Lisa for Real

236. Who’s the real creator?

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I half-jokingly describe my writing as glorified journaling.

As I shared yesterday, I journaled from a young age and would address and summon “Journal,” a larger than life spirit that wholly accepts my deepest thoughts without judgement or ridicule. Journal is an entity that is almost 30 years in the making, and while I no longer start my writing with “Dear Journal,” it is still very much the spirit in how I write and my heart and mind bring them in as I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

My glorified journaling is my art. That is still hard for me to say but the self expression that comes out is the equivalent of leaping expressively across stage, playing a riveting concerto or painting a breathtaking watercolor. When I go back to re-read my writing, I am often surprised by what words have come together and made their way onto paper. I even question if it was my writing at all, like in this piece.

In wondering how my words come to life, I realize it is almost as if that Journal/God/Spirit has held that space for me. It is only through the relationship that I am able to write, and the interplay of my entering that space allows my words to flow and for that spirit to speak through me.

So who is the creator? Me or Spirit? Is there anyway to really differentiate between my and their contribution? And ultimately, does it really matter?

227. Why we must create now

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We are all born artists, and we start imagining and creating as soon as our brains allow.

As children, all that we knew for a while was how to express ourselves – uninhibited, in 100% raw form. It did not matter if we were “good” or “bad” or what our medium was – we did it and we loved it. So simple.

But, for many of us, at some point, we stopped. There are as many reasons as there are people who no longer create. Maybe because someone told us we were not creative or maybe we were over-praised, or maybe other things became more pressing and the list goes on.

This must be one of the deepest wounds a person can hold – experiencing something that stopped us from creating with pure unattached joy.

This is why we must create now. Getting back to a version of ourselves who could create without abandon is a reclamation of self – a message to that young child saying, “I see you and you are worthy of joy.”

226. Art is the great equalizer

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There is nothing more fundamental to the human spirit than self-expression through art.

The thing is everyone can do art of some form. It absolutely wrecks me when someone says, “I’m not creative” or “so and so can draw better than me.” Everyone is born an artist because we are all born connected to our sense of self-worth and create without abandon. There is zero concern of what others will think of us or our art. We imagine, mix and put it all out there to our spirit’s delight.

We marvel at a toddler’s every scribble because a scribble is a miracle. When does that toddler’s scribble become less magical? When does that scribble start being compared to another child’s art? When do they become less proud of it?

Art is innate within all of us. Everyone is worthy of art and art is worthy of them.

224. My favorite kind of storm

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My favorite kind of storm is filled with tension in the air, flashes of inspiration, and thunderous applause – it’s a brainstorm!

Brainstorms take place at a beginning completely full of possibilities. You can’t brainstorm wrong – there are no “incorrect” or “bad” ideas. Everything is a contribution towards progress, and anything is possible. All of these points make me absolutely giddy but for some people, the idea of a wide world of possibility can be scary.

I have offered to brainstorm with dozens of people but few have accepted the offer. Starting something can be overwhelming and bringing another set of eyeballs can feel intrusive or vulnerable or unnecessary.

However, having a brainstorming partner, or even better – multiple partners, can completely change the trajectory of an idea. We only need to be brave enough to allow others into our space to weather the storm together.

166. Doing nothing

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Relentlessly pursuing health, success, or happiness can be exhausting and counterproductive.

Have you tried taking a sabbatical from the active pursuit?

How about doing nothing around your craft or goals for a week? Or maybe three if you want to be an overachiever at it 🙂

What will doing nothing tell you about the value and cost of your doing?