Have you ever wondered how to tell when the Holy Spirit is guiding you and working with you in your art or when you are trying to do it all on your own?  If this is you, you're not alone. This is a question I get a lot from artists all over the world. And today, I want to share with you a few things that I've learned over the years that have really helped me definitively answer this question for myself.

Religious Baggage – We All Have Some…
You know, a lot of us were raised with a fear-based relationship with the Lord. This is where the idea that you have to be "careful" because you don't want to "miss God" gets ingrained in your heart. While the desire for this sort of teaching is undoubtedly good, it often produces the opposite of what it is intended to do.

In my life, this mindset failed me completely. Instead of keeping on the straight and narrow, it took me totally off the path. I became paralyzed because I was so afraid of doing anything that might seem like my own flesh, anything that would not honor the Lord.  I was just scared all the time, and because of that, I really was not moving forward in my life.

This kind of religious baggage paralyzes a lot of people in life. But over the years, the Lord began to help me realize some essential Kingdom truths. These truths helped me know the answer to the question, "Am I doing this with the Lord, or am I doing this on my own?"

You Were Designed for Co-Creating with God.
We all have to realize that God's pleasure and His desire are FOR you. God's design in your life was created specifically for you.  In other words, there is a design, there is a pattern, there is a way of flowing that He designed for you. Not for anyone else, and He did this before the very foundation of the earth. When you got saved, the best part is that your Divine design got reactivated and reenergized in your life.

I love where the Bible says in Psalms that God inhabits the praises of His people.  I love it because that is what art feels like to me.  As we create in concert with the Holy Spirit, inviting Him into the creative process, God is faithful to His Word.  As we do the things we were made to do with the One who created us, He comes, and He inhabits, leads, guides, and comforts us through that process.

You Have Everything You Need
It is crucial to realize that through what God has done for you through the cross, you already have everything you need for life and godliness as a Kingdom Artist. The real question is, "How do you participate or partake in all that God has already done for you? In II Peter 1:3-4, it says that we participate in the divine nature through the very precious promises of God.  So, it is by faith, right? 

It's by faith that we take hold of the promises of God and can appropriate all the things that God has for us. Well, the same thing is true with your art.  You need to embrace the truth that every idea, every inspiration, and every skill comes from God.  He has already equipped you with all of this, plus the desire and ability to flow with the Holy Spirit in your creative process. It's already there!  It exists right now! Well, how do you access it?  You access it by faith.

Try This the Next Time You Are In Your Studio
So the next time you go into your creative space, walk-in with a joyful heart saying: "Father, thank You that I have the opportunity today to come in and do the thing that You created me to do.  Now, Lord, I receive by faith Your inspiration and the movement of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, I listen with the ears of my heart for Your voice.  Lord, I respond with my hands, and God, I trust that You will lead and guide and move in and through me during this process.  Use me, Lord.  Transform me that my work might be used to transform others."

You see, I just find that when you can come in and create out of a place of JOY and not judgment, you can't do it wrong.  When you approach the creative process from a place of judgment versus joy, fear rises up, anxiousness kicks in, and self-doubt rules the day. Judgment says, "I don't know if this is God!  I don't know if I am doing it right!  I don't know if I am going to miss it!" 

Joy says, "I am a son.  I am a daughter.  I am already set up for success.  God has already given me a design.  There is no way I can do this wrong. God, You are FOR me.  Holy Spirit, You are my guide, and You are the one that is here to lead me today." As you do that, it's like letting a drawbridge down into the spirit, receiving by faith everything that God has planned for you.

What the Fruit Says
Lastly, I want to share how you can recognize when the Spirit of God is moving in and through your creative process. Ask yourself the following:

• Am I at peace? 
• Am I joyful during this process? 
• Am I being transformed? 
•  Is He transforming people through my art? 

 
Is there a sense of His presence as you are creating?

If you're answering yes if you're seeing the Fruits of the Spirit manifesting in your life and through your work. All of that confirms the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life as you create.  So don't make it more complicated than it is.  Enjoy the process.

