On creativity
The link between you and your creative essence
Welcome to the Deep Thinkers Newsletter: A weekly newsletter dedicated to going beyond the surface. To be better. To become wiser. To become a deep thinker.
To the deep thinkers,
What does it mean to be creative?
Is it simply about who can draw the best? Who has innate musical ability? Or, is it about using words so eloquently, that you put all other writers to shame?
Is being creative something you’re born with—Something that only the eccentrics of society understand?
I don’t think so.
Creativity doesn’t start and stop with the creative ‘geniuses’. It isn’t exclusive to those closely resembling Steve Jobs or the tolerable version of Kanye West (yes, I know it’s been forever since he was “tolerable”).
Creativity isn’t exclusive to a chosen few.
Rick Rubin wrote in his book The Creative Act:
“Creativity is not a rare ability. It is not difficult to access. Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.”
The creative essence
We all have a creative essence, some are just more in tune with that essence than others.
Your creative spirit is a companion that walks beside you, guiding you through your life. It’s your link to a higher plane of existence. It’s not a demanding taskmaster, forcing you to work by any means necessary.
The creative essence is in…
The architect responsible for some of the most breathtaking and captivating structures you’ve ever seen.
The teacher creating a wonderland in her classroom with limited resources and funding.
The lonely writer sitting at his desk and sharing his life story for the world to read.
The essence is in us all. It’s part of our spiritual lifeline, our connection to Source.
Your creative essence doesn’t care about money or status. It cares about you surrendering to your work. Its energy is directly opposed to the energy flowing from your ego.
Creativity is about relationship…
…relationship with yourself, with your work, with your spirit, with the universe.
In the realm of creative expression, there is a give and take.
A flow.
A dance of energy.
A walk of grace, love, and inspiration.
But we sometimes stifle this walk. We abruptly end the dance obsessing over status games or giving into the limiting belief that we’re not creative.
Maybe you had dreams of pursuing a creative path early in life and people in your life dissuaded you from it. Maybe you found the courage to create something but felt too self-conscious to share it with the world. Perhaps you finally shared a personal work of art with the world, but nobody cared.
I’ve been there. Sometimes, I’m still there.
But please understand…
You are creative. I am creative. We are creative.
Know yourself
Creative expression isn’t about chasing validation or praise. It’s about knowing yourself.
Before you worry about how much content you’ll make, how many followers you’ll gain, or how much money you’ll make, have you thought about:
What you’ll make
How much fun you’ll have
The value you’ll provide
Your message
It’s true, you need systems and structures in place. Yes, you do need money. It’s a necessary resource. But use your systems and your money to feed your creative empire rather than using it to feed your ego’s need for praise and recognition.
Creative expression can help you process a lot of what is going on inside of you.
The emotions you can’t quite articulate.
The words you’re too afraid to say.
The frustration over a life that just won’t seem to give you a break.
The art of creative expression is food for the soul.
Surrender to the work
You create for the sake of creating, not to be a cog in a system. Your creative essence cannot guide you when you act like a machine, clinging to algorithms and strict structures. Your job is to surrender to your work—to become adaptable and open.
Your job is to venture into your inner world and to create from that space.
The more you create and share, the more can flow through you.
And the more that flows through you the more you begin to understand yourself.
“If we focus on what’s going on inside ourselves—sensations, emotions, the patterns of our thoughts—a wealth of material can be found. Our inner world is every bit as interesting, beautiful, and surprising as nature itself. It is, after all, born of nature.
When we go inside, we are processing what’s going on outside. We’re no longer separate. We’re connected. We are one.”
With every piece of written work you release, with every design you share, with every product you bring to life, with every song you give to the world, you are getting closer to feeling whole.
You are a Creator. This is one of your superpowers. Don’t let it go to waste worrying about making your art perfect or caring what other people think.
Your only job is to create from a place of pure authenticity. Only then can you truly know yourself. Only then can you be one with your spirit.
A Song That Spoke To Me This Week:
- Stay Blessed.
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Ahhh I am also quoting The Creative Act in my posts. Love how that book truly brings out the creative in all of us