It's a privilege to have written this article '𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔' for the 7th edition of the Joint Gospel Arts and Music Awards (JOGAMA) magazine by the JOGAMA Green Awards which has been in existence for over a decade inspiring, encouraging, motivating and celebrating talents. Also in the magazine are other beautiful articles and stories of legends to encourage and spur you into living your destiny. You can please contact me to get a copy of the magazine.
We have all been designed with the ability to be creative. This stems from God almighty the biggest creator and father of all creators in the world. Unfortunately, there are so many untapped creativities - untold stories, songs unsung, unbirthed ideas, unseen arts and unexpressed skills and talents due to one reason or the other and one of such reasons is finding ourselves in difficult and uncomfortable situations that seem to cripple our creativity.
Aside personal challenges is societal challenges in various forms especially in this present dispensation in which the economy is biting so hard making it difficult for people to express their potentials and living their dreams.
In these times we are in, it can be tempting to give up on our dreams or creativity giving in to the challenges or difficult times that we are facing. But despite the fears and uncertainties that we face, harnessing our creativity opens our eyes to the possibilities out there.
Creativity in the midst of hardship brightens our day, it brings us hope and the ability to reemerge beyond the hard times. In our vulnerability in hard times, creativity softens our edges, eases our pains and helps bring our emotions and feelings into focus.
HOW DO WE STAY CREATIVE IN DIFFICULT TIMES?
LOOK INWARD : Instead of focusing on external forces beyond your control, how about focusing on the inside - our abilities and strengths from the inside? It is understandable that we become vulnerable in times of difficulties but it is said that we become adults at our worst times. This is even the time we need to flex our creative muscles the more. Let us connect with our creativity from the inside and flex the creative muscle God has given to us - writing, singing, drawing, reading, poetic, playing musical instruments and many others. This gives us a leverage over the hard times as we find courage and inspiration to go through and pull through the difficult moments.
TREAT YOUR SKILLS/TALENT LIKE A JOB : We all go through rough, tough and difficult moments in life but irrespective of the difficult times, we still need to show up being creative with smiles on our faces. As creatives, we often have the tendency to wait for inspiration to hit us before we express our creativity but what happens when when we find ourselves in difficult moments when inspiration and motivation seems to be far from us?
Irrespective of how harsh the economy is - hike in transportation and fuel price - we still find our way to get to our offices or business places because our job or business puts food on our tables. We can do same with our creativity. If we treat our creativity like a job, we would always find the inspiration and motivation to be creative. So show up everyday and keep being creative. Just as our jobs or businesses put foods oun our tables, our creativity feeds our minds and mental capacity.
EXPRESS YOUR LOVE THROUGH IT : Creativity in itself it's self love - a well-being practice. It brings a great good to our mental health. Imagine the unison of our mind and body connecting with our hands. It's nothing but self love. Nurturing and expressing your innate creativity helps to calm and sooth the soul in moments of difficulties. It helps to calm the feelings of hopelessness, depression, anxiety as well as boosts your confidence in God and in yourself.
Creativity connects you with your true and actual self. Your inner most being comes into full expression when you are consistently creative irrespective of the condition you find yourself in - favourable or unfavourable.
When we see our creativity as a vital human process, then we would realize that we have a purpose in this world - a higher calling given to us by God to effect positive changes in our lives, society and the world at large irrespective of the difficult moments we find ourselves in.
Paul wrote 2/3 of the new testament while in prison. Those were moments or could have been moments of difficulties for him yet he pressed on in his assignment and today the world is blessed for his tenacity. You too can make generational impact starting from your corner being creative against all odds.
Quote for the day - "The creative mind does not wait for perfect and favourable moments. It's potentials are released even the most difficult times." Rhoda I. Amapakabo
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