Taking Advice From Others is Necessary
First, let me preface the message of this post by saying: you do not have to take advice from everybody. In fact, taking advice from everybody is a pretty fantastically bad idea. Not everyone who is going to want to help with you is going to have your best interest at heart, understand the project’s vision like you and God do, or even know what they are talking about. You don’t have to — and should not — take advice from everyone.
However, God puts people in our lives as creatives who can and will give us advice that we need to hear (crucially: even if we don’t want to hear it). He provides us with wise counsellors who can guide us in areas we are weak, lift us up when we are feeling burnout and uncreative, and teach us new skills in our craft.
But, I don’t need anybody to help me. I’m doing fine on my own!
In the gentlest way possible, I am going to pose a question: are you really doing fine on your own? And to follow up that question with several more: is your talent growing and developing? Is the project going the way you want it to, the way you know God wants it to? Are you stuck or know that something is missing, but can’t figure out what? Are you saying “I’m fine!” because reaching out for help feels like weakness? Is it actually your pride that is dictating how your project will go, rather than humbling yourself before God and using the resources that He has placed in front of you?
(If you need a minute to process all those questions or recover from a very large soul “OUCH”, please feel free to do so. Even I felt that one.)
Humans were not designed to exist in a vacuum. Even Adam, the very first person ever created, needed another human being to help him and be his companion (Genesis 2:18, 20). This is the very first person in creation we are talking about; one who knew no one but God and some cool animals. He might not have even been able to imagine what another human being would look like. He was alone and it was not good.
Christian, it is not good for you to be alone, either. It is not good to isolate yourself and your projects, to keep yourself from people who can help you out of pride or stubbornness. Seek out other Christians to be your companions and creative helpers. You don’t have to sign over any copyright to them, but pursue fellowship with creatives who are experts in your field or, at the very least, have more or different experience than you do. Seek out a mentor or wise advisor to help you when you are stuck in your project. Surround yourself with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at all skill and talent levels. Most importantly, learn when to listen to them.
Putting it into Action
When was the last time you asked for advice from a creative you trust? Do you have a Christian creative you can come to for advice, or are you feeling rather isolated? This week, do one of two things: if you already have a creative mentor, reach out to them and ask for their advice on some part of some creative project or skill you are working on. It doesn’t have to be much, just open up the conversation and listen to what they have to say. Practice listening without balking, twitching, or saying something to the effect of “don’t touch my project!!” (it’s hard, trust me, I know).
Second thing to do: if you are feeling isolated or do not have a creative mentor or community to ask advice from, pray that God will provide one for you and seek out fellow Christian creatives. There are plenty of them out there, seeking the same thing as you! And, I say this as a freelance blog article writer, the Brainy Pixel community on any of our social media platforms is a great place to start!
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