A Resource That Can Help
A few years ago, we put together a mini-course called "Knowing God's Plan for Your Life and Art." After taking this 3-part mini-course, you'll be able to:

• Know Exactly How the Kingdom Actually Works
• Recognize and Hear God's Voice Even If You've Struggled Previously
• Clarify Your Vision & Understand God's Plan to You Can Make Progress Now

You can learn more about this course by clicking right here.

I hope this helps as you continue to create with the Lord. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

Thanks for reading.

One of the questions that I get from artists just about every day is, "Matt; I love Jesus!  I know He is calling me to be a creative, but I am so scared!  I am so nervous about what other people will think of me, what they will say about me, and how they will judge me. I constantly fear that others will find out that I'm simply not enough. How do I get over this?" 

Well, this whole area of fear of what others think is significant in the creative community. In fact, I believe that it's really the foundation of every problem that artists go through. So, I think it's time we hit this issue head-on with some practical solutions that will help you bust through the prison of what other people think about you, your art, and your creative lifestyle.

Did I Miss Something?
For many years I struggled with this whole concept of identity. In fact, my first book, "Unlocking The Heart of The Artist," was really all about my struggle with identity and really coming to understand that you can be both saved and renewed. Let me explain. 

I knew from a young age that my spirit had been renewed when I asked Jesus to come into my heart. But nobody had ever taught me that just because my spirit was instantly renewed that my soul, that is my heart, mind, will, emotions, needed to be renewed and aligned with the Kingdom of God.

Most Christians, in general, do not have this understanding that you were saved instantly, but you can be operating out of an old, wounded mentality, an old paradigm.  You can be saved on one side and see all the promises of God that are in God's Word while still living out of an unrenewed mind. If you live out of this wounded paradigm, you will live a life in many respects more frustrating than the one you left before you were saved.  

Why?  Because even though you've got this great hope and vision for the eternal life Jesus provided for you while at the same time, you find yourself struggling daily within your emotions, thoughts, and actions.  If you've ever felt this way, you're not weird. This is a normal part of every believer's walk. In fact, I was like that for most of my life until I began to understand how transformation is designed to happen in the Kingdom. 

Kingdom Transformation
Well, how does that happen?  Well, Romans 12:2 tells us that we are not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed, that is to be fundamentally changed, by the renewing of your mind.  Many of us probably memorized this verse in Sunday School, and countless gold stars have been awarded for these efforts. But did anyone ever teach you how to apply it to your life practically? 

Salvation happens the moment you ask Jesus into your heart.  Your spirit man is instantly transformed, changed, and made righteous instantly. But even in that glorious moment, we still have a world of issues lingering inside our minds, wills, and emotions.   Our spirit is saved, but that is just one part of the three, body, soul, and spirit that makes us who we are.

Our soul, that mind will and emotions part of us, still has to be renewed even after salvation. The Bible teaches us that this is a daily, moment-by-moment process that is meant to be led by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God. It's an intentional daily process, this renewing of your mind, and it's as simple as starting with focusing on the truth of:

• Who God says you are? 
• What God says you have? 
•  What God says about you? 

Taking time daily to focus on God's Truth versus all of the fear, anxiety, frustration, confusion that you've carried for so long will transform you from the inside out.

Consistency Brings the Change
And as you do this thing the Bible talks about, and you begin taking every thought captive under the Lordship of Jesus, your life WILL change. It's not an overnight change, but as you are faithful daily to focus on and believe in God's Truth versus what you have believed, a great exchange begins to take place in your spirit man. 

It begins with declaring in faith, "Hey!  I don't want to believe this old lie about myself anymore.  I choose to receive the truth of God's Word about this for my life!" And as you do that over and over and over again as an act of your will, verbally, mentally, and spiritually replacing that old lie with God's Truth, change just happens. The old lies fade, and God's Truth in that area becomes your go-to daily mindset. Why is this important? Because it's your beliefs that ultimately determine your actions and your destiny. 

Resources That Can Help
The foundation of everything that we do with the Podcast, with the Artist Mentoring Program, with my Books, and with my Blogs and Podcasts, is to help people get their heart healed and their mind renewed to the truth of what God says about them.  Of all the resources my team and I have put together, these two are the best place to start when you are ready to embark on this process of renewing your mind.

