Dearest Readers,

“Only create” is a loving rip-off of E.M. Forster’s famous quote, “Only connect.”

I’ve been devouring all things Forster lately, re-reading his well-known novels (Where Angels Fear to Tread, Room with a View, Howard’s End) and discovering his lesser-known ones (The Longest Journey); exploring his science-fiction and fantasy short stories (who knew?) and re-watching film adaptations (A Passage to India).

Forster was so, so brilliant. Much of his work is about rejecting convention in order to live passionately. His characters alternately ignore and drink in life’s beauty. “Only connect” was his command for living. Drop pretense. Wake up to your deepest self.

While I’ve used Forster’s quote “only connect” as a descriptor for my work in many a grant-proposal, I’m changing it to “only create” because creating has been helping me to feel good about myself lately and who doesn’t need a self-esteem boost in these times of posting and posing and comparing/despairing?

Creation is the antidote.

In a recent blog about “Peace as an Everyday Practice”, I quoted a friend who’d said, “Peace is not the opposite of war, creation is.”

Because creating is life-affirming and life-giving.

I often avoid being creative because the inner critic is telling me, “You suck, don’t bother.”

Or if I do manage to muster the courage to create something new, fear will jump in to stop me. “It’s not good enough.”

I want (and need) the self-confidence that comes when I let creativity reign therefore ignoring the voices of dissent and walking through my fear has become an essential practice.

Last year, I wanted to create a painting of a photo of me sleeping curled up with my blankie at age three. I was terrified because I’d never really painted a portrait like that before and didn’t think I would succeed. But I wanted to try.

I started the painting and struggled. I procrastinated. When I did work on it I’d end up in the worst mood. It made me so angry!

Perfectionism, the creativity killer.

I realized needed help and signed up for a painting class. I practiced and got better. By letting go of the need to “get it right” and allowing the paint to teach me, I finished the painting and submitted it to a juried art show. Much to my delight, the painting was accepted.

The painting will soon hang in a gallery with the work of other artists and that is a big deal for me. But more importantly, I feel good about myself. And if you live with low self-esteem like I do, that is the bigger deal.

If you are one of those people who says, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body” then listen closely: that is a lie you have been telling yourself.

Because I’ve witnessed you making a collage and discovering you have a knack for it. I’ve seen you do improv and find out you’re a natural clown. I’ve noticed the way you dance. I’ve watched you plant your garden. Cook a meal. Write a letter.

Being creative doesn’t mean you know how to draw! Being creative means you let the Creative Force that is animating our bodies and fuelling our imaginations create something, anything, through you.

So drown out the inner critic and persevere. Allow creativity to come through. Generate some good feelings for and about yourself.

Only create!

With love and blessings,

Celia

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

~ E.M. Forster