I love this short little video about Oliver Jeffers, picture book maker. It reminds me of the magic that exists in the creative process, especially from the perspective of an outsider. He delves into the tangible, practical and mundane aspects of his process, but somehow, it doesn’t detract from the magic, it ADDS to it.
People often ask me where I get my ideas and how I make my art. I give the best answer I can but I always downplay the subject it for fear of disappointing them. The reality always seems much more pedestrian and boring than the story the questioner already has in their head.
But in truth, anything we are good at (and I’m not just talking about creativity here) always seems commonplace…to us.
So we downplay it to others which in turn leads us to downplaying it to ourselves.
No, you don’t have to go around bragging about your mad skills from the rooftops. But my guess is that’s not really a problem. The real problem happens when we get so used to downplaying our uniqueness, that we share less of it with the world. We fall into the trap of thinking our thing is no big deal. And if it’s no big deal, what difference does it make if we share it or not?
But it IS a big deal.
The things your are great at? Those are the fingerprints of your Creator. They are supernatural pixie dust, whispers of the divine. Your gifts and talents are a light for the world, and they are meant to be shared.
Don’t be fooled into thinking your floodlight is a flashlight.