The first is my book Created to Thrive – which is available right here from Amazon.

The second is a mini-course we put together called "Renewing Your Mind."  This course walks you through several in-depth teachings about this, plus gives you some access to some tremendous Biblical affirmations that will help build your faith as you make this transformation in your life.  You can learn more about this by clicking right here.

I hope this helps as you take that step of creating or refining your website. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below! 

Thanks for reading.

One of the frequent questions I get goes something like, "Matt, I'm on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok. So, is it even a necessity to have a website?  

I get it. Websites can seem so last decade. But an effective website can be the best marketing tool an emerging artist can use to grow their business and expand their influence. So, I want to give you a new perspective on websites while highlighting what I see are the four primary purposes of every artist's website.

All Roads Lead to Your Website

So, I'm a big fan of Social Media. I'm currently on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, while at the same time, my podcasts are being distributed across a dozen different platforms. I've been interviewed on radio, tv, podcasts, and in magazines, books, and blogs. The common thread that holds this all together is my website.

I like to think of an artist's website as the central place or the hub of your artistic world. Your website should be the place that all roads from the social jungle point back to.  Your social pages should link to it, your blog should live on it, and when you're interviewed online, on-air, or in print, you should mention it. 

Why? You ask. It's simple. Your website is where your Artist Statement lives.  It's the place where all the images of you working in the studio, of the trajectory of your work, and the history of your creative process are displayed. Your site is where you showcase your current work, share your event calendar, and talk about your journey as an artist. 

Now, the whole point of having a website, though, is not just to have a website.  The whole point of having a website is to move people through a process where they can do four things. 

Learn About You
As you are designing your website, you want to speak about what you do in a way that connects with what your site visitors are looking for.  If you go to my website, www.MattTommey.com, you can see how I speak to people that are looking for unique, nature-inspired woven sculpture.  

I am speaking not only about myself, my art, and my creative process, but I am intentionally sharing what I do in terms of what my potential clients are looking for.  In marketing, we call that the WIIFM – "What's In It For Me?" When you ask this question, you have to think about it from the client's perspective since that is who you want to be able to connect with.

Have Their Needs Met
I remember walking through a store one day when U2's "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" began playing in the background.  I had a chuckle because it was true for me that day, but it also brings up a great point.

Your website needs to persuade visitors that the solutions you offer, the art you sell, the classes you teach, or the book you wrote is something that they need. The language you use, the pictures you share, and the stories you tell on your page need to connect with these potential clients in a way that makes them want to take advantage of the opportunity you're offering based on their values, their desires, and what they are looking for.

Take Action
Number three, your website has got to have a clear invitation.  You want to have an opportunity to invite visitors to get involved in your world. It can be as simple as an invite to a show, an offer to take a class, or even an opportunity to purchase a piece of work. 

The secret is you have to ask the visitor to take action, and you've got to be really clear!  In the Marketing world, we call that your Call To Action.  Your CTA is effective when a site guest can clearly understand what they are being asked to do and quickly and easily do it.

Become Connected
Lastly, you want to make it easy for your site visitors to stay connected with you. That's why I tell the artist in my Created to Thrive Artists Mentoring Program to make sure that there is an opt-in page on their websites.

An opt-in page is where somebody can make a purchase, register for a class, or even give you their email address. Again, your website is not of any real use if it is just a brochure out there.  You want to make sure that it's a vehicle to connect, persuade, invite, and enable your clients to communicate with you, do business with you, and refer you to others.

I hope this helps as you take that step of creating or refining your website. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

Thanks for reading.

Do you ever wonder how to keep the inspiration going when you feel just a little creatively dry?  A lot of people struggle with that, and I am going to dive into this subject and give you some real help on how to keep the inspiration flowing. 

You know, we have all been in this situation, right?  You get into the studio, and creatively you just hit a wall. Inside you are like, "I've got nothing!  No inspiration!  Nothing is flowing here! What's going on?" As artists, isn't being creative what we are supposed to do anywhere and at any time?  Yet somehow, we all have found ourselves in this place, but the good news is none of us have to stay there.

