Creativity Is Life-Giving
Perhaps I’m projecting a bit here but I think our lack of creativity is killing us.
Personally, my own lack of creativity haunted me. And I didn’t always cope with it well. I think that’s because when we are out of touch with our own God-given creative desires, we start to wilt like a plant not given enough water and sunshine. I know you might be thinking, but Tom, I’m not a creative person!
I totally get it… but it’s not true.
I’m well acquainted with the mindset that tells me I’m not a creative person. I always wanted to be a “creative person,” but it felt beyond me. I quite literally felt pain in my body as I ached for a creative outlet. However, I didn’t have an obvious skill or talent, so I felt trapped, doomed, sentenced to a cruel existence of longing for something I’d never get. I even coined a little victim-mentality saying for myself: I am Picasso without a paintbrush.
Sheesh. It was all pretty dramatic. Dare I say creative even?
In this headspace, I’d sooth my inner world through consumption. Food, movies, social media, fantasy, sports, etc. And I was committed to it - anything to take the edge off. Consumption is a mindset that causes us to numb our thoughts and feelings. Of course we all need to consume some things in order to survive and enjoy life, but a consumption mindset is like a bottomless pit. It is built on a lie - “I just need to feel better, then I’ll deal with reality.” So we keep tossing things into the pit.
A consumption mindset gets in the way of us making progress on anything that is important to us.
What helped me make a shift was developing a Creative mindset. A Creative mindset consistently practices self-expression. Regardless of how I’m feeling, I’ve learned to, as Steven Pressfield would say, put my ass where my heart wants to be, and make a practice of creativity. For me it’s writing.
I’m not trying to be the next Proust. I’m just committed to tapping into my own soul. The work, the process, the creative effort brings me joy. Sometimes the end product is junk and sometimes it’s decent. But it gives me life. And when I’m full of life, I am able to give life to others. It’s hard to give when you’re running on empty.
You are a creative person. But do you prioritize creative practice? Do you have daily and weekly rhythms of working on a personal or professional self-expression that brings you joy?
Consistent work is the key.
Your self-expression might be traditional arts like painting, music, dance, or writing; or it might be baking, building a business, woodworking, running a 10k, creating a homeschool curriculum, organizing a boy scouts troop, public speaking, volunteering, mentoring, etc. Whatever idea or dream is bubbling in you, you must let it out. It will not manifest itself willy-nilly.
Your self-expressions come to life over time with effort and intention.
If you don’t have a dream or burning desire, then just pick something you can do and get to work. That was writing for me. I wasn’t in love with writing. It was just something I kind of enjoyed that I could actually do, so I started to prioritize it daily. What you’re reading is a fruit of me working on my Creative mindset.
So, if a navel-gazing, overly dramatic headcase like me can make progress, so can you!
Let go of landing on the perfect thing or the perfect timing. You just need to get to work and practice. Even if it’s just 10 mins a few times a week. Prioritize doing something creative that interests you. It will give you life.
And then you can invest that positive energy into others.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom
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