The Creation Effect
How integrating the spiritual and physical in the act of creation manifests a positive feedback loop leading to prolonged and enhanced creative abilities.
Finding a balance between consuming, creating, and connecting is a difficulty in the modern world that we all deal with. The number of distractions and instant gratifications we have access to is tipping the scale toward a life of consumption. But with the proper tools, there is still hope.
People always want to know what they will be known for. We forget that the sparkle of life that ripples across time comes from what people create. Creation takes many forms — children, a company, painting, or the impact you have on others. Again the greats are always remembered for what they created.
So, the idea is to build a life that gives you the necessary tools, energy, and resources to create. Creation is what we were made to do. There is no higher calling than the act of creation. It can sometimes feel pointless when no one seems to care about what you spent so much time developing. But, this misses the point.
Like water is for the body so creation is for the soul. It reinvigorates us with purpose and wipes away the shadow beneath our eyes. When we create, we look upwards towards our highest calling, and thus we are called to do better and to become greater.
Consumption is often a zero-sum game: it’s finished quickly, and you’re left moving on to the next. Creation is an infinite game that you can ever build upon. Once you create you gain skills that compound into many other aspects of life. The one who takes the time and energy to create opens himself to a realm of possibilities.
The artist touches the souls of thousands while also nurturing his own. The game he is playing is one of abundance, while the game of consumption is one of scarcity — for there is only so much to consume, but infinite things to create. The act of creation is a gateway to unlocking the wishes and potential of the deepest part of oneself. To reach the end of life without tapping into this deep, inspired well is akin to what Socrates said about the body:
“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
The spiritual and physical realms meet to participate together in the act of creation. Because creation is not possible through either spiritual manifestation or physical embodiment alone, both must be actualized in the act of creation. The act of creation then forges a relationship between these pairs and symbiotically helps each other to grow and become more mature. Finally, from the maturation of the spirit and body comes the maturation of the creating power, expanding in scope and beauty.
The development of your creative ability is the greatest gift you could give to yourself and to the world. The world is never made poorer by creative endeavors. It is the consuming powers that lead to the desolation of people and places that fail to foster the potential of individuals. In contrast, the places that support and incentivize creative endeavors reap the rewards, filling humanity with new, bold, and beautiful landscapes.
Reflecting further on the relationship between the spiritual and physical I find that not only the act of creation but all aspects of life are enhanced when the two are integrated. The practice of integration can be as simple as making a drawing of a mountain and then reflecting on how the journey up the mountain relates to your spiritual journey. Through this exercise, you have given your creation a deeper meaning and integrated your spiritual and physical parts. Thus, the creation is greater than the sum of its parts; it can give power back to both.
This cycle of integration and creation goes on continuously as long as the act continues to find equilibrium in the dance. The cycle of creation is the journey that one takes to find who they are. When you create from the heart, you will unlock parts of your soul that will reveal your life’s purpose. If you are already on this path, I hope this will help spur you on. And if this is new to you, I created some tools below that will help you begin your journey.
** Follow the guide below to start your journey of developing your own craft, ritual & community **