Fill Your Well
As artists, we all create from the inspiration that we're continually collecting, cultivating, and curating in what I like to call our Creative Well. Think of your "Well" as an internal reservoir that frequently needs to be filled so that it is always ready to release a fresh flow of inspiration when you need it. 

A common mistake is to assume that your Creative Well is just going to fill itself. In reality, you have got to be as intentional about cultivating inspiration as you do about creating the expression of that inspiration.  Find that thing that fills you up inspirationally and focus on it. Make it a daily priority in your life. Be intentional about this so that you can release that fresh flow of creativity when you do get in the studio.  

Focus On The Journey
The second thing I would say is that you have got to prioritize your own personal creative journey.  True artistic growth requires so much more than merely mastering the tools and techniques of your chosen genre. Maturing as a creative involves integrating everything you learn along your journey into your unique creative expression, voice, and style.  

It's the nuance of how God speaks to you, how you fill your Creative Well, and how you interpret those things through your life and art that grow you as an artist. The secret to keeping your creativity fresh is continually looking for and focusing upon those divine teaching opportunities God puts in your path. Intentionally making this a priority in your journey will keep your art and your creative outlook fresh.

Don't Forget The Fun
The last thing I would say is this: You have got to get back to the joy of just creating! I still love nothing better than to be out in my garden, pruning back plants, picking up dead leaves, and using those scraps to sit down and just start weaving. I'm not focused on any tools or techniques as I'm sitting there on my porch. I'm just having fun with the materials.

The funny thing is that after the countless pieces I've created and sold, this simple act of weaving yard clippings is still a huge rush to me.  It's creative joy unleashed and unrestrained. It's a simple process that keeps me grounded creatively.  

If you're not regularly experiencing this, then ask the Lord to take you back to that place where creativity was something you embraced with child-like joy. Let those times of prayerful and playful artistic meditation revive your sense of awe and wonder in the creative process.
 
I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!
​
Thanks for reading.

Do you ever find yourself struggling, out of the blue, with anxiety, or jealousy, or insecurity? I know I do, and I’m going to share a few tips about how to work through it and find freedom from those debilitating thought patterns. 

Just the other day, I was sitting with the Lord, doing things that I usually do in the mornings, when I got hit with a wave of fear, anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity. Now I know that some of you are thinking, “Matt, that happens to you?”  Of course, it happens to me because it happens to all of us.  But instead of letting these moments ruin my day, I begin to focus upon three truths I’ve learned over the years about this very human condition.

This Is Normal
You know, it is kind of a funny thing that I’ve learned over the years. As I felt this wave trying to overtake me, one part of me laughed as I thought, “Yeah!  Here this comes again,”  will at the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder, “This Again?  Really?  I mean, am I still dealing with that kind of stuff in my life?” 

But then, I took a deep breath and settled into the truth that emotions and the emotional roller coaster are part of the human condition.  Even though we all want to hide it, we all still have a flesh nature that is alive and well. And it’s that part of us that the enemy is always trying to take advantage of.  That brings me to the second truth I want to share.

This Does Not Define Me
An emotionally trying day is not what defines you as an artist in God’s Kingdom. Being aware of your propensity to have, give into, and meditate upon thoughts like that, helps you realize when you’re having a momentary “flesh flash” or when it’s a symptom of a deeper issue that needs to be dealt with.

Look at it as an emotional hiccup,  a reminder of our genuine need to renew our mind, and to connect the reality of God’s love for us in the person of Jesus.  Any time the enemy hits you with overwhelming thoughts of fear, anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity, you have to realize that is an opportunity to take that thought captive and to say, “Now, is this true?  Or is it not?” Then once you realize you’re dealing with yet another lie from the enemy you have the opportunity to embrace this third bit of wisdom.

Embrace God’s Truth
Once you realize that your current state of mind is being driven by a thought or idea that doesn’t line up with the Word of God, that’s when the real growth and transformation can begin. I know this may sound too simple, but it really works.

In moments like this, learn to throw yourself into the arms of Jesus. Embrace the truth that He is your hope and strength when you don’t have any strength. If the enemy is hitting you with fear about money or provision, then embrace the truth that He is your Provider. When you feel like you’ve lost your way, embrace the Lord as your Vision Giver.

