Creative Powerhouse
I just got off a teleconference with a bunch of photographer friends who are all building, developing, or evolving their blogs. One of them said something that struck me… something to the effect of, “I’m concerned about posting my thoughts and ideas on my blog because someone might read what I’ve written and say, ‘Why should I care what you think?’ ”
Those words chilled me for a second, because of course, I’ve had the same thought. Why should anyone else care what I think? This touches that vulnerable, insecure place that I’ll bet everyone who has ever written anything in any format – digital, paper, or stone tablet – has experienced at some point… (and most likely, at many points – myself included).
Why should anyone care what you think?
I know why.
It’s something that’s perfectly obvious… so obvious, in fact, that it’s almost made invisible by how obvious and pervasive it is. People should care about what you think because you’re a frikkin’ creative powerhouse.
Realizing this obvious yet elusive fact was simplified by the fact that my friend who told this story is obviously a creative powerhouse. Which brings up another truth: It can be much easier to recognize virtues in others than it can be to really, truly recognize them within ourselves. Whether consciously or not (and usually it’s not), externalizing our inner experience is one of those things that we all tend to do. When I’m happy, whether it’s raining, shining, or hailing, everything is beautiful, luminescent, musical. When I’m upset, even a beautiful day can be annoying or gloomy. But I digress.
Back to the part about you being a creative powerhouse. What do you think or feel when you hear this? Are you thinking, “Yeah right.” Or “Bullshit.” Or, “You don’t even know me.” Or are you able to find how it’s true?
I say that you’re a creative powerhouse with absolute confidence – even if I don’t know you personally – because this is part of who we all are, at our essence. People don’t learn how to be creative. Any child will show you that this is true. Children – and all people – are naturally, innately creative. No, we don’t learn how to be creative. Sadly, tragically, we learn how to not be creative. Once that lesson has been learned, The Matrix has you. Our true nature becomes obscured by successive layers of illusion, apparent limitations, and distracting attempts to self-soothe ourselves out of the pain caused by this separation. As this separation replicates itself in the billions of psyches in our world, the net result is the generalized dislocation from essence that characterizes the dysfunctions of modern society. This is the problem. The solution, as I see it, isn’t to try to make society more soulful. The solution is for each of us to reconnect with the truth of our own beings, to tune into this, and to follow this.
It helps to have allies in this process… particularly when there’s so much evidence to convince us that we’re inadequate and that we need to compensate for this with profligate consumption.
It helps to have allies in this process… and my intention in writing this is to be one of your allies, reminding you of your true, radiant, infinitely creative nature.
If you’re still doubting the truth of this statement, let’s take a little thought experiment. Imagine yourself lying on your deathbed for a moment, having lived your life in two ways. In the first way, you lived your life with the recognition that your true nature was infinitely creative, and that the creativity of the universe expressed itself through you (and through everyone). In the second way, imagine yourself never having challenged your inherited stories of personal deficiency and limitation. Which life would you prefer to have lived?
I’m not saying that any of this is easy. I’ve spent more than a decade working on cultivating my creativity, and I struggle with it, one way or another, every single day. But this kind of struggle feels fruitful and significant and real, whereas the other struggle – trying to live with the shrill, unexamined beliefs in my own inadequacy – is nothing but depleting and demoralizing.
So let this be a reminder, a mirror of the creativity that lives within you, of which your very being is an expression of, from which you have never been separate (other than in your thinking). You’re a total creative powerhouse.
Feel it. Be it. And when you’re ready… share it. You and me both. This life is precious, and fleeting. Our candles burn brightly, but only for so long. So bring it!
PS – This exploration of creativity continues in a related post, “Quantum Creativity.”
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Thank you for this Shalom. This is a call to action and I wholeheartedly accept. My question is “why not share what you think?” There is no apparent reason not to other than the fear you so poignantly described above. There will be those who don’t care what you have to say, but at the same time, there will be those who hang on the edge of your every word. They will look forward with enthusiasm to hearing more. This is the community we can help to cultivate with creativity and fearlessness. I say ignore the naysayers. Do what is in your heart!
Excellent post Shalom. Thanks for the plug.
I want to explore a basic premise developed by my mentor and friend George T. Land. We were founders and partners in a think tank (1969-1971) called the Farsight Group where we developed systems to help people become more creative. I was very young. I was very lucky to have this opportunity.
While the systems worked for solving most problems, they did not work for the artist in me as they neglected the core of creating. Problem solving is about making something go away and replacing it with the best alternative solutions. Creating is causing what you love and what matters to you to come into being. It is about manifeting. With problem solving the source is often external – especially in advertising where I was working at the time. A problem is presented usually by a client. The problem is restated with a question that may ask ‘In what ways may we…’ The answers are infinite. We look at the possibilities and come with as many solutions as possible within the amount of time, energy and dollars allocated to this project. We pick the best solution… Etc. We had a wide variety of clients including advertising agencies, client direct. We worked on selling booze, beer, cigarettes, travel and much more. Mostly products I did not care about. We were very good at what we did.
Whoops! Back to George’s basic premise. He taught that we are driven by replication. It is cellular. All cells need to reproduce. I want you to be just like me. In that way, I may be immortal. Interesting. Maybe even scientific. If we do not replicate or grow, we will die! George’s best book is entitled Grow or Die. I later made grow or die my own slogan. But replication left out essential parts of the creative process. Spirit! Passion! For years I continued to hone my problem solving and replication drives. All of that worked well. But one day, when I was about 40, I began to notice an emptiness that manifested itself in depression. There was something missing. I was taking care of others, but had forgotten to take care of myself. I had stopped growing. I was in a self-destructive mode.
