Universal Themes - Brian Beholds

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Series overview

Universal themes is the overview page of the Universal themes series. It is part of the Big ideas category. It is one of the Elements of Creativity.

A universal theme is an idea or group of ideas that apply broadly across all categories. Universal themes can help direct you to areas where you want to learn and grow, based on major categories. They apply to creative endeavors, spiritual pursuits, relationships, academic studies, hobbies, social movements, and every other aspect of life.

Traits of universal themes
Using the universal themes
- self-assessment
- inspiration
- self-improvement
- spiritual growth
- family projects
- education
- finding content
Apply themes in areas of creativity
- element of creativity
Universal themes across creative disciplines
36 universal themes
Beholds universal themes components
- special projects
How you can help improve themes
- volunteer
- contact form

Traits of universal themes

common. True and relatable for most people and situations, regardless of culture, age, gender, ethnicity. Can be applied to any subject matter, discipline or lifestyle.
interdisciplinary. Crosses disciplines to contain truths and components in many different aspects of life and study. communicative arts, academics, performing arts, visual arts, business, psychology, spirituality, religion, economics, etc.
scalable. Each theme can be looked at as one big abstract concept or as one of the component ideas. Themes have multiple views and interpretations. In fact, each theme is so broad that a definitive, succinct definition is impossible.
global. Draws upon both common, shared cultural knowledge and more unique individual experiences.
connecting. We grow primarily by making connections with existing knowledge and memories. By compiling accumulated ideas, traditions and associations built up over time, we can be inspired and increase our knowledge.

Using the universal themes

There are many ways you can use themes:

self-assessment

Identify your own areas of interest, your strengths and weaknesses in your path to spiritual growth.

inspiration

Explore a theme that relates to a current creative project to find inspiration. Get inspired for a creative project.

self-improvement

Each theme has several topics that lend themselves to self-improvement projects. In addition, you can organize your reading around themes.

spiritual growth

Each theme offers a path into spiritual study or self-improvement. Think about the archetypes presented and how they relate to you and the people you know. The key concepts can direct further exploration.

For the truly committed, I have devised an order of study for in-depth spiritual immersion.

1. faith2. nature3. awareness4. purpose5. vision6. life paths

7. connections8. family9. community10. patterns11. beauty12. mystery

13. poetry14.sense of place15. uniqueness16. initiative 17. truth18. abundance

19. balance 20.power21. ambition 22. challenge23.courage 24.injustice

25.perseverance26.service 27.authority 28.loyalty29.kindness 30.obligation

31.transformation32.healing33.peace34.presence35.future36.freedom

family projects

Families can choose a theme each month and find books, songs, films and activities to do. Discussions can be had over concepts and questions that arise.

education

Teachers of all kinds can find inspiration for developing units of study in all subject areas and levels. Families doing home schooling can use these themes or others to add interest to their studies and to help build connections among the subject areas.

finding content

There is a tag for each theme on the site. Click on that tag from any post to see a list of all current site content for that theme.
The site index page lists all topics (tags) for the site, including each universal theme.
The search box in the upper right-hand corner of the site allows you to search for any topic.
Each theme has a home page outlining the theme’s topics and linking to more content.

Apply themes in areas of creativity

element of creativity

For the purpose of the Brian Beholds project, the 36 themes are grouped into six categories that correspond to aspects of creative work. This is the thematic point of view of the site.

Big Ideas	Cycles	Justice	Process	Spirituality	Style
abundance	balance	authority	ambition	awareness	loyalty
beauty	connections	courage	challenge	faith	patterns
community	family	freedom	healing	kindness	poetry
mystery	future	injustice	initiative	peace	presence
service	life paths	obligation	perseverance	purpose	sense of place
truth	nature	power	transformation	vision	uniqueness

Universal themes across creative disciplines

dance	design	digital	literature	music	theatre	visual arts
usually drives emotion of piece	theme is the big idea	theme serves to simplify design elements	abstract concept that is the essence	concept translated into corresponding sound	idea that unifies content with visual elements	central element that allows for depth of detail
unifies	inspires	communicates	questions	anchors	connects	organizes
anchors work in tradition	unifies design	helps work stand out in crowd	shares the author’s message	leaves an impression on listener	fosters collaboration	focuses work so intention stands out
content that inspires form	recurring elements in design	visual representation of message	meaning to the details of story	foundational building block of a piece of music	nonverbal detail expands storytelling	framework for the artist’s message

36 universal themes

abundance

Abundance is enough and more than enough. Needs are met, ideas and opportunities are available for everyone. There is no limit on creative expression.

ambition

Ambition is a strong desire or eagerness to direct our own experience in a certain direction. We wish to acquire specific things, to have people think of us in certain ways. We wish to control the outcome.

authority

Authority is the power to control, determine and judge. It is granted based on expertise, maturity or self-confidence. Authority taken by intimidation is not true.

awareness

Awareness is being conscious of what is going on around you and within yourself. You know your strengths, and weaknesses. You don’t hide from the truth.

balance

Balance is a process of trying to reach a stable equilibrium. All is in a proportional arrangement. All parts have matched energy, weight or attention.

beauty

Beauty is anything that creates harmony of form, color, craftsmanship, truthfulness, originality or delight. All that is visually or inherently pleasing.

challenge

Challenge is an opposing force requiring the full use of one’s abilities, talents, energy and resources to overcome. The force required for real growth.

community

A community is a group of like-minded individuals, things or ideas. A common trait unites the members, even though they may be diverse in many other ways.

connections

Connections are points where two or more people, things or ideas meet and share common elements. Things that join, unite, or share other things together.