If you’re feeling attacked or taken advantage of, always know that He is your Protector. If jealousy or the lie that you are somehow not enough is rearing its ugly head, then find peace in the fact that He is your Identity Giver.  Find peace in the timeless truth that in Him, your place is absolutely secure.

Now you might wonder, “Why?”   Because His love for us never changes!  His Gifts to us are without repentance. The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God are living and active inside of us all the time!  That’s the reality, that’s the truth, not those tangled webs of emotions lies, and fears the enemy slaps you with from time to time.

The Divine Exchange
So, if you can relate to what I’ve just shared, then I want to encourage you to intentionally make an exchange. Choose to trade-in those dominating thoughts, feelings, and fears for the truth of God’s promises to you. Then rehearse and reinforce those truths over and over and over again. You begin to embrace this practice as a lifestyle, then the things that have taken you captive – you will end up taking captive, giving them to the Lord in exchange for the newness and the freshness of His promises toward you.

I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

Thanks for reading

Have you ever wanted to know just what it takes to get into an art gallery? I get asked about this all the time, and in this article, I have three tips, straight from a local gallery director, that will help you get your art ready for submission to a reputable gallery.

As many of you know, I have been transitioning out of my River Arts District studio, where I have been for the last ten years, into a private and not open to the public studio. As a part of this move, I am starting to sell my work through galleries again. 

I was making a delivery the other day, and I had the opportunity to talk to the director and their staff. I shared with them that one of the big questions that I get all the time from the members of my Created to Thrive Artists Mentoring program is, "Matt, how do I get into a really reputable gallery?"  

Of all the things they shared about what to do and what NOT to do when seeking gallery representation, the following three things really stuck out as vital to artists wanting to sell their work through a reputable gallery.

Follow the Procedures

I know that might seem like a "Duh! Everybody follows the procedures!" But not everybody does!  In fact, too many artists just show up at the gallery and ask, "How do you be an artist in this gallery," or another favorite question, "Can you just look at my work on my phone?"  

Listen!  Any reputable gallery has got a process, often found on their website. It will detail when they are looking at work, how to submit it, and the time frame in which they'll get back with you.  If you research a gallery you are interested in and can't find their submission process online, then reach out with a call or email asking how they would like for you to submit work for their consideration.

The critical thing to remember here is that every gallery has procedures, and they all want you to follow them; why, you wonder? It's because if they are a reputable gallery, they are a busy gallery, and following their procedures shows a gallery owner that:

• You respect their time and their status in the local art scene
• You are serious about your art
• You are someone that can be trusted to work with long term

Always remember that a gallery isn't just someone who shows off your artwork from time to time. They are going into business with you. When a gallery accepts your work, they partner with you to distribute your art to the world.  So, it's vital that you follow their procedures at the beginning of what can be a very fruitful relationship.

Be On-Time

This kind of goes without saying, but it was one of the key "what NOT to do" things the gallery staff shared with me.  They told me, "If all of our artists would be like you, Matt!  You are actually on time. You were here when you said you were going to be, and you have your paperwork!"  

Here's a Pro Tip for getting an art gallery director and staff to love you and your work: Make it easy to do business with you.  It starts with things like:

• Fill out your Artist Inventory BEFORE you arrive with your artwork.
• Have your headshots, bio, and artist's statement ready to give the gallery both in printed form and in digital format.
• Show up for your appointments on time with all your gallery submission work complete.

Do this, and they will have a great feeling about you and your work. And when the gallery owner and the gallery staff feel good about you and your work, they are much, much, much more willing to talk to clientele about what you do creatively, both to sell pieces and to refer clients back to you for commissioned work.  

Make Great Artwork

Again, I would hope this would seem obvious, but too many people just don't seem to get this. You've got to be making great work for a gallery to take you seriously.  You may be a great marketer, but if you create sub-standard pieces that are not desirable in the marketplace, then you can't expect the gallery to get excited about what you do.  

