Creativity

Most people know very little about their God-given creativity, nor have they tapped into it. Most of us are just trying to survive the rat race of living, trying to survive raising a family, paying bills, staying healthy, keeping a job, maintaining the car, home, and appliances, fearing information on the news or the weather, inflation or becoming sick. To say the least, it is overwhelming. This is not freedom, it is slave living.

Stress, fear, and anxiety keep us experiencing high levels of cortisol in our bodies. When we are in high beta brain waves, functioning all the time, there is no time to be creative. At this level of stress, many will medicate to kill the pain to survive. What starts as “just this one time” can quickly become a habitual addiction. Addiction is a form of chronically numbing up or numbing out. It is normal and natural to do so. However, like any addiction that has immediate gratification now will require payment later. Payment costs can be in the form of time, money, and relationships that only adds to the perpetual cycle of stress.

This is why recovery from addiction(s) is so important to begin to break this cycle. Next, begin to manage your schedule and stop letting your schedule managing you. This takes the strength and ability to begin to set boundaries and say “no” to things you have been saying “yes” to. This involves people and tasks in both your personal and professional life. Codependency is an epidemic in our culture.

Many feel they cannot say “no.” They feel they should, but they simply do not have the ability, healing, or understanding to do so. It usually takes practice and a support system, such as a group and/or therapist to help, most which can take 3 to 5 years. For others if they want to, it can happen overnight if, as they reach a breaking point.

As we say at Transformed Hearts, moving from recovery to discovery is a process. We do not want to recover the old you. We want to discover the person God has intended you always to be. The creative you who wants to do what you love to do.

For most, what they do for a living and what they love to do are two completely different things. Most feel they cannot make a living at what they love to do, as it does not provide enough income to make good living.

This may have been true in the past, but it is no longer the truth. Now more than ever, it is easier to take what you love to do with your creative talent and make a great living at it.

Do you love to write, walk dogs, paint, act, encourage others, build things, demo things, edit things, bike, hike, climb, camp, play games, invent, throw an axe? The sky is the limit with today’s technology.

As you heal from past limiting traumas and beliefs about yourself, saying “no” becomes easier. Start managing your schedule and do the things you love to do. You will then move from surviving the rat race to thriving in your creativity. This type of living will bless you and bless those around you.

What are you waiting for? Don’t get to work, get creative.

Cory Schortzman Executive Director

Cory Schortzman is an author, speaker, teacher and licensed mental health professional. Since 2008, he has served as the Executive Director of Transformed Hearts Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, CO. He is the founder of SARA, the Sexual Addiction Recovery Association. Cory is passionate about helping couples and individuals overcome sex addiction. He is also passionate about bringing awareness to the public and supporting the elimination of sex and human trafficking. Cory has been married since 1998 to his beautiful wife, Kerry, and lives in Colorado with their four daughters. He and Kerry have been seen on the CBS Early Show, Inside Edition, and ABC Good Morning America, Fox 21 News, and TLC/Discovery discussing the harm of sex addiction and the joys of recovery. He has also been heard on numerous radio programs.

Cory’s books include: Out of the Darkness, Into the Light the Workbook, Into the Light the Steps, Ashes to Beauty the Steps, 301 Dating Ideas, 301 Conversational Ideas, 301 Ways to Say I Love You, 301 Ways to Love Your Children & 301 Recovery Tools & Tips.