For me creativity provides joy, purpose, and deep meaning to life. However people prone to complaining about their circumstances create natural hurdles in the path of creativity.

I think it is normal for people to complain. They complain because of deep seated fears and the difficulty in the act of creating. They fear that they’re not good enough. Maybe they need reassurance. Maybe they’re resisting inspiration out of laziness, angst, insecurity and petulance. Or maybe people are so consumed by their own dramas, anxieties, distractions, insecurities, and duties that they become non-receptive to inspiration. But trust me; this is always a misguided choice. When we give in to our visceral urges that create resistance towards creativity, our inspiration take a step away from us.

I have experienced this in my own life whenever I start complaining. I have felt my self-pity slam the door on inspiration; making the space I inhabit feel cold, small and empty. To avoid this negativity I now tell myself that I enjoy my work. I proclaim that I enjoy every aspect of creative endeavors – the agony and the ecstasy, the success and failure, the joy and the embarrassment, the stumble, and the stupidity of it all. I have learned that fear has no variety to it, no depth, no substance and no texture. It will come and go, and we must learn to deal with it. In some situations we do need fear in order to protect us from actual dangers or for basic survival but not in the realm of our creative expression.

I strongly feel that defining ourselves as a creative person begins by defining ourselves first. It begins when we declare our intent or deep interest in a creative endeavor. For example when I started writing blogs I barely knew anyone in the publishing world. I was sending my blogs to publications, and I collected rejections after rejections. I kept up with my writing despite the rejections. My heart sank with every rejection. Whose wouldn’t? But I took the long view; I knew that nobody was ever going to knock on my door. I had to persevere and make my own way. No way was I going to give up on my writing simply because it wasn’t working. I learnt that the rewards may not come from the external recognition but it had to come from the joy of puzzling out the work itself, and from the private gain of self-awareness. I kept writing, even as I had no tangible success, and slowly but surely I was getting more aware and educated. Indeed that was my reward!

There are so many ways in this world to make a creative life. It is true; we need to understand that the range of potential diversity in our creative expression is fantastic. For example, we can write a book. We can be a blogger. Make a song. Direct a movie. Decorate pottery. Learn a dance. Explore a new land. Or teach how to cook. We can be photographers. Run a hair-salon. Be stylish fashion designers. Seriously the options are unlimited. It’s our birthright as a human being, so we should do it with a cheerful heart. Let inspiration lead us wherever it leads. We do not need a permission slip from anyone.

After living many years in the U.S., I have been exposed to different festivities and entertaining social events. Those are great, because those are injecting meaning, wonder, and fun into people’s lives. I have friends who are working on worthy social causes such as TCF, Dil, Shaukat Khanum, and SOS. This is very effective charitable outreach for those who are suffering or underprivileged. They are working tirelessly for these causes because they like doing it. Otherwise it wouldn’t work. I feel it’s okay if their work is fun for them. It is also okay if their work is healing for them or redemptive for them, or if it’s maybe just a hobby. So we should do whatever brings us satisfaction and inspiration in life, fellow our own fascination, obsessions, and compulsions. We should trust our intent and create whatever causes a revolution in our hearts.

Similarly it is great if people have an advanced degree in their craft. But it is equally okay if people are working on their craft every day on their own, even without formal training, with steady discipline and love. They are also inspirational creators. For example the renowned Urdu novelist and playwright, Fatima Surayya Bajia, who passed away, recently, did not have any an advanced formal training or academic credentials. But she was a master of her craft; she mastered her art on her own. She became a great playwright and produced over 300 plays. She worked devilishly hard her whole life. From her example we learn that creativity comes with the territory of curiosity and passion. Maybe we ought to try to push ourselves deeper into the world, to explore more bravely. The sooner and more passionately we get married to this idea that comes to our mind, the more better off for us.

So therefore let us have an affair with our creativity and see what happens. We are all capable at times of brushing up against a sense of mystery and inspiration in our life. Let’s hold the courage to bring forth our hidden treasure within us. In my opinion, nobody ever really listen to anybody else’s complaints, because everyone is focused on their own struggles. So take care of yourself and the rest of it will take care of itself.