While you're out there looking for a reputable venue to represent your work, owners are looking for artwork that will enhance their art gallery's reputation. I share these concepts often, both in this blog and on my Thriving Christian Artist and 5-Minute Mentoring Podcasts, about:
 

• Being both Filled and Skilled as an Artist, 
• Having a Regular Consistent Studio Practice
• Developing of Your Unique Artistic Voice

Investing in yourself and your art is the path towards creating high quality, unique art that will be prized and appreciated in the marketplace. 

When you do these three things, I promise that you will make friends and influence gallery owners quickly. You'll be set apart from so many other artists in the Marketplace who may be great at what they do, but they aren't making it easy for a gallery to do business with them. 

I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share on social media and comment below!

Thanks for reading. 

​

So everybody wants to be an “influencer” these days, right? The lure of followers, the excitement of sharing your passion with thousands who are listening to your every word. Trust me, it's a thing and it's exciting! But what’s God’s methodology for becoming a person of influence?  

First of all, let me say that wanting to share your passion and inspire others is awesome! And it could very well be a part of what God's called you to as an artist or art teacher.  But it's important to come at this from a healthy, grounded perspective because for Christians, concepts like laying down your life, serving others first and allowing God to raise you up in His timing come to mind pretty quickly.

In that context, here’s 5 other practical ways you can approach your dream of leading and potentially influencing others...

1. Develop Masterful Competency in One Area. Yes, one.​
   But Matt, I love to do so many creative things! Yes, I know and that's awesome, but it's not how you develop mastery. Focusing singularly on the development of your artistic voice and the unique aesthetic you carry is a major accelerator for your growth as an artist both creatively and financially.
2. Do it so well and so uniquely that others can’t help but notice.
   The Bible is clear that a person's gift makes room for them. As you develop mastery over an area of your life like your art, and start sharing your story authentically with those who are interested, that in itself will start to open doors in the marketplace.
3. When they start to ask how you did it (and they will) and if you could help them, humbly say yes and ask how best you can help.
   When you are doing great work and telling your story, you will garner the attention of others... both buyers, partners and students. As you notice the conversation happening - it's focus, it's frequency - embrace it and use it to develop relationships with your audience members
4. Day by day, multiply your results in the lives of others and help them achieve even greater results
   The responsibility to influence others as an artist who's on a Kingdom assignment is great. Not heavy, but important. Your role in that relationship is to inspire, point them to Jesus and help them grow in their own gifting so they can be the person God created them to be. It's definitely not to create a bunch of mini-me's.
5. Tell the stories of those you’ve helped and the transformation you helped them achieve. Invite others to the same journey.
   One of the best ways to grow in influence is to allow other people to praise your work and influence in their life. Let your students and clients tell your story through testimonials, video and social media live broadcasts. And when you're telling the story of what you do, make sure you're focusing 2/3 on your impact on others, rather than your own awesomeness, which I'm sure is limitless :)

Now, all that being said, I couldn't resist giving you 5 Ways Not to Be An Influencer. So, here they are:

1. Plaster your "brand" all over the web and social media along with your latest __________ (class, ecourse, book, album, etc) telling everyone how awesome you and your ___________ are.
   
2. Show no demonstrated mastery or progress in your life over time in the area you're wanting to encourage others in.
   
3. Step into the role of coach, expert or advisor when you’ve never helped anyone else achieve real lasting results in their life in that area.
   
4. Look for recognition of your position before seeing demonstrable, measurable results in your life and in the lives of others.
   
5. Seek leadership and authority before being a great follower who’s under authority.
   

It's been said "Your talent will take you where your character can't keep you" and I wholeheartedly agree. ​Remember, just because you can make influence happen through technology and marketing strategies doesn't mean you should. Rather, listen to the voice of the Lord, watch the fruit He's bringing forth in your life and listen to those who are organically following you.  

Psalm 75:6-7 "For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another."

Lastly, in the Kingdom, those who lead have a greater responsibility. We hold the hearts of our followers in our hands and have the ability to point them in any direction. Make sure your own heart is grounded in a healthy identity in Jesus and who you are in Him, rather than what you do. Otherwise, believe me, it will be really easy to draw others to yourself rather than to Jesus and His purposes in their life.

