Gratitude is universally lauded as an essential attribute in successfully weathering the unanticipated storms of the creative career—providing context towards experiences of loss, as well as the associated personal and professional sacrifices required along the way. Ironically, although challenges and hardships can collectively broaden awareness of the true and intangible equities of life, those same experiences can also conversely create a sense of disillusionment for those working to reconcile the disparity between their professional reality and their ambitions. In a career that mandates a heart of gratitude, as the antidote towards anxiety, loss and disappointment, how can artists and creatives gain a greater perspective of their creative purpose and talents and gain a sense of satisfaction, without settling and abandoning their ambitions?
Author, professor and motivational speaker, Leo Buscaglia, gave voice to the underlying principle of creativity, through the lens of the Creator—providing artists with a greater understanding of the purpose and impact of their gifts and talents:
“Your talent is God’s gift to you; what you do with it is your gift to God.”
This principle, as illustrated in The Parable of the Talents, provides the gateway towards an artist’s discovery, or rediscovery, of the existing connection between their talent and the purposes and intents of the Creator. The awareness of that connection can serve to provide a level of personal and career satisfaction that sustains against the loss, disillusionment and chaos of change experienced during the hills and valleys of the creative career.
When artists are able to experience and exercise their talent from the investment perspective of the Creator, as the author of their gifts, it breeds a satisfaction from their ability to produce a return on their endowed talents—whether individually from the love cultivated within, in the stewardship of that talent, or the love and truth cultivated within the hearts of their clients and audiences.
The Apostle Paul spoke to this level of sustained satisfaction in his letter to the Philippians in the satisfaction gained from his mentorship, on behalf of Christ, towards their spiritual growth and advancement, as seen in the following passage:
“You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, as you offer them the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work have not been wasted.
Perhaps my life’s blood is to be poured out like an offering on the sacrifice that your faith offers to God. If that is so, I am glad and share my joy with you all. In the same way, you too must be glad and share your joy with me.”
When artists and creatives exercise their talents in conjunction with the intents and purposes of the Creator towards the betterment of humanity, satisfaction can be gained against debts and losses incurred from their sacrifice of faith in stewarding their gifts towards effective creativity.