Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

We have arrived. Behold, it is week #23. And our “Take it, Learn it” series continues with its 6th Episode. The journey is still pleasant and wonderful to experience. Thanks to each of you. You are very much appreciated. Your value is immense.

In this week’s issue, our guests are you and Chris Gardner. (No he’s not related to Joe Gardner.)

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

(Missed Episode 5? Here you go!)

Main Wheel

You had a beginning. The time when you had that idea or desire to start. You were not sure of what lay ahead, but were excited. Then you arrive at a stop. The more time passed, the more the excitement withered.

It's always a battle whenever you pass through that. I have been there.

I lost the motivation to do what I knew I loved to do and needed to do. The weight of life pressed on the bits of passion. There seemed to be no tangible reasons to keep it up. Yes, I started with excitement or determination. But, they all flew away.

All creatives, and anyone who worked toward creating something, passed through that point. Some of us have traveled through it multiple times. I personally have.

The one thing that fosters a new and consistent spring of will is found in value. The value you have in your work. The way you view, respect, and love it.

When you reach that doubtful stop, any obstacle becomes the final station. You no longer want to move forward. You see no point in it. Why even improve in your craft when it feels like you're in no man's land.

It's not the typical place where a word of encouragement will do. I heard and read the cliche quotes. I listened to advice from role models. I "just did it." Yet, the fulfillment was not there. I knew in a way that I wanted it to continue. Still, I did not see why and how.

What I lacked in such moments was not the discipline. It was not the motivation or desire. Simply, I forgot the value my work had. I forgot the value I found in my craft. And I forgot the value its impact had. The value is the why I needed to realize.

We all know how joy and pain are great motivators. Ambition and fear can encourage in wonderful ways. However, when the reasons are lost, value serves as a great reminder. It not only reminds you of why you started, but how detrimental your surrender will be for you and others. It shifts the focus from you solely to others.

Moreover, in valuing your work you gain a rock to hold onto. Upon that rock, you can build a structure. As the structure keeps rising the more you move forward, it becomes visible. The chance of others to witness it increases. And people will be more likely to value your work as well.

The important thing is valuing your work helps you maintain it. It forges you into clinging to your work even when it does not make sense. And one great portrayal of this is in the 2006 movie "The Pursuit of Happyness".

In the film, we see a man struggling. A father I should say. A father who had the desire and aim to not disappoint his son and be there for him. However, life was not on his side.

To say he was unlucky is an understatement. Everything did not just conspire against him. They all fought with their whole hearts to demolish him. There was no reason for Chris Gardner to move forward.

He had no joy in continuing the journey. His pain was too overwhelming to fuel his ride. His ambition was clouded by the heavy fug of his cursed misfortune. And his fear was too vast for him to keep sailing. Nevertheless, he did not give up on his ship.

Chris kept going. It was not for the usual reasons we give. He valued his pursuit so much that there was no way he could leave it behind. He knew the worth of his work. He knew and believed it was too high to give up.

Chris Gardner did not let people, circumstances, and his internal doubts derail him. He did not let these things diminish what he had. In the end, he attained the goal he set. The walk was worrisome and exhausting. But, he made it.

It's not to say that is the ending we will all live. I wish it was. Nothing is certain. Most of life is uncertain. However, like in the story of Chris, we can have an unwavering and certain pillar. The pillar is the value we give our work.

This is to demonstrate the power of valuing your work. It's a power we can all have. It does not depend on circumstances. It does not have any requirement. The only requirement is you and your work, craft, or pursuit.

At the end of the day, you can truly discover the real value of your work if you reach the very end. Even when there is no end to your work, the value you give it is an end in itself, a beautiful end. An end you get to love and appreciate for as long as you desire.

Fin! See you next week for Episode 7!

Inspiring Wheels

Here are two (or more) creative works that you’ll not regret checking out:

• "The Place my Dream Came True" - Ali Gallop | Beautiful piece! A wonderful story on how sometimes we don’t realize that we have lived what we wanted.

• "Creativity Consumes You Whole" - taylorULTRA | Though I do not agree with everything said in the video, I had to include it this week. It was a pretty interesting and intriguing video. Thought-provoking in a way.

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Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

Want to work with me? Contact me here