Even medical journals have been proven wrong countless times, yet people believe them as gospel.

Think about what doctors have told us in the past that is no longer valid today. Most still tout cholesterol-busting drugs while recent studies indicate cholesterol is actually good for your brain, and the lack of it may contribute to Alzheimer’s. Some doctors still push low-fat diets, while the latest wisdom embraces good fats. When I was a kid, ads claimed "9 out of 10 doctors recommend Chesterfields" cigarettes — which turned out to be terrible advice. And the food pyramid, pushed for decades to benefit the grain industry, has been largely debunked as we now understand most grains are meant to fatten cattle, not humans.

What we see as standard medical practice today will eventually be challenged, and some current treatments will be shown to destroy lives.

The Persistence of Questions

The question that changed everything for me was simple: "What if my doctor is wrong?" Unwilling to accept a lifetime of pain, I began digging deeper. Second opinions from other doctors yielded the same verdict. Most would have stopped there, but I was not willing to accept the sentence. Alternative medicine practitioners offered hope but no results. Yet I persisted, asking questions, exploring unconventional approaches, and refusing to settle for the accepted wisdom.

Eventually, my search led to an unconventional treatment that even a doctor friend dismissed as "a waste of time and money." I pursued it anyway. After multiple sessions, the problem medical science had deemed permanent vanished. The pain that was supposed to be my lifetime companion disappeared because I was willing to dig below the surface of conventional wisdom. I could give you three or four examples of medical issues that have been solved by this same persistence.

The Parallel in Your Life

Does this resonate with you? Have you ever solved what others considered unsolvable simply because you refused to accept the first, second, or third answer? What problems in your life right now might benefit from this deeper exploration?

When Life Hangs in the Balance

Now imagine the stakes elevated — your very survival hanging in the balance. When doctors recommend aggressive treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, is that the time to dig deeper or explore alternatives? The question becomes infinitely more complex because the answer might determine life or death, and timing is often tight.

The Cautionary Tale

Apple founder Steve Jobs famously rejected conventional medical treatment in favor of alternative approaches for his pancreatic cancer. His decision ultimately proved fatal — by the time he returned to conventional medicine, it was too late. Even his vast wealth couldn’t change the outcome. Yet we can never know with certainty if earlier conventional treatment would have saved him either. Some diseases defy even our best efforts.

The Contemporary Dilemma

I have a dear friend currently battling aggressive cancer who wisely chose to follow medical advice given the disease’s severity and progression. Yet emerging peer-reviewed research suggests a complementary treatment that wouldn’t interfere with his current protocol. In fact, it’s saving people with his disease, or at least buying them more time. His stance is to take the treatment only if his doctors approve. But what if their rejection stems not from evidence but from professional entrenchment? If the alternative posed no risk to my current treatment, I might choose differently. What would you do?

Beyond the Information Gatekeepers

We exist in an information ecosystem where a select group of experts determine what constitutes legitimate knowledge. Those operating outside established frameworks are often labeled as fringe thinkers or conspiracy theorists. We often get our news from someone who promotes what we already believe. The left thinks the right is crazy, the right thinks the same about the left. Are extremes really a good idea? How can we be certain the gatekeepers are correct? How can we be certain the alternative thinkers are right? We can’t. That’s precisely why we must question our information sources and explore beyond conventional wisdom. True understanding requires depth and never accepting the first or second answer.

The Solution Paradox

A mentor once shared wisdom that transformed my approach to problem-solving: While most of us can generate two or three solutions to any problem, those initial ideas are rarely optimal. The best answers typically emerge only after generating 20 to 50 possibilities — a process that forces us beyond comfortable, conventional thinking into the uncharted territory where innovation thrives. It’s not easy or quick, which is why most people don’t dig deep.

Depth in Relationships

This principle extends beyond problem-solving or accepting medical advice. Are you facing challenges with your children or family or work? How deeply are you willing to dig for meaningful solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms? Recently, I resolved a persistent personal issue only after extensive research led me far beyond mainstream approaches. Because I did not rule out the unconventional, my life was changed. The answer had been waiting, but only at a depth few are willing to reach. Where will you go that is beyond the mainstream?