By Casey Cole Corbin, artist-counselor

Surprisingly to most modern Christians, we are commanded 37 times in the Word of God to meditate.  We may have neglected to be obedient in this area.  As an artist-counselor who is also a Christian, I am often asked, “How does this Mind-Based Mood Management work as a lifestyle anyway? How does it integrate with following Jesus?”  I can answer that and also share a few exercises to try.
"Mystics" is a word I previously associated with witchcraft, until I learned that the early Christians were called this. There was something different about them that the onlookers saw, a peculiar way they handled their everyday life. They had a distinctive response to stressors, how they interacted with others, how they lived, and the priorities they set.
They were still real humans with real struggles.  They had setbacks and they were not perfect (i.e.: Paul needing to correct Peter.)  But they faced real stress and suffering-- more than most of us will ever experience, including torture and even death—and they handled it differently. I believe that they did this spiritually, but in a much more practical way than we usually consider.
It was already part of their culture to practice a lifestyle of a mind-body connection that we might call Mindfulness today. They pulled themselves together and toward their source of strength which enabled them to do amazing things like suffer and die for the cause of Christ.
Most of us do not have those kinds of trials, but we do live in a world full of stress. I’ll offer you a Thought Exercise that I have led thousands of my clients through.  As requests for this have increased, both for in-person sessions or over video calls, I created audio recordings to automate the process and help more people.
Thought Exercise:When you have that moment in your day when you feel all over the place, anxious, or overwhelmed - get centered.
Getting ‘centered’ is not some weird thing that only “those other religions” do.  In fact, you probably already do it, any time you say to yourself:

• “Let me think”
• “Breathe”
• “OK, calm down”

Heck, even my wife’s smartwatch tells her to breathe!
Maybe you play a certain song. Or at CHURCH, when the worship leader says, “Everyone get your mind off the stress of the week and focus on praising God now” and “Turn your focus of thanking Jesus, in this place.”
Or how about when you create ART?
What is your practice to ‘get into the zone’?  You may have a formal, thought-out process and routine, or maybe it is informal and brief, just as you walk into your studio or get your space ready. That process, whether formal or informal, is you getting centered.
Next time, pay attention to your physiology.  In a moment -your body changes.  Maybe for you, your heart rate increases for a moment and a tingly feeling runs across your chest, followed by powerful calm. As your awareness then shifts from inside your body to your outside environment, you are mentally taking inventory of what’s around you and all the possibilities of how you can use the supplies to create your art.
 So let’s try it now:

• Breathe in.
• Go inward with a body scan. (Be aware of the state of your body, pain, comfort, warmth, the space your body displaces, your perimeters -where you begin and end.)
• Breathe out.
• Eventually, go outward being aware that the Holy Spirit is with you in the room. Connect to the LOVE He is offering.
• Breathe in.
• Go back inward inviting Him in there too.
• Connect to the LOVE He brings.

You can repeat with each GIFT: Peace, Hope, Joy, Forgiveness, Grace & Mercy, etc.

• Again, re-center yourself
• Scanning your body again,
• Increase your awareness to now include _____ (peace)
• As though you are inhaling God’s peace and allowing it to travel deep and settling down inside you.”
• (Repeat for Hope, Joy, Forgiveness, Grace, and Mercy...)
• Keep the GIFTS when you are ready to move on with your day.
• Bringing the Peace up with you, feeling like you just had a power nap, eyes wide open feel great!
• Take note of how you feel!

Hopefully, you have a taste of how Mind-Based Mood Management works as a lifestyle.  You also may now better understand how it not only integrates perfectly with following Jesus but to ignore this instruction could be an issue of disobedience.   Consider how the word “selah” appears verse after verse in the Psalms.  It means to “pause and think about this”.  Add to your word-study other terms used in the Word of God such as “contemplate” and “ponder”, and we might make the case for how this topic might be one of the most neglected biblical instructions!  But it’s OK we can always start now! 
I’ve recorded audio versions of these exercises to help you to better focus on the internal work of building this new skill.  Also included are several skill-building audios, video, and written support materials.  These will help to cement these learnings so that this new ability will serve you well for the rest of your life.  For more information on these recordings and to learn even more about Mind-Based Mood Management, click the link below. 

