The One Thing We All Need To Do More Of (And How I Am Doing It)

0

I have had this directive on my heart for the better half of this year and more lately than ever.  A concept that I believe will change my life and possibly yours.  A concept that has been with us for over 2,000 years and yet today, in our ever-changing, fast-paced, Insta-world we live in, this directive has taken a backseat when it deserves the drivers seat.  It’s the one thing we all need to do more of and one thing that could feasibly change our days, our weeks, our lives.

I have been convicted in the best way possible.

I don’t fully understand what it means or how to execute.

I am not sure I even entirely agree.

But, it’s on my heart and I think God put it there and isn’t allowing it to leave.

Stop consuming, start creating.

This is it.  Stop consuming, start creating.

The One Thing We All Need To Do More Of (And How I Am Doing It) create

As a Christian, creativity is a fascinating subject as we have THE artist, THE Creator to study and emulate. The awe and result of creating in the context of God truly is remarkable.  The very first line in the Bible says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1. Not Genesis 1:2 even.  THE VERY FIRST WORDS GOD WANTED US TO READ WERE ABOUT CREATION.

It did not say, “In the beginning, God consumed the heavens and the earth.”  Whew.

He created. 

We should create.

Having spent my entire career in digital marketing, getting all sorts of nice people in the world to consume a piece of content is my job.  And having spent around one million hours on Instagram, I, too, am a consumer. Digitally and otherwise.  We all are.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  But when consumption trumps creation, now we have a problem.  Or at least I do.  And I can feel the burden in my life.  It’s like something inside of me is trapped.  My plate is overflowing with consumption.  And I hear the whisper…in the beginning, God created…

It’s time for me to change my consumption habits and move into a new creative season of my life.        

And I don’t actually believe the answer is to remove Instagram from my phone.  Or to stop scrolling through Pinterest.  The answer is for me to make space to create and therefore, to edit what I consume – and how much I consume.  The answer is for me to relish in using my hands and my heart and my brain to create something meaningful, something beautiful.  For my family, my team, my clients, myself. 

And with that said, I will be creating more and consuming less.  Here are a few things I am committed to and my hope is that this carries me into the New Year.  That I can form habits that are healthy for me, that my days would be designed with space to create and that I could use the gifts God gave me to emulate Him.  To create.

  1. Practical – Creating meals 3 time a week for my family – loads of halo benefits here…healthier food intake, conversations, connections. I love cooking.  Adore it. Julia Child is one of my personal heroes.  When I am cooking, I truly feel more connected to God and my heart is filled with joy.  I also like to have a glass of wine when I cook so it could be the wine effect as well 😉 Amen.
  2. God Dreams – I have always wanted to paint on canvas. I am NOT a painter and I have no clue how to paint, what techniques to execute or even what products to buy.  However, it’s a weird secret dream I have.  Thus, I am going to buy an easel and a few blank canvases, turn on some bossanova music and see what happens.
  3. Group Project – Taking Zoey to creative spaces in Miami for mommy daughter dates. For example, The Artsy Hive and The Poppet Project in Miami Shores.  They are both perfect spaces for creativity and imagining and dreaming. 
  4. Face Time – I am taking my conversations offline. Instead of consuming lives and stories on Facebook, I am going to be intentional about in person 1:1’s with women in my life, creating space for actual face time, creating memories and sharing real life together. 
  5. More Writing, Same Reading – Writing has always been a creative outlet for me. In the early hours of the morning, I write.  I dream.  God gives me words and there is this supernatural connection to the world, to Him, to myself when I do this.  Thus, more morning writing and the continued path of reading from other creatives.

I’d love to hear ways you create in your life!  Please share them and let’s start this journey together. 

Xo,

Ann

Previous articleWired! Food as Fuel: From Chaos to Learning
Next articleSuffering: Finding Your Identity Through the Process
Ann
A midwest gal raised in a farm town, eventually making her way to Chicago, NYC and back to Chicago, Ann has called Miami home for the last 4 years. She has spent 16 years in the hotel industry in digital marketing, currently Vice President at BCV Social (it's no secret that travel is a deep passion for her!). Simultaneously, Ann has pursued one of her dreams of becoming an Interior Designer by opening up her own firm, Ann Ueno Interior Design. She has been married to Rick for almost 8 years, step-mom to Zach and mom to Zoey and the adventure of motherhood continues to be one of God's greatest blessings in Ann's life! Ann serves and leads at Vous Church in Wynwood. She loves working out, writing, leading her Bible study and cooking. Her grandmother, mom and Julia Child are women who have inspired and shaped her life and she hopes through her own life and stories she will say, she can inspire and shape yours.