The Hidden Treasures

Life’s most profound gifts are discovered through depth — in conversations that move beyond pleasantries, in relationships that transcend superficiality, in business connections built on genuine understanding rather than transaction. Surface-level engagement rarely yields significant value. The gold lies beneath layers of effort, discomfort, and persistence — requiring us to sift through considerable "dirt" before discovering the nuggets that transform our lives.

The Investment of Depth

A truly meaningful life consists of meaningful memories and experiences. Depth requires investment — of time, inconvenience, and often financial resources. Yet this investment yields returns others never discover. The question isn’t whether you can afford to go deep. It’s whether you can afford not to.

The Philosophical Core

At its essence, the pursuit of depth reflects humanity’s most noble characteristic — the refusal to accept limitations imposed by conventional wisdom or the appointed "thinkers" or "gatekeepers" of our time. It’s never a bad idea to ask yourself, "What is the reason they are pushing their particular narrative?" When we dig deeper, we assert that reality is more complex, more nuanced, and more possibility-filled than commonly recognized. We acknowledge that truth often lies not in what’s immediately visible but in what remains hidden until we commit to the search.

The depth-seeker embodies the recognition that what we know is dwarfed by what remains unknown. Yet ironically, this humility becomes the foundation for a more empowered existence, as we free ourselves from the constraints of unexamined assumptions and well-worn paths.

What if you were to explore the depths in your own life today? What if you were to question what those in the high tower in white lab coats or on the TV screens are telling us is true?

PS: Removing myself from reading social media has been a game-changer for me. Suddenly I feel like I’m free of the constant beat of someone else’s agenda, and I have my time back. Let’s not forget that the most profound discoveries often come after we’ve pushed past the point where others typically give up. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary lies not in talent or circumstance, but in the willingness to go deeper than others dare.

If you’re seeking experiences that foster depth, consider joining us at the Plein Air Convention in Reno/Tahoe just weeks away. It’s a remarkable opportunity to form rich friendships and discover capabilities you never knew you possessed. www.pleinairconvention.com

Or perhaps join me this fall painting in Switzerland, capturing the same vistas that inspired Sargent, Turner, Payne, and Monet. With only 13 seats remaining and reservations closing May 15, this rare opportunity for depth through artistic immersion awaits. www.pleinairswitzerland.com

If that doesn’t work for you, a week of painting at one of my upcoming retreats is a great way to create painting and relationship depth. The next one in the Adirondacks still has some seats. www.paintadirondacks.com As does Fall Color Week www.fallcolorweek.com

Who Is This Guy Eric Rhoads?

Eric Rhoads is the founder and publisher of PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (both on newsstands nationally), author and host of six Art Marketing instruction videos, writes a blog on Art Marketing, and is the author of the Amazon bestseller Make More Money Selling Your Art. Additionally, he produces the weekly e-newsletters American Watercolor, Fine Art Today, Inside Art, PaintTube ArtNotes, Pastel Today, Plein Air Today, and Realism Today. Eric hosts the in-person Plein Air Convention & Expo, the Fine Art Trip for art collectors, and painting retreats including Paint Adirondacks, Fall Color Week, and the Winter Art Escape, as well as online virtual events Acrylic Live, Pastel Live, PleinAir Live, Realism Live, and Watercolor Live. He is also the producer of the PleinAir Salon Online Art Competition and art instructional courses through PaintTube.tv. Each weekday Eric hosts Art School Live, a YouTube show featuring free demos from a variety of artists, and he is host of the PleinAir Podcast and Art Marketing Minute Podcast. Eric is a plein air, landscape, and portrait painter with works at Castle Gallery. He is heavily involved in the radio industry as founder of Radio Ink Magazine as well as Radio + Television Business Report, the Radio Forecast Conference, and the Hispanic Radio Conference. He is the author of the bestselling book Blast from the Past: A Pictorial History of Radio’s First 75 Years. Eric lives in Austin, Texas, with his bride, Laurie, and they are the parents of triplets. Learn more at EricRhoads.com, or see Everything We Do.