23 Comments

Spectacular post. So many bits that reached out and grabbed me. Thank you for writing this.

I am in an interesting phase on my creative journey. I just published my first book of fables, I’m embracing my identity as an artist and doing things like art exhibits and poetry readings, but I’m also still working part time at a tech startup. (My “first career” is as an engineer and startup founder.) So I still have a foot in each lake, so to speak.

Your words about the power of service, of trust, of going all in…they all speak to me. Mostly because I already know all this. I did try to go all in once but I didn’t then know what I wanted to do. I still am not sure I do. But what you wrote here reminded me of the feeling, the hunger I have to one day embrace it fully. I’m working on it.

Thank you.

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Thank you. And congratulations on the book! You'll find it, you're already on the path.

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Clint, I’ve always enjoyed reading your posts. This one really hit home for me, coming out of a long period of serving others instead of serving the Creator, who keeps calling me to dig deeper into my own creative nature. So many significant insights in this post. Thank you for writing it!

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Thank you for your beautiful comment.

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I love that you brought in the spiritual side of art. I truly believe my artistic talent is a gift from God and that He expects me to develop the talent and share with others. I spent a huge portion of my earlier years raising nine children and started a bit late with the development part of the process, but I am working on it and enjoying every minute of it. Thank you for a wonderful post. I enjoy reading your insights.

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Wow. I just finished my first book. It’s about this topic! I’m sitting here mustering the courage to release it. And this pops up in my feed. Thank you. I shall continue the dance!

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Congratulations! I'm working on my first book and that's a huge accomplishment.

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I have always known this, but as you mentioned, the older I get and the clearer it becomes to me. We all have a purpose, a mission in life. How fortunate we artists are to have been given the gift of (re)creating the beauty, light, and warmth of God. We are to shine with this light onto an increasingly dark world.

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Wow!!!!! 🥰🥹

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Amazing! So deeply and absolutely true.

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This was dually inspiring, motivating, and thought-invoking. I often find myself taking notes on your posts in my journal for later recollection, a pleasant reminder. I have a question from my own pessimistic curiosity, however. Do you think that if our life's dream is to become a successful, self-sufficient, full-time writer/artist, that it will be inevitably accomplished due to it being our life's purpose, given the right amount of devotion? Or is it simply enough, and fate-fulfilling, if our purpose affects the select few it needs to reach, even if we don't accomplish worldwide acclaim? My own ego-doubt has it's own agenda. I do think that we have a duty and destiny to chase our dreams, but at what point do we know if they are pipe dreams? Perhaps the goal should be to aim small and be fulfilled by the smaller things, the attained blessings and accomplishments. This is just something that has pressed at my mind for a while now, and I would love to know where you stand with your perspective on my question-- completely uncensored. I question that if my dream is not achieved of becoming a self-sustaining author, was it really my purpose? Perhaps I have missed some of the points hidden in your post and absorbed others.

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As a follow up, only because I just saw this quote and it seemed to apply to your situation:

“You need to be stubborn on your vision, but very flexible on the details.” — Jeff Bezos

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Thank you for your thoughtful comment. After reading your stuff, I'm flattered you would compliment mine (much less take notes) given that, to me, what I write seems rather prosaic compared to your poetic use of language which I constantly find inspiring. I suppose every author doubts his own work, lol. Before I answer, I would hasten add, keep in mind that anything I say should be considered from the point of view of "some dude on the internet told me this for free." All of this is just my opinion. You should also probably keep in mind that I come to writing later in life and, having had (and still have) a separate business, I'm not (yet) doing this for money.

