Hope
The Invisible Force Behind Every Great Creative Journey
Dear Creative Minds,
Last week, I didn’t get to publish anything.
Honestly, I was completely engrossed with the Easter festivities, and even when I tried squeezing out time to create something, it just wasn’t flowing.
You know what? Moments like that remind me why hope is so important.
Hope carries us through the pauses, the dry spells, and the seemingly unproductive seasons.
It’s the invisible thread that assures us our creativity isn’t gone; it’s simply gathering strength beneath the surface.
Just like that, when hope is alive, the spark returns stronger, clearer, and more vibrant.
So if you’re in a quiet season, don’t lose heart.
As the quote from The Shawshank Redemption says, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Stay connected to hope; your next burst of creativity is closer than you think.
Let’s delve deeper…
This week, while watching The Shawshank Redemption for the first time, a simple but profound quote struck me:
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Those words stayed with me long after the movie ended. They reminded me of something even older, from the Bible in Hebrews 11:1:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hope is not just a sweet feeling or a temporary boost when things get tough. It’s the very foundation upon which faith, creativity, innovation, and purpose are built. Without hope, dreams would have no oxygen to breathe, no soil to grow in, and no light to move toward.
When it comes to our creative lives, hope is not optional; it’s essential.
Hope Fuels Creativity
Every groundbreaking invention, every powerful piece of art, and every transformational idea started as hope in someone's heart. Hope dared someone to believe that something better was possible, even when no one else could see it.
Creativity thrives on hope.
Hope says, “There’s something more.”
Hope says, “This problem can be solved.”
Hope says, “This story needs to be told.”
Hope says, “This new way of doing things will change lives.”
When you carry hope, you carry the ability to see what doesn’t yet exist and the courage to bring it into reality. Without hope, creativity dries up. With hope, even the most impossible dreams begin to look achievable.
Creativity Isn’t Measured by Immediate Success
One mistake people often make is measuring creativity by immediate results or public approval. But real creativity isn't measured by how "smart" you look or how quickly others applaud you. It’s measured by your ability to stay faithful to an idea you believe in even when it seems invisible, uncertain, or unpopular.
Hope teaches you to keep showing up.
Hope reminds you that the value of your creative work isn’t always obvious at first.
Hope strengthens you when the road gets long and success feels far away.
You must understand: great things usually start unnoticed. Many of the innovations and creative expressions we celebrate today were once ridiculed, ignored, or misunderstood. Hope allowed their creators to keep going.
Protecting and Nurturing Hope
Hope, especially in its early stages, is fragile. It needs intentional protection. Without it, the noise of doubt, fear, and cynicism will quickly drown out your creative instincts.
Here are simple but powerful ways to nurture your hope:
Limit negative voices: Not everyone deserves a front-row seat to your creative journey.
Surround yourself with believers: Spend time with people who believe in unseen possibilities.
Feed your imagination: Read, learn, dream, explore; stay inspired.
Celebrate small wins: Every step forward matters, even if it’s tiny.
Remind yourself why you started: Reconnect with your initial spark when challenges arise.
Hope grows when you honor it. Hope multiplies when you share it with others. Hope strengthens when you refuse to give up.
Hope and Faith: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Hebrews 11:1 perfectly captures the relationship between hope and faith.
Hope gives birth to faith. Faith, in turn, becomes action: taking steps toward what you cannot yet fully see.
If you lose hope, you’ll struggle to act.
If you nurture hope, you’ll find the courage to move forward even when the path isn’t clear.
Your creative ideas, your dreams, and your purpose—they all rely on hope.
Hope tells you that your efforts matter, that your work will bear fruit, and that your creativity has a place in the world even if no one sees it yet.
Why You Must Keep Hoping
Hope is not naïve.
Hope is not weakness.
Hope is your creative superpower.
Without hope, history would have no dreamers.
Without hope, innovation would grind to a halt.
Without hope, the future would be nothing but a repetition of the past.
Your creativity matters.
Your ideas matter.
Your hope matters.
Hold on to it. Nourish it. Protect it.
Because in the dance of life and creativity, it’s hope that keeps the music playing even when you can’t yet see the stage.
And as The Shawshank Redemption reminds us:
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
Cheers,
‘Seun.