Put Some Respect on YOUR Creativity

Photo by Susn Matthiessen on Unsplash

Creativity is a spiritual issue. Any progress is made by leaps of faith, some small, some large. - Julia Cameron

You are creative. 

I can confidently declare this even if I've never experienced your art! You were designed to be a Creator before you picked up a pen, paintbrush, instrument, camera, or script. Well before you welcomed the critiques and opinions of outsiders, your identity was established as a Creator. And your task, and mine, is always to remember this once we begin to welcome the outside opinions into our creative lights! 

Social media has pushed the idea that being a Content Creator, Creative, or Influencer is some exclusive title only suited for a select, fortunate few. However, I am here to disrupt that mindset and tell you it is untrue. 

Uprooting the Weeds of Inadequacy

I used to have a bad habit of declaring boldly, "I'm not creative." The initial reason for this was that I needed a more diverse perspective on what "ART" was because art and creativity intersected. And even though I'd been in love with writing since I learned to read, I certainly did not consider writing to be "ART."

  I limited "ART" to drawing, painting, and designing things. But even once my perspective expanded to embrace the diversity of ART to encompass my writing, comparison became my new reason for thinking I was not creative. While admiring someone else's art expression, I'd think, "Wow! I wish I were that creative," and I would downplay and overly criticize my artistic expressions, labeling them insufficient. 

Over time, I had to learn to uproot the weeds of doubt from my heart concerning my ability to create because those weeds were choking out the courage I needed to believe that I had a gift, a calling, to write to encourage others.

A Divine Perspective Shift

As I began to purify my heart, I received these words with more profound conviction,

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. — Genesis 1:27

This sweet reminder awakened me to realize that because I am created in the image of the MASTER CREATOR, God Himself, creativity is woven into every fiber of me. I am a creative being. It is my inheritance as a child of God, my birthright! Therefore, I don't have to "try" or "hope" to be creative; I AM!

Embracing this truth has enhanced my outlook. It took me from thinking that creativity was something that I lacked to realizing that it is a divine gift available in limitless abundance when I surrender to and embrace my uniqueness.

Please recognize this about yourself as well. You don't have to strive to be creative or to add value in creative spaces; YOU ARE CREATIVE! And your uniqueness will add value as you embrace it fully. 

Put Some Respect on YOUR Creativity

Recognizing that we're creative is an aspect of acceptance, but ascending to an even higher level requires a deeper level of RESPECT for the gift of creativity!

Respecting your creativity is a powerful way to honor your unique voice and perspective. You possess a creative spunk that will ignite the world around you when you unapologetically express it! When you value the uniqueness of your creative expressions, you move from scarcity to abundance in your approach to creating. It's important to understand that creativity is not a competition or a comparison with others but rather a personal journey of exploration and expression.

When you respect your creativity, you will share it liberally from a position of gratitude and generosity. 

Whether you are a writer, artist, musician, or any other creator, your creative expression is a gift only you can give! When you immerse yourself into your creative path, you will see your ideas come to life and be a source of hope that awakes the creator inside of someone else!

So, embrace your individuality, trust your unique vision, and believe in your abilities! Also, welcome the many evolutions and elevations to which your creativity will grow on the journey. Do not minimize or compromise the gift you are assigned, and do not resist how it will flow through you; instead, agree with overwhelming certainty that you are designed for this, and your art is meant to be delivered to the earth for "such as time as this!"

Surrender 

As Julie Cameron says, "Creativity is a spiritual issue." And "spiritual issues" require surrender. Surrender is not a one-time event; you must do it repeatedly. In doing so, your imagination will continue to expand, granting you the wisdom and guidance necessary to tap into the abundance available inside your creative expression. 

Flow is evidence of surrender. The more willing you are to open your proverbial hand to give your gift away generously, the more you will discover just how much is available for you to continue to give away.

May these words stir up your faith to take action in new and exciting ways as a Creator. May they continually give you the courage never to minimize your creative expression again. I hope you are inspired to continue. Continue to believe BIG for your life and take the necessary steps to see the reality of your wildest dreams. Continuing is essential because, with every step you take, you develop your creative muscle, and each time you show up, you get closer to the vision God gave you about your life. 

I would love to hear what steps you are taking or planning on taking to embrace and share your creative calling.

Until next time, I am sending you virtual love, courage, and MORE Courage!

Sincerely,  

Delanea D Davis, Hope Strategist