Most of you that read my blog are creative types. That’s just the way it is….creativity draws creativity. I LOVE that – I love to be surrounded by imaginative people – people who don’t live with limits or boundaries of what can’t be done. In my years of directing a creative arts ministry, I have learned a few things – all of which I am still trying to implement in a more effective way. I don’t care who you are or what line of work you are in, none of us have perfected the implementation of known truths.
Anyway, here are a few Monday morning creativity rants –
- Creativity doesn’t take a lot of money. Carolyn and I balk at this one all the time. How can it NOT take a lot of money? Everything costs money, right? Well – I think we’ve proven over this past year that we can do a lot with nothing. That’s the fun of being creative, isn’t it? I love it when we can figure out a way when there is no way.
- Creativity needs friends. – Friends who never say “can’t” or “impossible” – friends who ALWAYS say, “that’s a great idea, how about this….?” We have creative team meetings often around here. It’s hard not to be negative, but it doesn’t accomplish anything. I want to get better at encouraging my team members and giving them ROOM to think outside the box.
- Creativity needs quiet. I have learned that I rarely come up with creative ideas when I’m in my office with the phones ringing, people chatting outside my door and e-mails to answer. I’m trying to learn how to be a better steward of my schedule so I can get OUT of the office and let God give me some awesome ideas….songs….poetry….leadership inspiration…
- Creativity requires discipline. Sometimes I would rather sit on the couch and watch HGTV than get out my journal and be productive. Honestly, sometimes I NEED to just sit on the couch – but I don’t need to do it nearly as much as I do. Turn off the TV…the computer…the IPOD…the game system and practice being creative.
- Creativity needs editing. My first idea is never a complete idea. You would never write a book one week and send it off to a publisher the next week. They would send you a quick rejection letter…count on it. Ideas need time to simmer and boil down to the good stuff – you need to set things aside and come back to them a week later and see if you still think it’s a good idea. Haste is never a friend to well executed ideas.
So – feel free to leave some comments on what you’ve figured out – or not figured out….
Abs of Steel 
> For me it’s not quiet but peace. White noise or music or many other things often help. You wouldn’t believe how much I love to push a lawn mower for that reason. Also, totally idle isn’t necessarily good for me. When my body is doing something mindless but productive, my conscious seems satisfied and gives me permission to explore one of God’s greater realms (the one inside our minds where he has hidden so many creative secrets).
Abbye, you’ve always got something good for me to contemplate.
I think I need to leave the office…feeling the need to be creative. Ok? good – see ya later! 🙂
(oh, yeah – glad to have that missing part of my brain back…even if it is over there in the other room. i LOVE that part of my brain.)
Ouch! I know that was not supposed to be stinging, but it is for me. God keeps bringing me back to the whole discipline thing. I’ve recently (the last two months) started running and watching what I eat. It’s not that I need to loose weight, but it takes discipline to develop discipline, and in some ways I’ve been out of control. I’m developing discipline for being a good stewart of God’s temple, I think that next it will be developing discipline to be creative. The worship of God, must be creative because He is creative. If I keep things the same I won’t challenge my mind or anyone elses to see God differently; the way that He is. I think our approach to worship is the same as starring at a picture. If you stare at a picture long enough from the same focal point, you loose focus and the picture becomes distorted and looks the way that your mind perceives. I think it is the same with our view of God. We see God one way and continue to look on without changing view points or in light of His other attributes. We loose focus, the lines blur, and we perceive Him differently than He actually is. The challenge, the adventure, is to see him through all of scripture, experience His many moods, worship him with all of our means of expression continually. For me, the starting point is discipline. Take the time. Start drawing a line on the canvas. See where God takes you!
So I was thinking about upcoming staff meetings…we could do the beach or a spa day, or even a road trip…what do you think for some out of the box inspiration?? or did I miss the point??
totally in agreement.
most of the time he speaks through
nature and our very midst of being
with him.
or when you are in the bathroom
(sorry, its true).
either way we have too many
distractions that take
us away from our gift.
and frankly thats not fair because
he gave us the gift to use.
and to be good stewards over.
so really we just need to step back.
breathe.
focus.
and listen.
and just because we listen
doesnt mean we have to get to
work right away.
it may just mean
he wants us to listen. 🙂
love you!
My biggest hinderance to being the creative person that I am was the yuck I either picked up or was thrust upon me along the journey of life. The thing is that I had not been completley healed from the yuck. For example my family has lived in houses with white walls and tan carpets for nearly 18 years. One time I painted one of my bathrooms a beautiful aqua, at least I thought it was beautiful. Until my favorite brother came to visit and very rudely proclaimed that it was horrible. I was crushed and shortly after his visit painted the walls a very nuetrel color. I actually sponge painted them white and tan. At least he didn’t totally crush me, I did sponge paint the walls. I went through some intense healing since then and have found myself taking more risks then ever before. Some risks have gotten me into some serious trouble, but I’m not afraid anymore. The house we live in now has many different colors. There have been some that have voiced their opinions, well let’s say, with total disrespect. I don’t care! I like it! Thank You Daddy for healing and delivering me! Thank You for giving me gifts. I look forward to the many opportunities ahead to share with others what You have placed within me. And if someone doesn’t like it that is ok I will love them anyway.
By the way I believe it’s ok to have an I don’t care attitude when someone is being rudely critical, but I believe it is important to be able to recieve tweeking from friends who love me. Especially when working on a team it is essential, vital and healthy to the team to be open to corrective criticism. Otherwise division will rip apart the hearts of the team members. Thus humility it is always a key in the success of a creative team. All the ideas may be great, but together as they are tweeked will make a greater impact.
I have now, for the first time, spent some real time reading your blog… 🙂 And I am re-reminded why we’re friends. Seriously, for two girls who live hours apart (depending on who’s driving), we have much in common.
Creativity. One of my favourite words. Did ya like that? It was the Oz rubbing off… i used to think creativity without limits was the best kind… Unhindered, unabashed, un “saved,” or un-religious, if you will… But now I see a little more clearly through the glass– God is creativity defined. He is all of the above adjectives, yet he sets limits around his creation so that we can see it. otherwise everything would be a big blur. day would look like night and water would look like grass… Humans would look like monkeys… welllll!
All I’m saying is that it has taken me a while to embrace the limits around what God has gifted me with because I see that those very limits are what make the work of one man’s hands different to that of another. because he said I would have brown eyes, you could never confuse me with a blue-eyed girl of the exact same stature. Because he said I would have my voice, i can never confuse my calling with that of someone who sounds more like who may be famous at the moment. And because he has a specific call on my life he gave me the correct tools and the right type of creativity for that. And within those bounds I am free. I am unhindered, unabashed, and unlabeled.
Sarah Bess
I have many creative brainstorms while washing dishes. I keep pieces of paper magneted to my fridge so I can jot down thoughts. Which freaks me out when someone throws out an old meal plan with my next article subject on it! The worst one was when I was trying to write a poem on the back of a reciept at red lights.
But I remember what Eric said about writing a novel. You have to have a plan, you have to show up, you have to work on a schedule. I will never do anything big in between drying cups. I need to cut out time to be here thinking and writing. I need to disappoint some people, say no to some good things, and give myself time… it’s hard. I want to please everybody. But the question is, is destiny worth disappointing someone? Seeing you & hearing your encouragment helps me believe it is, believe that what I want to do is worthwhile, too.
Liked your essay on creativity!