Guest Post by Laurel Thomas: Into the Deep

It was bliss. Swimming in the Gulf, diving under waves and letting them pull me back and forth, over and over. No wave pool like it.

Now and then, I’d touch the bottom, get my footing and a little rest, then swim on. Until one morning when I dangled my feet and found nothing. My adult self might have panicked. My ten-year-old self floated, swam forward and found the sandy bottom once again.

I don’t know why I need the shallows these days. I tell myself it’s because I like mastery. Let me learn something and learn it well. Let me check it off my list. Accomplished? Check.

The path of a creative person is full of twists and turns. Sometimes my words flow easily on the page. More often, I’m intimidated by a blank page. I need lots of encouragement. I like lots of help. After all, how can I be sure I’m going in the right direction?

But moving forward as a creative means learning how to swim freely in the waters of uncertainty.

Do you craft words into stories or poetry? Maybe, you’re like my mom who loved fabric and turned that love into quilting. A dear friend of mine is happiest digging in the dirt. Landscaping is her artistry.

If you don’t see yourself as an artist, look more carefully. You’ll find that your heart sings in certain places.

A block in creativity is often a sign that we’re at a new place. We need more than we know at that moment. Research a bit more. Get help. Even a walk can clear our minds.

If we believe we’re made only to splash around the shallows, that’s where we stay. But the Creator of the universe formed us for much more

After all, creating is like an invitation into a place we’ve never been – and we get to be the captain of that adventure.

Here are a few thoughts:

The shallows aren’t failure. They’re a place to catch our breath and learn the strokes.

Mastery is a tool, not a home. Checklists can help—but creativity grows when we’re willing to try something we might not be good at yet. Am I willing to be a beginner?

Encouragement matters. If you need help, you’re not behind—you’re human. Find your readers, mentors, and friends who remind you where you’re headed.

You can take the next step, even without the full map. When creating feels like deep waters, you don’t have to prove that you can swim perfectly. You only have to keep showing up.

I can take the next right step, even without the full map.

I can release what no longer serves this season.

I can receive help without shame.

I am made for more than the shallows.

I will step forward on purpose.

Keep me in touch along the way ~ I love to hear from you!

Laurel Thomas

Write Your Heart Out!