454: Creativity is a War!

A while back I read Julia Cameron's book The Right to Write.  Cameron always stirs my creative juices, especially where writing is concerned.  While I'm sure I wouldn't agree with her theology, I do agree with her that writing and creativity are spiritual experiences.  Let's look at a few things she has to say.

WHO SAID WHAT ABOUT CREATIVITY

In one of her chapters, Cameron quoted the following artists concerning their creativity:

• "The music of this opera (Madame Butterfly) was dictated to me by God.  I was merely instrumental in getting it on paper and communicating it to the public." - Giacomo Puccini
• "Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God." - Johannes Brahms
• "The position of the artist is humble.  He is essentially a channel." - Piet Mondrian.
• "I myself do nothing.  The Holy Spirit Himself accomplishes all through me." - William Blake

So if creativity is a spiritual expression and you are a spiritual person, why don't you create more?  May I suggest three enemies that do battle with your God-given ability to create. 

THREE ENEMIES OF CREATIVITY

1.  Fear.  I've written about fear in past Memos.  How many fears can you think of that could prevent you from being creative?  I can think of fear of failure, poverty, ridicule, family, culture, authority, inadequacy, and success.  Can you think of any others? 

If you are going to express your creativity, you must face and overcome the oppression of fear.  It will paralyze your efforts and cause you to procrastinate, hoping for a more opportune time.  Remember what Paul wrote his disciple Timothy: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). If you are afraid, what are you prepared to do about it this week?

2.  Comparison.  When you look at what you do and compare it to what others have done, it can cause you to stop being creative.  In your opinion, you aren't "as good" as the other person.  Stop and think about that.  What is good where creativity is concerned?  Is creativity a process and can your simple efforts today lead to stellar creativity tomorrow?  Is it wise to compare your initial or even mature efforts to what someone else may have spent a lot of time developing? 

Paul described an important principle that he used when he looked at his work:  "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).  Why not do something creative this week and discipline yourself not to compare it what anyone else has done?  Is it the best it can be right now?  If it is, then I would say you have done a good job.

3.  Perfectionism.  We discussed this in Monday Memo 154 when I described the little old man that lives inside you, waiting to criticize and disqualify what you create because it isn't good enough.  I know of only One who is perfect, and He is God.  While you should strive for excellence and your best performance, you can never expect it to be perfect. 

The pursuit of perfection is unrealistic and will hinder you from doing something great just because it isn't perfect. I can't find a verse that talks about perfectionism, but I can find one that speaks to excellence:  "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Colossians 3:23).  Perhaps the distinction between perfection and excellence will help you do something this week that you haven't done just because it isn't the best that anyone can do. 

IT'S A WAR!

I close by again asking the question I raised earlier:  If you are a spiritual person and creativity is spiritual, why don't you create more often?  Perhaps it is because creativity is more of a battle than you anticipated?  I hope I have helped you identify some of the enemies of your creativity and I further hope you will determine to enter into a season of creativity that begins just as soon as you finish reading this Monday Memo.  Fight the good fight to be able to express your innate creativity that is latent within your heart and mind.

    Feel free to comment on this entry on the site where it is posted. 

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A PREACHED MESSAGE:  I had the privilege of speaking yesterday in my church.  You can watch or listen to that message entitled Grace of Giving, Part Two at my church's website. 

NEW BOOK:  You can pre-order my latest book, The Revelation Project: A Fresh Look at the Last Book before June 28 and I will pay the shipping (U.S. only). You can read how to do this on my website home page. 

Comments

[Daniel Jimick]

Dr. Stanko: This is great wisdom and you are a great encourager. I want to thank you for the influence you have had in my life. In 1997, after retiring from a 30 year career as art teacher and after returning from our first mission trip, my wife and I attended a missions conference at Joseph Garlington's church in Wilkinsburg where I was blessed by your teaching. I bought a video of it which was a great encouragement and guide as I wrestled with resuming an art career I had surrendered some 20 years earlier. God spoke to me through you and He has been blessing and using my fine art career. Currently one of my pieces is on display at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in their Juried Biennial show. If interested, you can see some of my work at www.jimickart.com Thanks again and God bless you. Dan Jimick

[Palesa]

FINE!!! I hear you Lord! No more excuses! This is a very hard thing to swallow, along with the Paying attention article. I few minutes ago I was re-working my CV for the 137th time to apply for jobs again because I felt to go into what I think I know in my heart to go into full time - Writing - will never succeed. I came upstairs to get info on PC to include on CV. A friend who subscribes to this blog had send me these articles and I read them, along with an email I never open from a business directly (I get these everyday but never open them) but just now I did and it was talking about being creative. Although it had hint of new age, it was very good and wondered as I read if it was comfirming what I sensed as I worked on my CV before I came to the PC, but ignored, that I should not be doing what I am doing applyign for jobs where I am going to be miserable but okay financially, and loosing focus of where I believe God is leading me to - all because of fear of failure and comparison and yep, perfectionism too. So when I read this article as a third one in the last ten minutes, I knew God was talking to me and I need to continue writing like He has asked me to. Thank you for the challenge ... I think ...