Be Creative Anyway: Encouragement for Your Journey

French artist Henri Matisse said “Creativity takes courage.”  I have to holler a resounding “hell yeah” in response to that! If we side with our fears and trepidations, if we over-analyse rather than act then we actually develop what I call “creative constipation.” I have experienced this and it can be rather uncomfortable. Symptoms include frequent frustration, bouts of melancholy and chronic confusion. Yet there are many natural cures for creative constipation and thankfully it does not involve a laxative suppository. One such cure is courage.

View from my window. Rainbows follow the rain.

I have always loved the “Do It Anyway” poem, which is attributed to Mother Teresa. Apparently it may have actually been written by a fellow named Kent M. Keith. I don’t know if this is legit or not but a rose by any other name… I think it is mighty powerful either way. This poem came to mind when I was thinking about the courage we need in order to start and eventually share what we do. Thus, with respect and gratitude to the respective author, here is my adaptation of the Do It Anyway poem for those of us who need some encouragement right now. I have called it Be Creative Anyway.

Soaking up the Qi from this beautiful tree

Be Creative Anyway

People may be unreasonable and disapproving.
Rise and create anyway. 

We may have unrealistic expectations and be too self-critical.

Send yourself love and create anyway.

Even when we make something really wonderful,

we often accuse ourselves of not making something wonderful enough.

Be kind to yourself and create anyway.

If we are truly honest with ourselves we’ll see that we really are making positive progress. The ego will likely feel cheated by this.

Be honest, encourage yourself and create anyway.

If you find happiness in creativity your gloominess may get jealous.

Be happy and create anyway.

What you create today may be overlooked and forgotten tomorrow.

Create what is in your heart anyway.

Even if you show your best creations to the world you will inevitably come across people who don’t like what you do. Never mind them.

We can’t please everyone all of the time.

Just be true to you and create your best work anyway.

Creativity is the essence of life, expressed through you, in your own unique way!
So you see, in the end, it is really between you and the beautiful, brilliant being that you truly are.

It was never between you and those shadows anyway.