I am jealous of people who can write with noise or music! Sometimes I can do classical music, but that's really only if I'm trying to drown out noises in a public place.
I worked in a few different NYC hospitals over the years. New York Presbyterian (fomerly called Columbia), Memorial Sloan Kettering and NYU Langone.
Oh my goodness, I was so grateful for this whole reflection on creativity. I passed it on to my husband, who is an artist. But I've never particularly thought about myself as "creative", however . . . I see that "Creativity = being inspired to do something new," I realized that I'm creative after all! I just finished an all day required French civics course, (followed by three more full days!) Does that count as "something new"?!?
Karla - Up and moving to a new country is absolutely creative based on my definition!
Also, I think spiritual direction requires a good deal of creativity. Anytime we say a certain line or ask a question or recite a reading or engage in silence - all of that is doing something new in that moment. There are a million different ways one could respond and it takes creativity to settle into a meaningful and authentic intervention. I am so fortunate to have experienced that from you time and time again!
Divine timing with this letter landing in my life, CVD! I fell of my Morning Pages routine of 9 weeks when I got sick this month. Even after my fever went away, I didnt have the energy to get back into the groove. This morning, I felt the pull to break out my journal- and crack open TAW for week 10. And now here we are with your words of encouragement and nod to Julia Cameron!
Love the message, LOVE ALL the books in our round up and LOVED listening to you read your letter to us this evening. <3
Oh what perfect timing! I fall in and out of my practice all the time. Much like meditation, when my mind wanders, I remind myself not to judge, simply see it as an invitation to return! See below my questions to Gayle about Morning pages - I'd be interested in your routine as well.
Have you read Ashlee Gadd's book? That one was especially helpful to me as I struggled with time to create as a mom. She also writes on substack!
Thank you SO much- your encouragement is inspiring me. Gadd’s is the only book from the photo that I have not yet read but I wrote it down! Thank you for this nudge- I will check it out and report back. 💙
I love this piece, Christine! Big Magic and The Artist's Way, are two of my favourite books. I do the morning pages, as well, and find it makes a huge difference to how centered I feel, and is often the vehicle for getting to what I want to most write about next.
Since you asked about what we do creatively, AND, since you were a guest on it... for me, it is my podcast, "Love Sweet Love", where, because I know that what we focus on is what we see more of, I highlight innovators, initiatives and ideas that grow the good in us, and around us. The wonderful, Christine Vaughan Davies ;) was a guest on this episode:
I want to hear more about your morning pages practice - do you go back and read them? (I don't, but know a lot of people do.) Do you always do them in the same spot? Do you handwrite them? (I was so opposed to this initially, as I type much faster than I write, but I am a convert, as longhand does make a difference!)
And thanks for sharing that podcast - everyone should listen, not for my thoughts, but for the way you show hospitality and interest and have such genuine conversations. I love that substack brought us together!
Hi Christine — yes same spot in my living room. With coffee. With dog beside me. I do go back and read them and often find the nuggets for my next posts in them.
Aww hello Switzerland! I hear you Christine. Saving your article!
I love art and books and things artistic, I'm amazed at how talented individuals can birth an idea, a concept! From heart or head to world - divine inspiration.
My interpretation of 'creative' has been shaped by my work and career, thinking laterally or encouraging a team to synergise ideas or being strategically creative about how to solve a problem.
I have a hunch that you're similarly 'creative', taking all your experience to tailor it creatively to those in need of your guidance. In sharing your writing, I think that you birth creative ways to share what you know meaningfully to comfort others. Thank you for your creative, compassionate approach.
Yes! You were with me on that trip as I followed your travel tips!
And thank you for your kind words about my creativity and compassion - I never considered how the two might be woven together.
You are apt at naming your creative gifts, especially as I have seen firsthand your enthusiasm for connection, and ability to bring together people and resources!
Aww bless you, Christine - takes one to know one! ;-) I can easily imagine how you comfort those in need in your everyday IRL. We'll have a LOT to share WHEN (not if) we manage to connect in person one day! xo
I ponder on how we've been miss-educated about creativity - our capacity to find ways to APPLY our humanity based on our personal experience to help someone else is one of the most precious ways we can connect.
Yes to WHEN! I've heard of internet-writing friends having in-person meetups/retreats. I think we need to make that happen in 2026!
That is interesting to think about how the mis-education could have come about. I think many generations were not educated on emotional intelligence and I see that as having shifted greatly - I wonder if the same could be said about creativity. (I'll have to ask my kids if they think they are creative and what messages they've gotten about that).
In writing this article, I also read a lot (but didn't include it because it was getting long!) about the different forms of creativity according to some psychological theories:
Love this! I also need quiet to write!! Also where were you a chaplain in NYC?!
I am jealous of people who can write with noise or music! Sometimes I can do classical music, but that's really only if I'm trying to drown out noises in a public place.
I worked in a few different NYC hospitals over the years. New York Presbyterian (fomerly called Columbia), Memorial Sloan Kettering and NYU Langone.