I took a fearless inventory of what mattered to me. Pages and pages of all of the places, activities, things, people, that mattered. I wanted to live a life where I was able to express myself fully. To bring my passions into being. To live a life of creating. To work inside out rather than outside in.
I am very happy most of the time. I create. I grow. And while I do not want people to be like me; I want them to be themselves, I guess replication still applies. I help people to be like me in the sense that I want them to bring what they love into the world. That is how Heartstorming was conceived.
Ryan, your question, “Why not share what I think?” is the question that I hope all of us will ask, after getting very clear about what it is, precisely, that we do think. For some reason, Malcolm X comes to mind, who said something to the effect of, “Don’t sit around waiting for someone to empower you. No one can do that for you. You’ve got to do it for yourself.”
Only by recognizing the value of what we think and of what we have to share with the world will we be empowered to share it with the world in a way that is clean, clear, and nourishing. This happens when we’re in the flow of our true passions. Last night, I actually had trouble sleeping because I had so many ideas running through me, so many new things I want to create. Sometimes it feels like trying to drink from a fire-hose, the flow is so strong. And at other times, I can’t even find a trickle. But whether I feel connected to this energy or not, it’s always there, and it’s always accessible for all of us. I have faith in this.
Ian, I love how you not only make a practice of helping support the creativity of others, but that you do the same thing for yourself. You’re a great example of the all-pervasive power of creativity, and a reminder that the bulk of creativity lies in the ever-evolving process, rather than in the products that are left behind.
If anyone has additional thoughts to share about this, of course I’d love to hear them and continue this discussion.
Shalom, I have to tell you that I have been on the fence for a while now about blogging. However, after last night and the post you just wrote, I can honestly say that I am now off the fence….in a good way. Your post has inspired me to start my blog and continue at it and to post what I feel…..all the time!
Aloha Shalom,
Yet another terrific blog post!
I am sooooo happy you are plugging into a venue (blogging) that allows you to express your creative skills and share with the world. I truly celebrate that. As you know I taught the Artist’s Way on and off for almost 2 decades. In her book Julia Cameron takes people through a 12 week process to go over their tangled beliefs and negative experiences that stunted or inhibited the natural born creativity we all arrived on the planet with as children. One concept I love of Julia’s is to have people that are the closest to us function as “believing mirrors”:
1. Believing mirrors are optimists who always see the cup as half full. Because they truly believe in the ultimate goodness of life and your ability to reach your highest potential, there are no mistakes or failures, only lessons and opportunities for growth. They know for a fact that everything happens for a reason, and one’s purpose is only revealed by embracing the journey with all its twists and turns.
2. Believing mirrors are truth tellers. They reflect the reality of who you are, but always from the perspective of who you are yet to become. I love the picture of the little tabby cat looking into a mirror and seeing a full grown lion reflected back. Every kitten has the partial DNA of a lion. A truthful mirror will reflect both the heart of the lion and the potential for encasing that within the body of a kitten. The mirror’s honesty is always framed with respect and polished with a generous heart.
3. Believing mirrors are clear and self- effacing. They do not muddle the picture with their own beliefs and ambitions. They do not project their needs and values upon you. Believing mirrors can step out of the way and provide the space and time for you to be center stage. They allow you to be both the director and the actor of the scene; plus they let you have as many rehearsals as you need.
4. Believing mirrors only reflect the present moment. Where you stand now is what you see. The past is not in the picture: the future is for you to forge. There is no ‘should of,’ could of,’ ‘would of,’ only what is. Standing before the mirror allows you to be fully in the present, which is after all the starting point for every next step.
5. Believing mirrors allow you to see the best of you. They reflect your strengths and capabilities, your gifts and talents, your divine essence and ultimate potential. They see through the make-up and blemishes and bear witness to your core. They reflect your true beauty!
To stand before a believing mirror is energizing, motivating, empowering, and validating. To be a believing mirror is fulfilling, satisfying, and inspiring. Together you experience the intuitive dance of a heartfelt connection. Often in life, you need to become what you seek. So practice being a believing mirror to the important people in your life and ask others to play that role for you. Purposefully, invite the grace and wisdom of believing mirrors into your life.
Shalom, you have been a totally dedicated “believing mirror” to me for a big part of my life and you have always inspired me to push my creative edge and follow my heart’s highest calling. In turn, I have tried to be one for you.
I celebrate the Creative Powerhouses we have become!
with much luv,
r
Your post has great timing and fits where I am in my life. I’m right at the start of writing a dissertation proposal, and since December of last year, when I visited you and the gang in Maui, I’ve been thinking about how to more fully integrate creativity with what I’m doing. As it works out, the topic I’m immersed in now is all about creativity in education–having it nurtured and integrated with other subjects instead of having it be replaced by things we have to do and don’t enjoy. As for the dissertation, everything seems to have been smoothly put into place, almost as if this project was there all along for me, and I just found it. While I don’t feel like I’m being creative, I know that I am–it’s a state of mind. Also, simply bringing creativity to the front of research makes doing it worthwhile.
Thanks again, Shalom, for this beautiful reminder of what is important in life. Aloha.