While reading Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act," I encountered an intriguing idea about intentions. Rubin discusses how intentions serve as the driving force behind our work, infusing it with colors that transform it into a beautiful and meaningful masterpiece. This concept prompted me to reflect further, drawing a connection to religion.

Intention behind action

Our work embodies a higher purpose

In Islam, intentions hold significant importance. There is a Hadith from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that states, "Deeds are judged by intentions." This parallel highlights how both creative endeavors and religious acts derive their value and meaning from the underlying intentions.

The reward of sincere intention

<a href="https://islaah.co.za/tag/innamal-amaalu-binniyaat-%D8%A5%D9%90%D9%86%D9%8E%D9%91%D9%85%D9%8E%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%92%D8%A3%D9%8E%D8%B9%D9%92%D9%85%D9%8E%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8F-%D8%A8%D9%90%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%90%D9%91/">إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ</a>Actions are based by intentions

As the world has become so fast-paced, we hardly think about intentions nowadays. It's all about action. However, the importance of intention and its value is deeply embedded within us. Maybe it is our intentions that make us the channels for this universe, just like a bee that so humbly supports our grandiose ecosystem.

Action sprints

Should the bee go extinct, not just flowers but birds, small mammals, and humans would likely also cease to exist.

In all the hustle and bustle, we have forgotten about intentions. What's the origin of my actions? Intention lies underneath every action we take.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

creativity

Creativity

books

Books

An existence of a bee

We all are involved in the continuous process of creation. Maybe we should start training ourselves to become more open to the hidden subtle information -- the clues that are present around us every day but we are not receptive towards.

A practice of paying attention

You exist as a creative being in a creative universe. A singular work of art.

As we become adults, we start losing our curious, innocent, and eager selves. We start painting everything with one brush of our belief systems. Maybe we should try to keep a child within us who is always open to learning and receiving new information with an open heart.

Possess a child-like curiosity

There is a time for certain ideas to arrive, and they find a way to express themselves through us

The source is not within us but rather the wisdom surrounding us. Day in and day out this wisdom enriches us with content that gives rise to creative moments through us.

What is the source of creative moments?

..think of source as a cloud.

This captivating book by Rick Rubin offers an in-depth exploration of creativity. It is beautifully written, ensuring that it's not only easy to digest but also engaging and thought-provoking. Throughout the book, Rubin presents 78 distinct ideas, each shedding light on different facets of creative life. The book is a must-read for individuals eager to explore and expand their creative boundaries, providing practical advice and philosophical reflections that are applicable to all forms of artistic and innovative expressions. 

The #1 New York Times bestseller. From the legendary music producer, a master at helping people connect with the wellsprings of their creativity, comes a beautifully crafted book many years in the making that offers that same deep wisdom to all of us. "A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction. A stunning accomplishment.” —Anne Lamott “I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” —Rick Rubin Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed expectations in order to reconnect with a state of innocence from which the surprising becomes inevitable. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn’t, he has learned that being an artist isn’t about your specific output, it’s about your relationship to the world. Creativity has a place in everyone’s life, and everyone can make that place larger. In fact, there are few more important responsibilities. The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distills the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime’s work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments—and lifetimes—of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.

An existence of a bee

The Creative Act

Amna Ghani