Read deeply. Stay open. Continue to wonder.<\/p>\n
\u00ad-Austin Kleon-<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Impostor syndrome is a familiar experience for me. I’ve noticed that it tends to surface whenever I embark on something significant and meaningful. I vividly recall feeling extremely anxious about homiletics, a subject during my undergraduate studies twenty-three years ago. As part of the curriculum, students had to preach several times per semester in Sunday services at churches. It was excruciating when those nagging feelings of self-doubt took over my thoughts and emotions. Similarly, I experienced this syndrome before my ordination as a pastor, with many questions about my ability and worthiness to serve God. To be candid, I also grappled with these feelings at the beginning of my doctoral program, and they still occasionally resurface.<\/p>\n I’m grateful that Austin Kleon’s works are included in our class’s reading list. As an author, he offers readers, a valuable source of encouragement, particularly when experiencing impostor syndrome – a common challenge for many educated individuals. Kleon inspires readers to take the plunge and begin, acknowledging that the source of one’s creativity is often a mystery. Nevertheless, he emphasizes the importance of showing determination and bravery in pursuing one’s goals because no one really knows where good things come from within them.[1]<\/a> According to Kleon, all creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.[2]<\/a> Naturally, Kleon’s intention is not to encourage his readers to passively consume his ideas. On the contrary, he motivates readers to think creatively in their work and take bold steps. We need not be burdened by the pressure of coming up with entirely novel concepts. By relinquishing this expectation, we free ourselves from the daunting task of creating something out of nothing (which only God can do, as I referred to it as “creatio ex nihilo”). Instead, we can draw inspiration from external sources and embrace their impact without feeling the need to avoid them.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n Therefore, opportunities are available and wide open to anyone who wishes to develop their own creativity and expertise, as everyone possesses unique strengths and advantages. This aligns with Camacho’s belief that God has placed a “gold” within every persons.[4]<\/a> However, personal development is necessary for everyone. One effective method to develop creativity and expertise is to learn from others by taking inspiration and ideas from various sources. As Kleon explained, we can improve our skills by adapting and learning from the work of others, without committing plagiarism. Not plagiarism, but copying is about reverse-engineering. It\u2019s like a mechanic taking apart a car to see how it works.[5]<\/a> Copying is stealing the thinking behind the style rather than the style only, see as heroes see rather than look like the heroes only.[6]<\/a> Perhaps without realizing it, I have been following Kleon’s advice all along. Whether it is through preaching at church or delivering lectures, I frequently observe others and draw valuable ideas from them. I then incorporate these ideas into my own knowledge and experiences and transform them into a unique and appealing ‘meal’ to serve to others.<\/p>\n The other interesting and important point from Kleon that I find very relevant to my life is his advice to remind readers not to abandon or discard their passions and to only choose one from several. Kleon says, if you have two or three real passions, don\u2019t feel like you have to pick and choose between them. Don\u2019t discard. Keep all your passions in your life.[7]<\/a> Throughout our life journey, we encounter numerous passions that provide us with valuable experiences. These experiences can come from various sources, such as people, books, and the internet. Although we may not see their significance at the time, these experiences can help us make connections and correlations that prove useful later on. In my opinion, Kleon’s advice has been instrumental in helping me overcome impostor syndrome by recognizing how God works through the events and circumstances of my life and ministry, shaping and equipping me for what lies ahead<\/p>\n Now I have to keep moving forward, achieving the dream that I built through studying in this doctoral program. For me, it’s significant to possess a curiosity toward the world I\u2019m focusing. Researching and investigating every reference that catches my attention is key to moving forward and striving to delve deeper.[8]<\/a> As Kleon insists: don\u2019t worry about doing research. Just search.[9]<\/a> Absolutely, to be a creative and productive \u201cartist\u201d, I must also improve my ability to appropriately and proportionally use both of my thinking systems.[10]<\/a> However, I am quite confident that there are many fascinating experiences that I have yet to encounter in the eyes of God. What makes us interesting isn\u2019t just what we\u2019ve experienced, but also what we haven\u2019t experienced.[11]<\/a> So, here I am, encouraging myself to read deeply, stay open-minded, and continue to wonder. Yes, I’m so excited. I accept my strengths just as I accept my weaknesses. I embrace my limitations and keep moving.[12]<\/a> I bring my thoughts, feelings, and actions towards things that bring goodness as a Bible text says: \u201c<\/em>Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable\u2014if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u2014think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me\u2014put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.<\/em>\u201d (Phillippians 4:8-9).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Austin Kleon,\u00a0Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative<\/em>\u00a0(New York: Workman Pub. Co, 2012), 27-28.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Kleon,\u00a0Steal<\/em>, 7.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Kleon, Steal<\/em>, 8.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Tom Camacho, Mining for Gold. <\/em>(London: IVP, 2019), 48.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Kleon, Steal<\/em>, 33.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Ibid, 36.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Ibid, 68.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> Ibid, 19.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> System 1 functions swiftly and unconsciously, requiring minimal effort and lacking any perception of deliberate control. On the other hand, System 2 directs attention towards mentally demanding tasks that necessitate conscious effort, such as intricate computations. System 2’s activities typically correlate with the personal feeling of agency, choice, and focused attention. See: Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow<\/em> (London: Penguin Books, 2012), 22.<\/p>\n