Gratitude and the Creative Process

Remembering to be grateful develops us into the beings we are supposed to be. We become the best form of ourselves. We should be grateful always, to be our best selves. We know this to be true.

So we’re grateful all the time, right?

What? Why not? What is going on here? Why would we have to be reminded to do this one simple thing- to have this one simple mindset? Especially because if we do it, we know our lives improve immensely – our relationships, our work, our play, our health- even our self image.

When we are grateful, our hearts open up to joy and love. This seems to affect our brains, which then miraculously increase in intelligence and wisdom.

So how does this relate to our Creative Process?

In the bible, in Ezekiel, God tells him, “I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”

As an artist, I just love that scripture. When we view the world through a cold, stone heart, the world is flat and colorless. There is nothing to explore, no hidden meaning or metaphor.

But add to that vision- gratitude, and the world lights up, showing depths of color and layers of meaning and metaphor. The space itself seems to hum and vibrate. Our hearts grow, and with it, our understanding; our vision and our insight.

So to be a better artist, it stands to reason you’ll have to develop gratitude, you’ll have to capture that elusive gift, harness it and put it to work in your life.

I am sure you have found a way to do that by now, but as I said, it is hard to maintain! If you’ve lost your way or if you’re just having one of those days, because we all do (and anyway we can all use more of a good thing), I’ll give my usual advice.

Ask! Ask Spirit to gift you with a fresh dose of gratitude today. Ask to have that cold stone removed in your chest, and replaced with living, vibrating flesh. Then help Spirit along by calling out what you have to be grateful for. Remind yourself daily.

And let the colors begin!

Happy Thanksgiving! May your heart find its light and may you share it with others!

Linda