Created to Create

What if I told you that you were created to create? That you were placed on this earth to create things that others can’t? That your whole reason for being here was to add value back to the world around you? Would you believe it? If you do believe it, what would you do with that information? Well, I am here to tell you that I truly believe that you were created to create. That you were made for more.

Now don’t get me wrong, creation can come in a lot of forms. You might not be a carpenter, a painter, a musician, or in my field an engineer. But you were created to create. I think often people get scared to create because the way that the world defines creation is different than that of the Creator. I know for me I didn’t create because I didn’t think I was able. I was a very logical person and not very artistic. I tried music and did ok, but it didn’t come naturally. I tried art, but I can’t draw a stick figure. I tried singing, but my voice was horrible. All the things that people say creatives create, I couldn’t do.

But about five years ago I found my niche. I found my way to create. And it is beautiful. I took a change in my career from sales and support to Software Engineering. And in that, I found a logical and mathematical approach to creating new things. To create beautiful things from nothing. To look at other things, and add new things to those existing things. I was able to create as I was intended to do. I am finally in my element.

I know not everyone can just quit their job, and start a new career. I know that not everyone even has the ability or wants to create things through software. But what I am telling you is there is a place for you to create. And that is where you need to find yourself. At the crossroads of your talents and abilities and the world around you. And start adding there. But I want to help get you started. So stick with me as I give you some steps you can take to start creating. Because remember, that is what you were created to do.

So the first step in starting to create is to understand that you can. That there is a space there for you to create. This, to be honest, was not as easy as it sounds. I had thought and been told my whole life that I was not a creative. So getting over the years of this being talked against was hard. So surround yourself with people that you trust. People that are willing to push you past what you know. To challenge you to go further, to go deeper, and to find your inner self. The ones that ask the hard questions. The ones that won’t tell you what you want to hear. The ones you want to not talk to when things are going wrong. Find those people, keep them close, and listen to what they say.

The next thing is to inventory all your life experiences. To sit down and see what you have done, what you like to do, what you want to do, what you are good at, what you are bad at. Make a list of all of those things. You can categorize them, but write them all down. Leave no stone unturned. I like to ask myself this question; “If money and time were not an object, and responsibilities were thrown out the door, what would you do? Where would you find yourself? What would you be working on?”. After you have answered those questions, then ask yourself “why” you chose that. What deep down inside brought that to mind? During this part of the process, don’t limit yourself to that of what others have already done. If there is a space in the world that no one has stepped into, maybe the Creator is calling you into that space. So don’t limit yourself to the things that are known. You can think outside the box and think through unknown things. Things that are not clearly defined. You can pioneer that trail.

Well now you have confidence that you can create, you have a list of things that you want to create or are able to create. Now it is time to start to think through where you are. Where are you in your life? What things are feasible at the moment? What things can you start RIGHT NOW? What things can make the largest impact in the world around you? What does your family or your friends need? What does your work need? Start to list these things out. Start to think about where there is something missing in the world around you. There is something that you have that the world needs, I know it. So now you are looking for that space where the things you have can fit into the places where things are missing. Once you have that, you know what you need to create. You know what value you can add. You know what you can give back. It might be small at first. It might be big at first. But whatever it is, DO IT! Don’t not do it. The world needs you.

Through all of this the most important thing to remember is that the world needs what you have. You were created for a reason. You were placed where you are RIGHT NOW for a purpose. There are people in your life that count on you and care for you. Even if you do this exercise and you can’t figure it out. You don’t know what you are to create, just know that doesn’t mean you don’t have something, it just means you can’t think of it. Or maybe it is not the right time. But remember, you MATTER. You are worth it. You are special. Now go, create. Live on Adventure. Show love. Live outside the comfortable and step into the unknown. There you will find the One who can guide you through.