Do you ever find yourself wanting different results in your life but still find yourself doing the same old thing you have always done for years and expecting something to change?  Well, I think many of us have done that in our lives, and I want to unmask the top three things that can keep you trapped in this cycle and share a few things that you can do to start moving forward in both your life and your art.  

You know, if we are honest, I think a lot of us have been in places in our life where we felt like the life that I am living right now, the things that I am going through, I really wish it would change, but I am not willing to change anything in my life in order to make things change. 

I have struggled with weight over the years and my eating.  I am just now starting to get a handle on that in my life. But for years, I like the idea of being skinnier. I liked the idea of eating healthy. I like the idea of being more fit, but for far too long, I wasn’t willing to change my habits so that those ideals that I wanted could and would become a reality. (Thankfully, my wife and I made some significant changes in our lifestyle and I’m down 30+ pounds!)

I think a lot of people are like that with their art, too.  They like the idea of wanting to be an artist.  They like the idea of God using them in their life, but they are not really to the point yet where they are willing to make a change, where they are willing to do different actions to get different results. 
 
Listen, we have all been there.  No shame, but in general, there are probably a couple of different reasons why people find themselves in that situation.  One is fear. 

Fear
Fear of failure, fear of misunderstanding, or fear of the unknown. The enemy loves to get you stirred up with “hits” like:

• What if I fail?
• What if it doesn’t go my way?
• What if this happens or that happens?
• What if I don’t achieve everything that I believe is going to happen?
• What would other people think about me?  

All of the drama that swirls around on the inside will suck the life out of you. Standing up to the fear and embracing God’s perfect love is a significant first step in finding that confident footing you desire.  Another reason folks find themselves stuck in life boils down to Mindset.

Mindset
You know, if you have never learned really to take control of your thoughts and renew your mind like we read about in Romans 12, then there’s a good chance that Stinkin’ Thinkin’ may be holding you back.  Ideas about who you are, God’s plan for your life, and what’s possible with your art are all too often based on your experiences or what others have said to you as opposed to the actual truth. 

Your beliefs about yourself, your potential, and your art are based on your “normal.” But we are called as believers to have faith for what is “normal” in the Kingdom of God. Our challenge and I believe the point of Romans 12:2, is to begin the process of aligning with God’s idea of normal. 

Lack of Knowledge
I think sometimes, people just don’t know what they don’t know.  You might be full of dreams, ideas, and passion for your art and your future as artists, but you don’t know the next step to take.  Or maybe you’re like people I’ve met over the years, and you don’t even know the right questions to ask, or even who to ask to help you get going on your journey.

The lack of knowledge and feeling like you’re all alone can leave you feeling isolated, which can reinforce false beliefs you may hold while stoking those fears that could be holding you back. But realizing that you’re not the only and intentionally seeking out peers or even a mentor with the experience you lack is the best way I’ve found to overcome any knowledge gaps.

So let me wrap this up by saying that you are never going to get different results in your life unless you begin to take different actions.  And that is not something that starts to happen spontaneously someday far in the future. It starts right now.  

It starts with a gut decision inside of you that says:  You know what?  No matter what I am fearful about, no matter how scary this seams, no matter where I find myself in the world, no matter if I am the only one, I am determined to begin to see the results that I believe God has for me in my life in the context of being a thriving Christian artist.

Seeing your art transform others while it blesses you financially, thriving spiritually, artistically and in business can absolutely be your story. Still, it starts with one thing – with you deciding to change the habits and the actions that you have employed up until this time, and make it change so that you can begin to move in a different direction.

I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share on social media and comment below!

Thanks for reading. 

Now, I would be remiss not to invite you to be a part of our Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program and let that be a part of this incredible decision that you can make right now to become the person that God has called you to be.  I’d love for you to take a few minutes to learn how artists from all over the world are embracing their new normal and realizing their dreams of becoming thriving artists.

This limited-time opportunity to join this life-changing group ends on October 4th, 2020. Click Here to learn more.
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