I am definitely not creative.

For thirty years of my life, this is what I thought.

It wasn’t me putting myself down as much as it was just stating a fact. Or at least, so I thought.

I played sports growing up. I couldn’t draw. Heck, I can barely even write legibly.

Creating something was for inspired artists, not a guy like me who can only draw a stick figure.

Yet, when I look back at my life there were signs of creativity. Hints, if I would’ve just been willing to see them.

Now I can’t imagine my day without creating something! Whether it’s a blog article, books, graphic designs, photos, or now I’m even creating my own unique lamps, tables, coat racks, you name it! The more I create, the more I want to create!

Yet, how many years did I lose not creating anything?

I can see now why I wasn’t being more creative for most of my life. And once I made a simple switch, it opened the floodgates to all of my creativity. It can for you too.

The Main Reason I Wasn’t Creative

I wasn’t creative because I kept telling myself I wasn’t creative.

Simple as that.

You and I are more creative than we think.

Yet, too many of us beat down our own creativity. We discount it.

How many of us have these wonderful, life-giving creations and ideas within us that the world is just waiting for, yet we keep telling ourselves there’s nothing worthwhile in there.

It was insecurity and fear that kept me from creating.

I was too afraid of entering into the messiness and ambiguity of the creation process.

We struggle to create and then we stop. Sometimes we stop for good. But why?

The Struggle is Part of Creating

Just because creating is sometimes a struggle doesn’t mean you’re not creative. The struggle simply means you’re actually entering into the creative process.

The struggle is real. The struggle is good. The struggle is part of creating something worth creating.

For years, I’d try to create something and then the first setback I’d experience would stop me. Because I’d see it as another sign I couldn’t create, instead of seeing the struggle as just a natural and important part of the creating process, leading and directing me towards the heart of what I was supposed to create.

If you struggle to create, that means you’re simply doing the work that all creatives do.  In the strain and struggle, that’s where the most wonderful ideas rise to the top.

You Are Creative

Even as I’ve had two books published, I still struggle to call myself creative at times.

I still make excuses for my own creativity. Or belittle my creativity to others as a defense mechanism because I don’t want them thinking I really think I’m creative.

Yet, I don’t want to hold it in any longer. I am creative. And I love creating.

And if you haven’t heard this for awhile, or ever, hear me now:

You are creative too. I promise. And the more you enter into it, the more creative you’ll be.

Creating produces more creating.

Maybe not enough people know you’re good at what you’re good at because (maybe) you’re a little afraid to be really good at it.

Or you’re afraid to really own your creativity and grow it into more of a skill-set. Or you just won’t give yourself credit where credit is due.

Creating is contagious. The more you let yourself create, fail, and try again, the more you will want to create.

I believe we were all made to create. To make. To follow the Creator’s lead by joining in the creation process.

Keep creating. Don’t stop. CUSH it today.

Create Until Something Happens. In you. And in the world.

We need more people owning their creativity and creating.

You are creative. Do you believe me? I’d love to hear from you within the comments on this article.