The Artist Within

The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising and gave to it neither power nor time.

Mary Oliver

Individuals every where have a special gift or talent.  Unfortunately, many of us take the gift or talent for granted or never use it at all.  If we channel our gift into a creative expression, it would allow us to feel more satisfied, complete or full.

When we use our gift, we generate a higher level of self-esteem  which impacts our body, mind, and spirit.   We physically feel better, we have more clarity from stress relief, and might even be able to share or teach our talent to someone else.

Whether it is writing poetry, playing tennis or designing a flower garden, creative expression adds depth to our sense of living.  The self-imposed expectation of perfection often crimps our flair or stops us dead in our tracks.  The desire to master adds more pressure to our attempt to simply enjoy and drags competition along with it.  We need to be free and not limit ourselves through self-criticism and judgment. 

Discover  a desire or passion  for something whether it be antiquing, photography or art.  If we do not have a sense of what we want to do, explore classes or community resources.  Experience several opportunities until something really resonates.  If we already know our strength, we can volunteer at a kids club or senior center to share what we do best.  We can create an art studio or a writing room or a sacred place in the corner of a room. 

The importance of blending creative expression into our lives is that it makes us expand our awareness of ourselves and helps us to feel more alive.  It reduces our mind chatter and assists us in connecting with other levels of reality.  What is that old saying, "Use it or lose it!"

The Timing of the Fall ...

An apple falls from the tree when it is ripe;

there is no way it can continue to stay on the branch. In the same way, there is no way your blessings can be separated from you if you affirm in your gut, "Yes, I accept." 

A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE

Alan Cohen

Divine Spirit continuously offers opportunities, blessings, and gifts, but we are some times so busy creating struggles in life that we miss the outreaching of all that is Holy.  Our ego gets in the way; our agendas do not allow time to just sit in the presence of Spirit; we are not awake to the magic in life that surrounds us.

Life can turn to bliss when we allow the Divine to be our day planner.  When is the last time you welcomed the Divine Spirit into your life?  Extend an invitation and be aware of the glowing reciprocation!

You Don't Know ...

I have no special talents.

I am only passionately curious.

Albert Einstein

You don't know ... how you touch the lives of others whether intentionally or unintentionally.  When you snip a small bouquet of flowers from your garden as a last minute act before you depart for a friendly visit, the gesture remains in the friend's thoughts for days afterwards, long after you have forgotten.  When you gently smile and tell the elderly woman how lovely she looks in the color she has chosen for the day, she beams with the recognition, shining her joy throughout the day, long after you have forgotten.

You don't know ... how special your gifts are even if you use them every day.  We all have been gifted with a special talent, but we seem to minimize it and take it for granted.  Extending a compliment on a personal gift, such as gardening or floral arrangements, the person usually responds by saying something like, "Oh, anyone can do this!" 

You don't know ... how important your contributions are until many years have passed.  Albert Einstein humbly says of himself, "I have no special talents.  I am only passionately curious," even though he was a recipient of a Nobel Prize in Physics,  credited with the Theory of Relativity, and created the basis for Quantum Physics.  He developed the formula that eventually led to the Atom Bomb, but he was clearly opposed to that discovery.  He also worked with another researcher in discovering the refrigerator.  It is also notable that he created a mental image of the Universe and used it as a basis for his theories.  Many of his ideas stemmed from fantasies and dreams.  What would have happened to Albert Einstein if he had simply given up when he initially could not find a job as a teacher?   

You don't know ... where your life can lead if you maintain the courage to see your dreams through; if you pay attention to the guidance within;  if you sustain desires with the support of friends, relatives, and co-workers; and if you carry courage in your heart rather than fear.

God has blessed each individual with a unique gift or talent.  For many of us, our gifts and talents will be blended into the nature of our being  ... character, honesty, integrity, and creativity ... rather than a brilliant discovery.  Either way, we will have to account for what we accomplished with those gifts and talents. 

Do you have an incomplete list of dreams that went unrealized or simply faded with time?  Have you simply never become all that you wanted to be?  With courage, simply begin again, so that you can joyfully account for the passion in your heart and where it led you throughout your years!

Silence the Inner Critic

If you hear a voice within you say

'you cannot paint,'

then by all means paint

and the voice will be silenced.

Vincent Van Gogh

For two years, I searched for a writers group.  I asked friends, acquaintances, and explored bulletin boards at the local bookstores and coffee shops, but nothing ever materialized.  Not willing to give up, I kept sending the desire out into the Universe and into the ears of anyone who might listen.

Quite unexpectedly, I came across a small ad in the local community newspaper inviting anyone interested in writing to join this Writers Forum.  I was so excited!  I didn't recognize any of the three names listed, so I asked around, receiving positive comments about all three women mentioned in the ad.

Upon attending, I instantly knew that I had found the support that I had been seeking.  The little group expanded and even a few friends of mine began attending.  The group was a mix of published authors, private creative writers, and new beginners.  Every week, we would all check in and have the opportunity to read something we had written.  It wasn't mandatory, but highly encouraged. 

It was not long before I recognized a pattern amongst us.  Each writer, prior to reading the words to be shared, always minimized their work by saying, "This isn't very good." ... "This is just the first draft and I have a lot of corrections to make." ... "I am not as good as you guys, this is my first attempt."  Then the writer would read his or her words and we would all be mesmerized!

On one particular day, a member of our group humbly asked to read a poem she had written years before.  It was a sensitive reflection of the emotional process leading to divorce, compared to the process of labor prior to birthing.  The well chosen words easily engaged the listeners, and there was not one pair of dry eyes in the silent room.  It was excellent! 

Repeatedly, participating individuals would introduce their work with very little confidence.  After sharing the writing, he or she would be amazed at the groups response.  To each other we offered constructive criticism, encouragement and helpful resources.  It is true that talent was not equally distributed, but critical self analysis ran rampant.

We all are gifted with creativity that we generally do not recognize in ourselves, but profusely admire in others.  Whether we are blessed with abilities in singing, writing, drawing, sculpting, painting, expressive communication, or any other artistic flair, we need to develop and use the gift as an expression of enhancement.

We must drop all expectations of perfection and simply enjoy the artistic expression.  Have fun and do not compare your work to others.  While working with personal creative ability,  we begin to draw closer to our inner spirit.  We begin to feel more alive and connected to all of the world surrounding us. 

So whether you are singing to your grandchild, sketching on a "While You Were Out" pad, cooking for charity, gardening for habitat for humanity, or simply pasting a collage with magazine cut outs, let the creative energy run through you.  If you are more accomplished, don't be hesitant to take a class or find a mentor to expand abilities.  Any creative gesture is a wonderful method of healthy expression.  Tone down that inner critic,  climb over the self-imposed barriers, and let your spirit fly!