Do You Refuse To Use Your Artistic Gifts?
“The Soul needs to create and give”
“If the creative energy within is not expressed – it turns into a destructive force.” This message has been mentioned in the ancient texts, repeated by too many people, to attribute it to one person.
THIS article IS FOR…
- The free spirit, who got stuck in the “safe and secure.”
- It’s for the artist who stopped creating.
- Whose creativity was bullied or bribed with a promise of a “secure” job.
- It’s for someone who gave up.
- It’s for you – if you ignore the Artist Archetype within. And it is for me.
There is a possible danger hidden in gifts that are not used and not expressed – and I bet everyone feels it deep inside.
Regrets, bitterness, disappointment with yourself. Wasted resources and potential. You may think that your ideas are too big to be realized, so it makes no sense to start. But you know and I know – to deny the talents turns into real pain. In the end you’ll ask yourself “did I do what really mattered?” If you have the Artist / Creative Archetype within: what matters is to create.
It doesn’t matter how big the idea and how small your first actions towards it seems to be. Big things are a small actions glued together with Vision. Vision may come from a spontaneous play. “Big” could be the sense of freedom that comes from simply singing a song.
The dangers are all preventable. In fact, ONE day can make the difference. The conclusion of the article is: JUST DO IT!
Here is the longer version:
Let’s look at the dangers of not creating
1. Compromised self esteem
What happens when you are…
- giving up on something, that wants to be expressed by your soul… something that is essentially YOU?
- dismissing your creative ideas?
- looking at creativity as play – while you have “no time” to play. (Play is essential for wholehearted living – Brene Brown. Play is one of the ingredients of happy life – Martha Beck.)
When an artist ignores the inner need to paint, dance, sign, sculpt, build – the gift is wasted and – naturally – the self esteem of the person suffers – because she spends her time on things that have no meaning.
2. Wasting the life force.
We waste our time, energy, talents on things that deplete us, on work that makes us sick, on people who take away joy. What may seem as small compromise, over time turns into a depression, a spiritual crisis.
The cases when we can quit day job and focus on art are rare, (yet not impossible), but when we can invest just one hour daily, or a weekend, to express our creativity – it changes everything. Because the energy that you get from it allows you to survive easier the “ real job”
In the past I though art does not serve others. Now I actually believe: design is one of the most important things in the world. Beauty in all forms uplifts our hearts and spirit.
Go where the high energy and excitement is
- A good directional sign is: go where there is ENERGY (it is literally life supporting on the cellular level)
- When I look at the type of arts I’m NOT involved in (music, architecture, design) I’m not thinking: what a waste it is or how expensive their art is: no… I’m thinking: WHAT A GIFT they are to us… Their work is priceless. How poor the world would be without music that moves our hearts and bodies, how sad would be my favorite thing: driving alone thru the desert highway without demi lovato, kenny chesney or iron maiden, or without beautiful buildings, bridges, clothes.
Our job is only to create. It is not our job to control how others will feel about it.
3. Engaging in something negative and destructive
Creativity, if not channeled into constructive work, turns against us contributing to destructive behavior or emotions.
The destruction could be expressed as: critique of other artists, self critique, deeply seated resentment towards those who advised you against going to arts. Destruction of the works of others: either physical or in form of reviews online, in magazines. Bullying other’s creativity at work.
Caroline Myss, “Sacred Contracts”, writes about an artists who diminished his creativity and his inner calling and at the same time talking negatively about every single other artist. (Though not expressed in art, his creative energy was translated to being negative about others.)
A woman I once knew had a passion for stylization, great eye for matching clothes into masterpieces. Her creativity and talent could help others to look better. Yet she concentrated daily on criticizing others’ outfits. Looking from another perspective the mismatched outfit was an opportunity for her creativity to flourish.
When I “gave up” on art, I felt the sadness inside, turning against me, deep disappointment with my self and a sense of wasted time.
The above are just innocent examples of “destruction”
One day is enough to get us out of the funk, no matter how long we had it.
As we become focused by focusing, joyful by practicing joy, patient by being peaceful in this moment – we can find inspiration by opening our senses to the inspiration around.
Looking for more on creativity?
Write the bad pages – it’s the law!
Creative environment – be mindful of the space