Why I can, but you can’t?

If you're wondering why you lack inspiration for creative work while I don't, this message is for you today.

The answer is simple: I do the work. If you’re wondering how to ‘do the work’, here are couple of tips…

#1 Learn to pray from your heart

Many individuals engage in prayer as a religious obligation without truly connecting with their inner feelings. It is crucial to cultivate heartfelt prayers by allowing oneself to be vulnerable. One can invite the Holy Spirit to uncover any hidden aspects of their heart, such as improper intentions, errors, or poor choices. Essentially, one should be open to exposing and addressing anything that is usually concealed from themselves and others.

#2 Learn to contemplate, wait and listen

Most people rush to get things done and find it difficult to wait long enough to receive answers to their prayers. Answers can come in various forms, so it is important to develop personal intimacy and various “languages” with Holy Spirit. Once Holy Spirit becomes your closest confidant, your communication with Him will surpass even that with your most intimate companion. Just as people in love can convey messages through gestures and gazes, developing intimacy with the Holy Spirit enables the use of new forms of communication that express love, peace, kindness, and more.

#3 Get inspired yourself

Get to know yourself by discovering what inspires you. Go for a walk in nature and appreciate what you see. Go to art galleries, museums and pay attention to which art pieces evoke emotions in you and which don't. Explore various artistic expressions, as well as their history (if possible). Go to theater or opera, watch artistic films, or read a book on creativity... As you feed your soul with art and history of art, you will feed your heart with creativity and eventually you will be able to draw from the creative well in you. Keep feeding your soul with various sources of inspiration and remember to use your own imagination while observing other people's works.

#4  Be okay with making mistakes

There are false beliefs sometimes blocking creativity. One of them is “I am not a creative person, hence I cannot create.” I wasn’t a creative before 2021, but I loved arts. Every person has a creative potential that he/she can feed and draw inspiration from. Skill is something that develops with learning and practice and it is not the first or the second most important thing to have in order to create good artistic pieces. The first important thing is to be original. Since we are all unique people, we are all capable of creating something original. The second blockage to creativity is need to create something perfect. Only practice helps perfectionists to overcome need to have everything “perfect”. It takes time to embrace imperfections in self, which translates into creating art that evokes emotion and communicates something to viewers. 

# 5 Journal 

Journaling is a helpful tool in knowing self, as well as developing and nurturing creative writing skills. Both are important for opening a creative flow. Since journaling is personal, it helps to express issues of heart in a creative and blunt way. 

#6 Just start creating!

Make a designated time in your day for creativity. Start drawing, painting, knitting, embroidery or mixed media art.

#7 Learn a new creative skill and practice it

Before you start making something meaningful that makes a difference, practice, practice, practice… Practice makes perfect. Whatever form of creativity and art you choose as a means of your personal expression, keep developing it by learning and practice. 

How can I tell if the creative well within you can be unlocked?

I have used tips in this blog post to assist others in discovering their creative inspiration. Through my own creative experience, I have aided individuals of various backgrounds and beliefs in unlocking their creativity. The key requirement is the individual's readiness to engage in the creative process.

The journey of my creativity

In 2021, I began my creative journey by engaging in a practice of "waiting upon the Lord." I would contemplate on a Bible verse and then pause to receive a response. During that period, one of the verses I pondered the most was Psalm 46:10, which says, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

One day, in a moment of inspiration, I realized I should begin painting. While praying, the term "prophetic art" came to me, and I envisioned Facebook. I felt compelled to search for "prophetic art" on Facebook, leading me to discover Wendy Manzo's FB group named "prophetic artist." Prior to that day, I had no knowledge of such a concept. To this day, Wendy Manzo remains my art mentor.

Do you still want what I can and you can't? If the answer is "yes", do the work!

My first painting, "Rivers of healing" 2021.