Oh my goodness, I was so grateful for this whole reflection on creativity. I passed it on to my husband, who is an artist. But I've never particularly thought about myself as "creative", however . . . I see that "Creativity = being inspired to do something new," I realized that I'm creative after all! I just finished an all day required French civics course, (followed by three more full days!) Does that count as "something new"?!?
Karla - Up and moving to a new country is absolutely creative based on my definition!
Also, I think spiritual direction requires a good deal of creativity. Anytime we say a certain line or ask a question or recite a reading or engage in silence - all of that is doing something new in that moment. There are a million different ways one could respond and it takes creativity to settle into a meaningful and authentic intervention. I am so fortunate to have experienced that from you time and time again!
Divine timing with this letter landing in my life, CVD! I fell of my Morning Pages routine of 9 weeks when I got sick this month. Even after my fever went away, I didnt have the energy to get back into the groove. This morning, I felt the pull to break out my journal- and crack open TAW for week 10. And now here we are with your words of encouragement and nod to Julia Cameron!
Love the message, LOVE ALL the books in our round up and LOVED listening to you read your letter to us this evening. <3
Oh what perfect timing! I fall in and out of my practice all the time. Much like meditation, when my mind wanders, I remind myself not to judge, simply see it as an invitation to return! See below my questions to Gayle about Morning pages - I'd be interested in your routine as well.
Have you read Ashlee Gadd's book? That one was especially helpful to me as I struggled with time to create as a mom. She also writes on substack!
Thank you SO much- your encouragement is inspiring me. Gadd’s is the only book from the photo that I have not yet read but I wrote it down! Thank you for this nudge- I will check it out and report back. 💙
Hers might have had some Christian references in it (I can't remember) but I think it would still resonate with you for all the other reasons listed.
Thank you!! 🙏
I love this piece, Christine! Big Magic and The Artist's Way, are two of my favourite books. I do the morning pages, as well, and find it makes a huge difference to how centered I feel, and is often the vehicle for getting to what I want to most write about next.
Since you asked about what we do creatively, AND, since you were a guest on it... for me, it is my podcast, "Love Sweet Love", where, because I know that what we focus on is what we see more of, I highlight innovators, initiatives and ideas that grow the good in us, and around us. The wonderful, Christine Vaughan Davies ;) was a guest on this episode:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ORUWBXTjpwvhZ4z7JARAe?si=100fb89601dc4a6d
I want to hear more about your morning pages practice - do you go back and read them? (I don't, but know a lot of people do.) Do you always do them in the same spot? Do you handwrite them? (I was so opposed to this initially, as I type much faster than I write, but I am a convert, as longhand does make a difference!)
And thanks for sharing that podcast - everyone should listen, not for my thoughts, but for the way you show hospitality and interest and have such genuine conversations. I love that substack brought us together!
Hi Christine — yes same spot in my living room. With coffee. With dog beside me. I do go back and read them and often find the nuggets for my next posts in them.
Thank you for the kind words!
Oh coffee is so crucial! I love that your dog joins you as a companion to your practice!
"Creative Profusion!" What a beautiful way to imagine the Trinity
Isn't it a gorgeous phrase?! She also uses "Incarnational Desire" and "Living Inspiration" as other names for the parts of the Triune God.
Aww hello Switzerland! I hear you Christine. Saving your article!
I love art and books and things artistic, I'm amazed at how talented individuals can birth an idea, a concept! From heart or head to world - divine inspiration.
My interpretation of 'creative' has been shaped by my work and career, thinking laterally or encouraging a team to synergise ideas or being strategically creative about how to solve a problem.
I have a hunch that you're similarly 'creative', taking all your experience to tailor it creatively to those in need of your guidance. In sharing your writing, I think that you birth creative ways to share what you know meaningfully to comfort others. Thank you for your creative, compassionate approach.
Yes! You were with me on that trip as I followed your travel tips!
And thank you for your kind words about my creativity and compassion - I never considered how the two might be woven together.
You are apt at naming your creative gifts, especially as I have seen firsthand your enthusiasm for connection, and ability to bring together people and resources!
Aww bless you, Christine - takes one to know one! ;-) I can easily imagine how you comfort those in need in your everyday IRL. We'll have a LOT to share WHEN (not if) we manage to connect in person one day! xo
I ponder on how we've been miss-educated about creativity - our capacity to find ways to APPLY our humanity based on our personal experience to help someone else is one of the most precious ways we can connect.
Yes to WHEN! I've heard of internet-writing friends having in-person meetups/retreats. I think we need to make that happen in 2026!
That is interesting to think about how the mis-education could have come about. I think many generations were not educated on emotional intelligence and I see that as having shifted greatly - I wonder if the same could be said about creativity. (I'll have to ask my kids if they think they are creative and what messages they've gotten about that).
In writing this article, I also read a lot (but didn't include it because it was getting long!) about the different forms of creativity according to some psychological theories:
Deliberate and cognitive
Deliberate and emotional
Spontaneous and cognitive
Spontaneous and emotional.