What Comes Easy?

“Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” -  Booker T. Washington

OK, so this just in: Taking your talents to South Beach is not an instant, easy answer to your dreams. As we have learned from even those who call themselves "the king", and "the chosen 1", there really is no easy path to success.

But if you are anything like me (and I sincerely hope for your sake you are not!!!), you have lots of dreams or talents you want to explore. So many creative paths, such a short time here on earth.

But what I am seeing in my own struggle is, some things come easier than others. Some ideas are great, and they come to you in what can only be called an epiphany. You get excited, even giddy! You want to tell someone (who is almost always less excited about the idea than you). About this time, the excitement fades as you realize, hmm, this might be tough to actually pull off.

Now the ideas may stick around, and you may actually try to go down some action steps to see if it could be feasible. How easily those steps bring success might just be God opening or closing a door.

Sometimes you can get down the road a bit on an idea or possibility for your creative life. You think: this could be it! Then the door closes. Doesn't slam, but gently shuts. Well darn.

But sometimes things come easy. You show off your talents to people, and they react. They call you an all-star. They label you amazing. They pay you gladly. They want to be part of what you are doing.

I think we need to look at this as a sign from God. He knows the desire of our creative hearts. And He can let those doors swing open or shut, as the plan He has for us dictates. 

Maybe this indeed is the easiest way to tell where should put all our energies. If you're banging your head against a rock waiting for something to work, maybe it's not the thing He has for you to do.

If something isn't working, while something else is, don't be afraid to let the thing that's slow go and put your time and energy into the thing that seems to be growing like a weed without even watering it. Or perhaps it's time to reevaluate the creative thing that's not working.

What comes easy? What do people react to in you when you do it? Is that where you are working the most?

Well, maybe you should. Maybe what comes easy is the thing you should pay attention to, and quit trying to be something you're not.

Maybe what God has for us to do is not the martyr's mile, but the more simpler path He has put right in front of our feet.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:30

Have a great week!!

EC

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Eric Copeland is a producer and chronic creative soul that really needs to heed his own advice and quit telling people what to do. I mean come on, he gets to do it all day as a producer and chief hoo-haw at Creative Soul, his Nashville based artist development and music production company. For more about that, check out http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com