Recently in Creative Purpose Category

I have not had the same motivation (or inspiration) to write as of late. For a season, I was blogging quite regularly and there seemed to be no end to what I could talk about, but I feel like I'm entering a different season in my life.

In my formative years, I used to draw a lot. As I've entered into adulthood, I started playing music more and more and that became my main focus. Drawing simply faded into the background. However, I've started drawing again recently and I forgot how amazing it is. While I'm drawing, I feel like there are no other distractions. My heart is still, my focus is clear, and I feel as though I am connecting with God. No anxieties. No worries. No fear.

Naturally, I want to create more moments like that. I want to spend more of my time working on my art.

This isn't to say that I won't update my blog, nor does it mean that I am going to make drastic changes in my life (although that may be the case). There will probably be another season for writing, but this feels like a season for drawing. I've drawn more pieces in the last few weeks than I can remember drawing in a long time (anywhere from 1 - 5 pieces a day).

As for music, I believe that I will continue writing and playing as long as my brain and hands still work. To this point, 90% of my income has been from music, whether it be teaching or performing or CD sales. However, I have not done a very good job of living within my means, and now it's time to find another way.

It's time I started working. Everything else will have to be done in my spare time. This will likely be a big change for me, but I welcome it.

I have many artistically inclined friends. Being a musician myself, I understand the dilemma of having to provide for oneself vs. pursuing passion. It's awesome when the two meet, but realistically speaking not everyone will find that.

Recently I've had the chance to catch up with a few people I haven't seen in awhile. I got to take a gander at their recent creative pursuits and was mighty impressed. I'm proud of my friends.

I don't think they realize what they hold in their hand. They have something amazing; something that could reach a lot of people. Yet they don't realize the value of what they have produced. They are unsure of their work, because it has yet to reach a lot of people.

What does it mean for something to have value? Does it have to be seen or appreciated by a lot of people to have value, or is it intrinsic?

Artists are often hard on themselves. It's difficult for them to realize the significance of their work. That's why they require so much support.

Much of what I have done to this point was in an effort to help those around me. When I book a show for myself, I try to invite my friends to come and play. I also used to maintain a website where I promoted local artists and concerts. I like to help out where I can, because I understand the struggle.

Sometimes artists just need to know that they are appreciated. They need to know that their work is prized. The least we can do is encourage them in their efforts.

As I started thinking about elaborating on finding one's creative purpose, I realized that there's a lot to cover and I don't even know where to start! I figured the best thing I could do is simply start at the beginning.

Allow me to share part of my story. When I was born, I was practically born with a paintbrush in hand. I had always thought that my artistic inclinations had trickled down from my uncle who is an artist, but according to my mom, I have always been the artistic type. I would sit in front of the TV watching Mr. Dressup, following along with his crafts and drawings.

In grade school I would often spend my free time drawing superheroes. I think I started drawing popular heroes like Superman and Batman, but eventually went on to create my own. This evolved into a variety of other creative ideas, like developing game concepts, drawing mazes and comics, and writing short stories.

My parents also signed me up for private art lessons. At first it went well, but apparently I don't follow direction too well and started drawing superheroes when I was supposed to be painting a flower. I guess you could say that I have often gone against the grain. My parents eventually pulled me from lessons because I was more interested in doing my own thing.

In the final years of elementary school, drawing comics became my primary focus. I had a friend who shared this passion, and though his artwork wasn't as clean as mine, I admired his ability to work fast and move a story along. I would often start a project and promptly leave it to work on something else. Completing large scale projects hasn't always been my strong suit, but I have been learning to finish what I start.

This hobby continued well into Jr. High, though things started to change when I entered High school. We'll get into that another time.

Nevertheless, I think you're beginning to see what I'm driving at. When I came out of the womb, I did not decide that I was going to be an artist. I did not wake up one day and say, "I'm going to produce a lot of work!" I did not say, "I'm going to get really good at this." These were all natural byproducts of following my creative inclinations.

I think we have the tendency to overanalyze our passions in North America. We spend too much time thinking, and not enough time doing! I'm sure if you think back there have been times in your life when you really enjoyed what you were doing. It brought you peace and joy and fulfillment. Perhaps someone told you that what you were doing was foolish and worthless, and that you had better get your act together. This is an unfortunate tendency in North America, because we place more value on things that are immediately profitable. What your accuser may not have realized is that they were attacking the very thing that would make you happy. Not only would you be happy doing it, but you probably had (and still have) the capacity to be really good at it!

Oftentimes our passions are so obvious that we have forgotten what they are. Is there something in your life that you would do without even being asked? Is there something you enjoy so much that you never really stopped to ask yourself why you do it? Perhaps it's that gear stowed away in your garage, or that binder collecting dust in your closet. Pull that out again. Passion cannot wait.

The world is built on a set of established systems and beliefs. People like these systems because it makes their life predictable, and to a degree, secure.

Many people dream of the day that they will have the freedom to do what they really want to do. They make certain assumptions about life that deter them from finding that freedom. They believe that life consists of school, work, marriage, and death. They make sacrifices for the future, believing that once they retire, they will have the time and resources to finally do what they really want to do.

If this is you, you may be unwittingly resisting the lifestyle that you truly desire.

Don't get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with the 9 to 5 lifestyle. I admire those who drive to their cubicle every day, work hard, save up for the future, and support their family.

However, if you are critical towards those who are "living the dream" you are hindering your own progress towards the freedom you desire. You attract what you are in life, and as long as you are judging those who dare to live differently, you are resisting your own path to freedom.

I can personally tell you that creative types work really hard at what they do (at least the ones that I know). Their lives are not half as glamorous as you may assume them to be. They may enjoy certain freedoms like scheduling their own work hours or working from home, but if they have attained any level of success, they probably put in a lot of hours to get to where they are. It didn't just land in their lap.

Most of us would like to follow our passions, and think that would be the easiest thing in the world to do. I personally think that it is the harder thing to do, because you meet with more resistance. That's why there's so much fear attached to pursuing your true purpose in life.

I am reminded of Brin and Page, the creators of Google, who were so excited about their search technology that they hardly spent any time thinking about how to capitalize on it. They were more interested in working on their search engine than getting their hands on money.

The lesson here is that money is a reward, a bonus, a byproduct of pursuing your passion. Money is poor motivation for following your dreams. Money isn't enough to keep you going. If you want to get paid, you can go and work at a supermarket. If you want to follow your creative purpose in life, there has to be a larger vision and a higher purpose attached to it.

Embrace those around you who dare to go against the grain. You will begin to see your own world expand. You will start to embrace your own path to freedom.