A BASIS FOR CREATIVE THOUGHT AND ACTION
By Rev. Dr. Arthur Chang
Our world is filled with things to do and, with the time we have, we cannot do them all. However, we can do the things that allow us to experience fulfillment and happiness in our lives. To do so, it is good for us to think of how to shape a basis for creative thought and action.
Creativity flows best through us when our conscious and unconscious minds complement each other, or as Jesus observed, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
From the unconscious realm, we receive our dreams—we think of things improbable, but not impossible, like going from poverty to abundance. Perhaps, actor Sidney Poitier’s going from rags to riches inspires us. Of course, it is not all about money. It may be about what your dream calls you to do to enrich your life in immeasurable ways.
While the unconscious calls us to take our creative journey through life, our conscious mind needs to clear the path for this inner power to work best for us. Isaiah advises us, “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3) Think of the wilderness as our confused minds and making straight a highway as the clarification of vision that we need to move forward on our path.
Creativity is our progression from thought to thing. It is linking heaven to earth or, as the image of Jacob’s ladder, to see angels (cosmic messengers) ascending to heaven and descending to earth. These poetic images are to stimulate the mind into action and not just for reflection.
“Heaven” is our image of infinite possibilities while “earth” is our manufacturing plant where we create things novel and wonderful.
Religious or not, we need faith or confidence to stimulate us into creative action. Nevertheless, as challenging as action may be for fulfilling our desire, some people may find it even more difficult to summon enough confidence to act on their thoughts.
Helpful Tips:
In prayer or quiet contemplation, ask the following:
1. Given my time, situation and talents, what is my best action for making a positive difference?
2. What is my goal and timetable?
3. How can I best use my values to guide my goal?
A goal is a desire to accomplish a task in a definite or approximate time.
A value, such as love or goodness, is not a goal. It has no timetable. The purpose of your value is to guide your goal so you can maintain your spiritual essence while taking action in the world.
This is a basis for creative thought and action in the world. Use it and let me know how it works for you.
