Dear Creative
I took piano lessons as a kid. My teacher would come to our house, and at the end of each lesson she gave me exercises to practice on my own. Scales and song drills to keep my fingers dancing across the keys and my mind remembering the notes.
The hardest part wasn't playing the piano, it was sitting my butt down to practice.
When I’m stressed, busy or distracted, the last thing I want to do is dabble in the realm of artistry. Much like the piano, exercising my creative muscles takes A LOT of work and energy. Practicing can feel like a waste of time, frustrating, or joyless. There are many books that talk about this. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is my favorite one — look it up!
When you are feeling overwhelmed or busy, what is something important you neglect? Is it caring for yourself or having fun? Is it connecting with others or with God?
It can be a mixture of things, but the thing that sticks out to me is creativity.
We often dismiss this practice. Maybe we think creativity is insignificant or we having nothing good to contribute. In truth, creating things is what brings beauty, solves problems, offers care and support, and cultivates joy. Creativty is your imagination made tangible. It strengthens bonds that need reinforcement and issues renewal in times of despair. Creativity connects us to the heart of our creative God. If we dismiss creating and ourselves as creatives, we’re dismissing all of this mystery, wonder, and beauty that is meant to strengthen connection and lead us to God’s heart.
It’s not helpful to beat myself up over missed practice days. I do think it's wisdom to acknowledge what's holding me up. Sometimes I’m swamped or I just want to do the easy thing. Sometimes I need the space to just be. Other times I need a friendly, but firm nudge to create something. I need the support and encouragement that says, what you make is important.
Wherever you’re at today, here’s your friendly, but firm nudge — practice creativity today. What you make is important.
If you have a hard time believing you have a creative gene, I’m here to tell you that you most certainly do. You were created by God who made ladybugs and apple seeds. You were thought up by Him before anyone knew your name. He thought of the way oxygen and adrenalin would move through your body. He made your central nervous system, your ability to anticipate a threat, to blink, and to smell delicous BBQ cooking next door. Don't even get me started on how your toes wiggle because of the brain in our head. An external action caused by an internal organ. Cue hands gesturing — *mind blown*.
We are tasked with the responsibility to express God’s creative nature. Remember how Adam was tasked with naming the livestock and birds God formed? Genesis 2:19-20 Imagine the time and creativity that took, and the fun Adam had! He pieced constants and vowels together, sounds and breaths all so we can utter names of countless species as we know them today. The Earth itself reflects God’s creative nature to us, and He chose us to reflect His creative nature to others. What a relationship. What connection.
So how can you be creative today? Let’s start here — When you think of creativity, what comes to mind?
I used to think it involved making things with my hands, the ability to sing, or having rhythm. I thought I had to make something beautiful in order for it to be of worth or value. Here's the thing, I don’t paint, your girl can’t sing, and I only wish I could dance, but I am creative. Creativity doesn’t require the human definition of “beauty”. We create, and that in itself is beautiful. My endless notes and journal pages throughout the years are evidence that messy, unkept, and confusing things express creativity too.
Creativity starts with belief and a simple idea. Belief that you have significance, and the idea you come up with to share that significance. Your personhood and life experiences is what helps you create beautiful things.
Sometimes you make things just for you and sometimes you create for others. At times you share what you make decades later. Whether your work is shared or not, practice creativity today because it sows seeds of faithfulness. Your work doesn’t have to meet any human standard of beauty, your ideas just have to be thought up and flexed. Ideas that cultivate wholeness, joy, and truth.
Back to my question earlier — How can you be creative today?
My art of choice is writing, but I also create recipes, games for my son to play, and outfit ideas. I create fun activities for people to do on dates with friends or spouses. I create conversation starters, journal prompts, and diary entries. I create stories.
Scan your days and notice what you already create. Then, practice. This will be the hardest part, but think of the intentional way your fingers will dance across the keys. They will eventually play a whole song, and what a delightful moment that will be.
Practice
Here are three affirming statements you can speak and three ways to excersize your creativity today.
Affirm
I can create things.
I have an eye for beauty and unique perspectives that no one else has.
I contribute love and kindness to the world.
Create
Listen to your favorite song and move a body part you haven't moved in a while.
In this moment, decide if you need input or output. Do you need to make something or do you need to learn about making something?
Sit in silence and notice what's surrounding you. Write it down —
The washing machine swishing water around.
The dust floating in the sunshine beaming through the window.
The way Starbucks baristas almost dance with each other behind the counter, making drink orders.
I can’t wait to see what you make!