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4 Convictions About Creativity That Drive Everything I Do · The Daily Writer

• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome everybody to the Born to Create Podcast.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: My name is Kent Sanders and I'm your host.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: I'm an author, musician, and teacher.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: But most importantly, I'm a husband and a dad.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Here on the show we talk about practices, habits, and strategies that help us live out our creative calling.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: This is episode one, and today's topic is four convictions about creativity that drive everything I do.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: You can find the post that accompanies this episode, as well as all the links at Kent Sanders.net slash convictions.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: Creativity is a very popular topic.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: A Google search for the word creativity produces over six hundred million results.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: A search for the phrase creativity blogs produces over twenty one million results.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: It seems that everyone and in every type of industry loves this topic.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: There's a good reason for the intense interest.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Creativity is embedded into every part of our lives, our relationships, career, faith and spirituality, the arts, education, health and wellness, and so many others.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: There's no aspect of our lives that creativity cannot enhance.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: And that's exactly why I started my blog and this podcast as well.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: I believe creativity is such a vital component of a productive and a fulfilling life that I've dedicated my professional life to one single mission, and that is helping people unlock their God-given creative potential.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: So here in this first episode of the Born to Create podcast, I thought it was really important to spell out several convictions I have about creativity so that you know where I'm coming from.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: In upcoming episodes, we'll talk about different aspects of the creative life.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: We'll also talk about lots of different strategies to put those principles into action.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: But before we dive into specifics in future episodes, I want to lay a foundation that supports everything else.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: These are four basic convictions I have about creativity.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: And these perspectives guide all of my thinking on this topic, and I know they can shape your appreciation of creativity as well.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, God values creativity.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: The very first image of God we see in Scripture is that of a creator.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Genesis 1 1 tells us in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: God creates things, he brings them into existence.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: That's first and foremost who He is.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: We also have creative powers since we're made in God's image.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: God creates things ex nihilo, and that's a Latin phrase that means out of nothing.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Now of course we can't do that, but we can take existing materials and put them together in new and interesting ways that benefit other people.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: One of the ways we see creativity emphasized in the Bible is through music and the visual arts.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: From the artistry of the priest's robes in the book of Exodus, to the poetry and music of the Psalms, all the way to the hymns of Revelation, we see that God is deeply interested in creativity.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, you were born to create.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: I don't normally use a lot of scripture on my podcast or blog, since I see those more as a kind of practical exploration of creativity and not just a Bible study.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: However, I can't talk about the foundations of creativity without including scripture since well, since scripture is the foundation of my faith.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: Ephesians two ten says, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: So we are literally God's handiwork, created for good works.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: In a very real sense, we're born to create.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, that's where the title of this podcast comes from.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Your mission in life is to figure out what you were meant to do and do it to the best of your ability.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: The author Frederick Biegner said The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: I believe that we find the most joy and we help the most people when we're doing what we were born to do.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, everyone has creative gifts.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: There's a common misconception that creativity is confined to artists or at least those who aspire to be artists.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Most people believe that music, painting, film, writing, and similar areas are where the only true creativity happens.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Whenever we read about creative giants like Steve Jobs, George Lucas, or Lin Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, it's easy to feel inferior by comparison because those people have such enormous creative talents.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: But creativity by definition is all about simply creating things.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: And you can do this in many different ways.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: Now, it's true that a lot of people express their creativity by creating books, movies, and music, but what about the stay-at-home mom who creates an orderly household for a family?
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: What about the auto mechanic who has the skill to create a new engine?
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: Or what about the janitor who creates a clean and orderly environment for his clients?
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: Or what about the counselor who creates trust and rapport with the hurting client?
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: So creativity is not limited to artists, not by any stretch.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: That's a seriously narrow way of thinking.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: We have to expand our horizons and realize that everybody has the capability to create by bringing something useful into the world.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Number four, creativity is a habit that can be learned.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Almost everybody feels inspired to create sometimes.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: You might get a flash of insight or a great idea for a piece of artwork.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: But what about the other times when you don't feel inspired or motivated to create something?
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: How can you be creative in those moments?
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: Well, the answer is that creativity is like a muscle that you have to exercise.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it's great and wonderful to occasionally get inspired, but if you want to operate at your creative peak, you have to think of creativity as a habit, not as an emotion we feel whenever the muse hits us.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: One of the most important qualities you'll find in the world's top creative people is that they're all lifelong learners.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: They never stop learning and growing.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: If we want to do the same thing, we must commit to constant growth as well.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: You can find lots of resources for growth in a variety of areas on the resources page on my website.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: So these four convictions in one way or another drive everything that I do.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: They're the foundation of my thinking about creativity, and I'm really excited to share these with you here on the first episode of the Born to Create podcast.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: Hopefully they inspire you as well.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: What are your convictions about creativity?
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'd love to hear your thoughts.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: You can join the conversation and find the post and the links that accompany this episode at KentSanders.net slash convictions.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: When you visit my site, you'll find all kinds of great resources to inspire your creativity.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: I'd also love to share a gift with you when you subscribe to my newsletter.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: You can check it out, as well as learn more about my books, writing, and services at KentSanders.net.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: I'd love to connect with you and you can tweet me at Kent Sanders, or you can find me on Facebook and Instagram as Kent Sanders.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: I also hope that you'll join our Born to Create Facebook group by visiting Kent Sanders.net slash Facebook group.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, remember that you were born to create and designed to make a difference.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: What will you do with the time you have left?