GOOD WILL...

 GOOD WILL...

Beginnings are everything. As soon as we begin, the creative juices will open up and we can surprise ourselves with the hidden gems of artistic talent.

So, how  do we make a good beginning?  

First and foremost, Good Will.  When one is able to muster up a start, then one has already begun to foster the good will to follow the inspiration that has entered our heart.

Having good will to put all negative thoughts to one side and open up our hearts to that wonderful inner voice which prompts us to write down whatever thoughts come, we are on the road to creative success.

I had such hopes of writing a new story, one that would move me to renew my creative ability to write, yet  I seem to lose my way, distracted so easily by 'other ideas and thoughts'...  What to do...

I asked myself... Have I the Good Will to be faithful to my writing talent?  The answer was immediate, Yes, of course...  Next question, Have you time to write? After a little while, I confessed, Yes!

No more playing around with useless thoughts and worries.  Now is the time to show my Good Will, and write.

This simple act of honesty with myself has worked wonders.  I am a writer again!

FORTITUDE...

 FORTITUDE might well be another word for Courage, a willingness to be brave when difficulties come our way.

This kind of courage shows itself over a period of time.  We want to be able to suffer well, yet only when we can fortify ourselves, and be protected from a negative attitude or person will we be able to suffer well.

A friend of mine got published in a Magazine.  She was so encouraged and full of interest in writing more.  Then someone who wanted to offer her good advice in becoming a better writer, outlined a certain mistake.  It took the wind out of her sails, so to speak and suddenly she felt unable to write...

This is where fortification can protect us from the negative, and encourage us to only be open to positive encouragement.  They say, by our mistakes we learn, yet be careful, being able to create in writing or acting or painting, our creative self is very, very fragile.

Fortitude will guard us against any negative vibes, and we will soar into a World of positive creativity!    

ENERGY...

ENERGY...

To have a motor car without power is futile, no matter how beautiful it might be. Well, the same goes for ourselves.  If we feel without energy,  then our efforts will be of no use.  

The Energy we possess within is the driving force, helping us to achieve all that we want or need to do.  This energy is the true belief we possess within ourselves, driving us to almost amazing feats at times.

With this Energy, this powerful ability to believe in all that we want to do, is powerful.  We can reach forward and surprise others, and especially ourselves. We become a substance of Power, guided by the very Creator who has brought us into existance.  We can and will respond to the gift of Life.

Perhaps what is needed most is to eliminate all and everything that would destroy the belief we have in being a person of worth, energised to do whatever we are inspired to do, and reach for what appears impossible! 

DESIRE...

 DESIRE...

Someone once said that whatever we desire, is a reflection of just who we are. I wonder if that is true?

In a way, whatever we aspire to, and give our time to, becomes an image of the real inner us.  For example, a person I know, who will not be named, always had a desire to act, to become an actress.  

She loved to behave in an almost exagerated way, with gestures and loud laughing and having fun. Even when she sneezed or coughed, it  would be heard, loud and clear.  And of course, she was brilliant at emphasing each word as she spoke.  We thought it was funny, then she won best actress when taking part in local plays.

Yes, she became famous.  The laugh was on those who laughed at her.

So, good sense would say, be careful what you desire because it will become you.

DILIGENT

 DILIGENT...

The Dictionary says that DILIGENT means hard-working / being conscientious. That certainly means a lot. No room for half-measures.

I feel reprimanded because I often 'cut corners' in doing a job of sorts, just to have it finished. This might explain why I still have not earned a Pulitzer for Literature!

Then again, often in relation to Creative writing, one responds to inspiration in the moment, knowing that the work in only a first-draft. and will require a redraft. 

On this happy note I will redeem myself.  However, in many ways in our daily life, we are invited to respond to others and learn to build / reflect and add to what is presented to us.  In a Godly sense, we are constantly being inspired to become more than what we are, especially in relation to loving others.

Seize the Day and welcome Love!

CONTROL...

CONTROL...

Being in Control of one's life is essential if we are to make progress in developing our Creative self.  It would seem to be an easy thing to do, yet it requires a certain deliberation on our part to control ALL of ourselves, especially the hidden recesses of our EGO.

There are some people who believe our EGO is a special trait of our personality... NOT so.  Our ego is centred on being important. The Truth is found in realising our spiritual self which aims at loving creatively.  We don't have to be another Mozart or Renoir, we just need to be original, our true selves.

Perhaps we can learn a lot from children, and how authentic they are when behaving in a normal manner, and how un-natural they become when trying to be what they are not.  A spoilt child may put on an act to get attention and the same applies to a 'spoilt' adult.

If we are 8 years old, or eighty, we must be authentic.  Even if fearful, the challenge must be addressed, and become fearless. If we are constantly in a hurry, we need to slow down.  This is where CONTROL  becomes the best friend we can have, so we can be free to be ourselves.

BELIEF...

 BELIEF..

I guess what we believe in, is who we truly are...

Being a believer in the Chritian values makes me a believer in Christ.  Also, puts a responsibility upon me to be Christlike.

Most of us live in a World of freedom, to think for ourselves, and to follow our dreams, whatever they might be.  This sense of freedom is both liberating and almost dangerous because we could become a victim of stronger personalities. 

Even worse, we could be influenced from childhood to believe that certain people of Race or Nationality are our enemies, so we believe we must oppose them at all costs. Hence, we have justified hate led by people like Hitlar etc.

Mark Twain, the American author, wrote a book called Huckleberry Finn.  The boy in the story is friends with a black boy. However, when the black boy tries to escape because there is talk about the lady who owns him, may have to sell him. Huckleberry is filled with fear of losing his soul because it is forbidden to help a slave escape?

How easy it is to use religion as a means of scaring people, and this can happen in different ways, in different religions. Perhaps a father might be obligated to kill his own child, if she brought disgrace upon the family.

Belief must be authentic, motivated by love and devoid of fear.

ACT...

 Every good deed begins with an ACT...  either of Mind / Body / Spirit.  We begin to demonstrate our desire to move forward, and depending on who and what we are, the act will come from something we think about / something we do, or some value we possess that moves us to Act!

Some people are moved by music, and without even thinking they begin to dance and move to the music.

Whereas a person moved by a thought, might simply sit and ponder upon whatever is in their mind.  It could be something silly, or it could be a point of genius.  Only by following it can they know.

A spiritually - minded person  will meditate and however possible, link up with God and the spiritual life.

Generally speaking, most of us can be any or all of these. How we educate ourselves, what we read, and especially what we love, will determine what kind of person we become.

Who am I?  This is the big question, and how do I find out!