To answer your question I would say this: I have learned that life drains of color and joy when we don't allow ourselves to dwell in that place where the poetic of heart dwell. That is, to notice the beauty around us in small things as much as possible, to enter into the magical world of imagination and muses, to follow our heart's inspired curiosities, to play. I suppressed these things for a long time and, though had some worldly success, ended up in a bad place. I can't believe how much I missed along the way, looking back. I think our curiosities and drives do point to our path and why we're here. Some people trying to create a sort of scientific explanation call these feelings the "holotropic attractor" - a sort of force (that may be our future selves) pulling us toward the "correct" direction. My feeling is we shouldn't ignore these urges. Some believe that if we follow the correct path that "synchronicities" will happen that assist us. I tend to think those things do happen.

However, it is entirely possible to follow these urges and not achieve worldly success in terms of money or fame - those are ego-driven goals. I guess what I'm saying is to return to your example, if you did not become a self-sustaining author -- I don't think that is evidence that it wasn't your purpose. Ultimately our purpose is simply to live the best life we can. We ARE life. I don't think that someone like you will be able to suppress the creative drive anyway. Even if you have to support yourself some other way, you have a connection to the Muses that is evident, and it would be a shame if you didn't share those ideas through your poetic way of looking at things. I find your work quite inspiring and fascinating. We never know how the few who do read our work will digest it, and then use that inspiration to further the harmony of the whole. If you didn't make it as a full time writer, it's not the end of the world. Plenty of people worked day jobs who created masterpieces. Einstein worked in a patent office. Rowling worked as a waitress. Stephen King worked two jobs while writing Carrie. etc, etc. If I ever "make it" - it will have been while I'm still running my software company. We can do more than one thing in life. This all probably isn't a great answer and not very inspiring to a young person, but the exciting part about being young is the future is ripe with possibility! I can say this though - your talent with words awes me every time I read one of your posts. I know, without a doubt, that sharing your ideas is A purpose of your life. I don't know if it's the one and only purpose, but it is an important one. I guess in a nutshell I would say, follow your deep curiosities, look for synchronicities, and if you have to get something unrelated to pay the bills in the meantime, well, it is what it is.

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This was an absolutely inspiring response, I do appreciate your perspective, and your kindness along with it! I love spotting synchronicities, and am a strong believe in fate/destiny. So I do believe we all have a path we are fated to follow and our own individual purposes. I do believe that being a creative is apart of who I am intrinsically and I would never give it up or suppress it. Truthfully, if I never made a dollar off of my writing but still amassed some sort of audience, that would be enough for me. And thanks to substack that is certainly an achieved dream ❤️

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"I believe in fate and destination...but so much of that lies in our own two hands" - Sammy Hagar

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I need to read this everyday as a reminder of why I do what I do and why I persevere when the path seems daunting. Your writing always speaks to my true nature - I hear the words with my spiritual heart. I am inspired to take the next step that is in alignment with who I know myself to be. Thank you!

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Thank you for this piece. It takes courage to get in the studio and createbut knowing that I was created to do just what I am doing keeps me forging ahead, and it is exhilarating!!

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Thank you for this piece. It takes courage to create, but yes, it is truly joyful to do what one was created to do. To feel that while I am working in my studio keeps me forging ahead.

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Thank you for this piece. It takes courage to create, but yes, it is truly joyful to do what one was created to do. To feel that while I am working in my studio keeps me forging ahead.

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Thank you!

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Love these Clintsights. Thank you.

After turning 70 and just celebrating 35 years of sobreity, I can paint like a hyper active child.

Now , every creative idea popping into my head and running down my arm ,is about taking tired people on a treasure hunt.

Maybe I’ll build us a labyrinth of fun out of candy and musical notes and drum majorette costumes. On my way!

Clintavo ,thanks again for the book of matches you continue to share with us.

K

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I love this!

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Bonnie Richardson @bonnierichardson.com

I love your spiritual insights as I truly believe we are co-creators in The Universe. I have found on the journey to freedom that miracles involve pain. Jesus died for the miracle of salvation. So too with the creative journey and digging deep for my creative vision. I must face the darkest sides of myself, dig away the trash to find more light. This is my ongoing commitment to creating my best art

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