Jeff Krock

A few months ago I heard Terry Gross interview Woody Allen on National Public Radio about his new movie. Terry’s astute questions quickly yielded insights into Woody Allen’s art and touched on some profound human issues. Here is a close approximation of part of the conversation:

“In all your movies you play the same character: a man who is kind of depressed, nervous, uncomfortable in his skin.”

“I’m not a good actor and this is a role I can play,” he said.

Her next question probed deeper, “Why do you make movies?”

Woody Allen’s response startled me. “Life is very difficult, tragic. I immerse myself in the making of movies to escape the realities of life.”

My perspective is exactly the opposite. I see our human creativity, not as an escape from reality, but as a way to align ourselves with the very nature of reality. When we surrender to the creative process, we are bringing ourselves to life and living what is real. It feels good because we expand and, science tells us, we live in an expanding universe.

We create because we are designed to create. Everyone needs to create, whether it’s making a movie, preparing a meal, building a business, designing an addition to the house, writing a book or a blog, building a Lego structure with a child.

Our limited self (or “lower self” or “ego”) is conditioned to default to our familiar pain or scattered energy. This is only one part of us, however. When we create, we are more in the moment. We tap into an elevated consciousness — a deeper and clearer mind and a heartfelt expression of who we are and what we love.