Why should we all use our creative power. . . ? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money.” Brenda Ueland
“The purpose of art is not a rarified, intellectual distillate-it is life, intensified, brilliant life.” Alain Arias-Misson
“I paint not by sight but by faith. Faith gives you sight.” Amos Ferguson
In last Saturday night’s Relief Society General Meeting, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk particularly struck me. He talked about the need and desire we all have to create. It immediately reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Artist’s Way; A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron.
In this famous, well-loved book, Cameron leads each reader on a journey to encourage the artist within each of us. I have found a lot of strength, faith, and practical ways to increase my creativity in writing, painting, and mothering throughout the pages of this book. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, let me first explain that Julia Cameron outlines a creative technique of writing “Morning Pages,” which is a meditative creative activity like freewriting where you write whatever comes to mind for a set amount of time without editing or censoring yourself. In referencing the morning pages, here’s what she says:
- “Beyond the reach of the Censor’s babble we find our own quiet center, the place where we hear the still, small voice that is at once our creator’s and our own.”
- “We meditate to discover our own identity, our right place in the scheme of the universe. Through meditation, we acquire and eventually acknowledge our connection to an inner power sourch that has the ability to transform our outer world. In other words, meditation gives us not only the light of insight but also the power for expansive change.”
- “. . . when we consciously learn to link power and light that we begin to feel our rightful identities as creative beings. . . the pages are a pathway to a strong and clear sense of self. They are a trail that we follow into our own interior, where we meet both our own creativity and our creator.”
Elder Uchtdorf’s remarks not only reminded me of this technique and this book, but strengthened my understanding of the eternal importance of creating something that didn’t exist before. It is an eternal principal. He emphatically emphasized that we all have the desire to create. Everyone can create something new, everyone deserves it, it brings beauty, satisfaction, and fulfillment. I agree with all of that. Both he and Cameron talk of the constant criticism and censoring we do to ourselves that undervalue and undermine our talents, experiences, and true natures. This negativity, Cameron asserts, crushes our inner artist, and Elder Uchtdorf added even further, as a literal servant called of God to preach in our day, that it leads to exhaustion and unhappiness.
I was really impressed that he was so bold as to name the reasons why so many women, especially, find themselves exhausted and unhappy, and that he gave them real answers to solve their (our) very personal issues. He emphasized (after, I remind myself, that he prayed and meditated on what to say to us, at this particular occasion), that our suffering, deep sorrows, real fears and loneliness are not insignificant, but that peace, hope and joy, despite our burdens, are what God wants for us–God’s happiness, which is perfect happiness. The two practical answers to achieve this happiness, or what I got out of this talk, are to create something out of nothing (think of all the possibilities this encompasses–ironically, a creative task), and compassion, which is also a creative endeavor.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso
Listening to his talk, I immediately tried to find a practical application in my life which lead me to remember, again, The Artist’s Way. Julia Cameron suggests having an “Artist Date” where you “fill the well.” This is a commitment you make with yourself to take time to nurture your inner artist. Does it sound artsy and superfluous? Not any more than taking time to meditate, read your scriptures, or any of the other focused attention demanded for increased spirituality. But it also means different things to different people. Einstein is said to have gotten his best ideas in the shower, and I make my best speeches vacuuming (seriously, I get so worked up, I should install a microphone on my Hoover.) Here’s what Cameron says about filling the well:
- “In order to have a real relationship with our creativity, we must take the time and care to cultivate it. Our creativity will use this time to confront us, to confide in us, to bond with us, and to plan.”
- “As artists, we must learn to be self-nourishing. . .”
- “Art is born in attention. Its midwife is detail. Art may seem to spring from pain, but perhaps that is because pain serves to focus our attention onto details. . . it is the attention to detail that stays with us; the singular image is what haunts us and becomes art. Even in the midst of pain, this singular image brings delight. The artist who tells you different is lying.”
I know that everyone is so busy and I complain about that a lot, but I also feel such a difference when I make “creating” (in its many forms) a priority. I thought about these ideas as I heard Elder Uchtdorf speak of the eternal happiness we have by creating which includes, but is certainly not limited to, creating, teaching, and nurturing children. He completes this idea of nurturing our inner artist by proclaiming that we are spirit daughters of the most creative eternally compassionate God, so it makes sense that we would have this strong desire to bring something into existence that didn’t exist before. He told us that relying on the Spirit increases our capacity to create. That statement smacked me in the heart, because I have felt the Spirit in the same way I’ve felt when I’ve borne my testimony of the Restored Gospel when I’ve painted, written, and taught my children. Even when I’ve performed improv.
Where The Artist’s Way ends and where Elder Dieter F. Uchtdor’s talk expanded was not only how vital this creative power is, but how instrumental it is in serving others. He said something to the effect that it is not the number of prayers that we utter that are important, but the number of prayers we answer. He revealed that we are compassionate and that the people of Christ are distinguished by their compassion and that our own lives are blessed when we make life beautiful for others. ”Work will cure your grief,” he said, and specifically said that it might seem counterintuitive in today’s society, but it is true nonetheless (again, good I appreciate the boldness in statement).
The connection between creating and compassion is something I will ponder for a long time, most likely vacuuming or working it out in my morning pages.
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