Hearing The Call To A Deeper Creative Life
I recently had a discussion with someone about what it means to be a creative.
He liked this term better than saying he was an artist. I get it. It allows for more space and oxygen to enter your being. After all, there is so much pressure on someone who calls themselves an artist. As if we have to prove that our rich creative lives are legitimate.
The definition of a creative can be thought of as someone who is able to reach into their imaginations and “create” something from nothing- rather than imitate. It’s creating a unique authentic invention.
When we hear a call to the deeper creative life it usually starts with an inkling to move beyond the mundane world. Beyond the herd mentality towards trust in our own unique ways of viewing the world.
It can often feel awkward because it requires a certain amount of radical self-interest and courage to trust in your own internal lens. It’s also a continuous practice in self-awareness and integrity.
WHEN DO WE FAIL TO ANSWER THE CALL?
Let’s say your creative call is expressed through painting. We can sometimes lose the thread of our original intention when we master a few techniques, then gain a little recognition for what we are doing. We skip over or forget the reason for our calling. We are either swayed or seduced into what others find sellable and good enough. We may even begin imitating ourselves painting ourselves right into a box. We stop pushing our boundaries. And then actually taking more risks can often feel like starting over.
We have a choice at this point. Just keep working till something changes (it usually does over time) or take a leap of faith in the present awkwardness of unsure footing
One way to test the boundaries is to ask yourself - “why do I do what I do?”
Some out there might be saying at this point - “well, I’m just not interested in that question. I paint what I paint.”
Fair enough, doing what we do. Why should we have to define or explain it?
I believe there is a certain magic that can take place when we return to the deeper places inside ourselves and honestly ask- “why am I doing this?
For one, it can anchor us and turn us back to the true north when we engage in honest self-inquiry.
Here are some questions you can ask to get yourself started:
Can you define what makes your work stand out from others that work in the same genre as you?
Can you name why you are specifically doing what you do?
Work long enough and you will most likely come up against this question again and again at some point on your own. Answering the questions can be like a warm healing balm for when we feel fractured between working for ourselves and working for others.
It’s a way to connect ourselves to our own original blueprint of the soul. And nobody else can tell us what that “thing” is but ourselves.
For me, my creative calling began when I was younger as a way to find an outer expression of my inner pain. Then my “why” changed over time. It has now become a way to outwardly communicate a connection I feel to the deeper mysteries of life. An omnipotent force I might not be able to visually see, but I can feel. I think of it as communicating higher frequencies of light through painting.
So if you ever feel like you are at a standstill, not sure why just remember you can return to your true north anchor. Take that little extra time to write it out. Nobody needs to see it. It’s a dialogue between yourself and your creations.
After all, what is the alternative? Work that keeps just scratching the surface? Just good enough. Our societies are filled with just good enough. We want so much more.
Thanks for reading,
