10 Tips for Sparking Creativity in Your Catholic Business
For when you feel stuck and uninspired.
Happy New Year! I hope you’ve been able to step away from your work or business and recharge a bit. I went on a road trip with my family and am pleased to say I only got out my laptop once! (I forgot to delist my stationery. It’s the one product I have to manually design and, it never fails, I always get an order as soon as I arrive at my destination 😂).
I’m just now easing back into things, catching up on emails, and starting to think about what the New Year will look like.
Some of you might know exactly what you plan to do. But, you might also be sitting here feeling the aftermath of a stressful holiday, not sure where to begin. How do you create a plan if you are in a creative rut?
Here are 10 tips for helping you find your creative spark:
Pray for God to “spark” your imagination! “With loving regard, the divine Artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power.” —Letter to Artists, Pope St. John Paul II, 1999
Read Pope St. John Paul II’s Letter to Artists.
Head to the library or bookstore for inspiration. Go to the genre that inspires you. Read about architecture, painting, poetry, etc. Immerse yourself in this genre.
Look at bestselling books or products on Amazon/Etsy. Save the ones you were drawn to and see if you can identify a theme as to why. (Great for product-based businesses that are looking for gaps in the market to fill).
Start studying the things you find beautiful in art, books, music, magazines, churches, etc., and think about what draws you to those examples of beauty.
Read Sacred Scripture. Pope St. John Paul II says it best in his Letter to Artists: “It remains true, however, that because of its central doctrine of the Incarnation of the Word of God, Christianity offers artists a horizon especially rich in inspiration. What an impoverishment it would be for art to abandon the inexhaustible mine of the Gospel!”
Pursue the activities and hobbies that interest you. Ideas often follow our interests.
Reflect on a need that could be met through a beautiful book or product. Imagine all the different possibilities. What do you personally wish existed?
Be inspired by the books and products other artisans have created. I have many examples here: Thy Olive Tree Market
Remember, God’s dreams for you are often even bigger than the ones you have. This concept is beautifully described in Dream Bigger: A 21-Day Journey to Unlock God’s Dream for Your Life by Dan DeMatte. (Affiliate link).
What inspires you? How do you find your creative spark? Paid members, leave your tips in the comments!