courage

Courage is facing difficulties or danger with resolve, using reserves of inner strength. You do what must be done despite fear, danger or likely failure.

faith

Faith is a confident belief in the truth of someone or something. It does not rely on logical evidence, but in putting hope and optimism first.

family

A family is a group of people or things who share a common source or share similar features and goals. The most fundamental social group.

freedom

Freedom means little or no restraints. Lack of restrictions on thought or movement. Choices can be made, but with obligations or consequences.

future

Future is the time that has yet to be, that is still to come. Since it hasn’t happened yet, it is of an unknown quality.

healing

Healing is to restore to normal health or condition. The process of returning to wholeness or completeness. A regeneration to desirable function.

initiative

Initiative is the energy to begin and follow through with a plan. Action comes from within, not from an external source. It is knowing when to act or not.

injustice

Injustice is an unfair act, decision, or pattern of behavior that causes someone, or a group, to suffer hardship or to suffer an undeserved loss.

kindness

Kindness is showing another a friendly nature, help, or understanding the current situation. Entering another’s spiritual space to enlarge or brighten it.

life paths

Life paths are the journeys our lives take based on the specific choices made moment to moment. Role models will help, but your path will be unique.

loyalty

Loyalty is a strong belief in and attachment to a person, ideal or custom. A bond that holds up to scrutiny or faults that would weaken other attachments.

mystery

Mystery is anything unexplained, secret or unknown. Whether intentionally hidden or simply undiscovered, the lack of knowledge builds curiosity.

nature

Nature is the basic qualities of a anyone or thing. It is the world of all things, and the process of things interacting with one another.

obligation

An obligation is a requirement that binds you to someone or something. It impacts your behavior and choices. Whatever you choose, you get the consequences.

patterns

Patterns are archetypal models that show common occurring or repeating qualities. We can use these models to explore or create ideas, and works of art.

peace

Peace is stillness, tranquility and calm. Generally untroubled with a healthy level of stress. Living without regret of the past or anxiety of the future.

perseverance

Perseverance is staying on course despite obstacles. You stick to it knowing that the outcome is worthwhile. Strength and patience grow when tested.

poetry

Poetry is an expression of beauty and intense emotion using language. Difficult, abstract concepts expressed in a concrete way others can identify with.

power

Power is the ability to perform effectively, with enough physical, mental and spiritual energy. The influence that your ideas and actions have on others.

presence

Presence is having others know something is there. It is created by physical and spiritual actions and elements which build a reputation.

purpose

Purpose is the reason something exists. The key to who or what the thing is and was meant to be. Every choice or action gets you closer to that reason.

sense of place

Sense of place is the particular atmosphere and personality of a physical ,imaginary or spiritual location concept. The things that make a location unique.

service

Service is support work done for another individual, group, cause or organization. The help is given to show respect or contribute to a greater cause.

transformation

Transformation is a significant change in form, appearance or function. A profound and long-lasting move from one state of being to another.

truth

Truth is knowledge that is factually or logically accurate. The idea conforms to an objective reality and exists outside of emotional or personal states.

uniqueness

Uniqueness suggests an original, one of a kind, with no equivalence. It is the goal of style and tone and is the child of genius and the imagination.

vision

Vision is anything that is or can be seen, either literally or figuratively. Perception of what is to be, especially in a creative or spiritual sense.

Beholds universal themes components

These are the features that I am working to create for each theme. I work alone so this will be a long-term project. In this list, the bold words are the site categories.

big ideas: big ideas lists (theme overview, roles/occupations)checklists, balance sheets, creative skills related to theme

cycles: altars, rituals, photo essays

process: creative boundaries, inspirations, obstacles, disciplines, techniques

spirituality: affirmations, key concepts (post overview of key concepts for each theme, individual posts for each, positivity, meditations, spirit tools, spirit films

style: archetypes (theme overview, individual), settings, music by theme, films by theme, quotes, reading lists, visual glossaries

special projects

Each theme has one or more special projects that focus on aspects of the theme. For the purpose theme the Creativity alphabet. A few projects to come will include: abundant joy (naming all the main sources of joy throughout your life), implementing a bucket list, creative benchmarks for various pursuits, connections journal gives a new approach to journaling, beholds seasonal calendar brings together all the ways to celebrate everyday.

How you can help improve themes

I’d love to hear how you are using universal themes in your own life and your own work. I’d also love to hear what additional themes you think are important. A contact form to email me is below.

Offer a correction if you see a mistake.
Suggest an idea or a topic for one theme or a new feature for all the themes
Submit a quote from a book, magazine, website, movie or tv program (source must be fully cited for verification, that is, tell exactly where the quote came from and who wrote it).
Submit a web link that relates to a topic on one of the themes.
Leave comments on a theme’s page and on individual stories discussing aspects of the theme and its connections to other areas.
Mention @brianbeholds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share your posts related to a specific theme area. Be sure to tag the theme, such as #abundance, #future, #healing, #purpose, #uniqueness
Follow @brianbeholds on Pinterest where there is a Pinterest board for each theme.

volunteer

Volunteer to help create content. I create this site alone as a passion project so there is a limit to how much I can do. I welcome submissions of original work that relate the themes or the broader topic of creativity. As this is a small-scale personal project, I am unfortunately not able to pay for submissions. If you are wanting to help spread the joy of creativity I invite you to be a part of the community. Any submissions used will be attributed fully.

I especially would like to receive personal essays discussing how you connect with a theme or topic.
I would like to provide lists of content by theme aimed at children of different age groups. Lists of music, books, films, etc.
Information on the themes being applied to different areas of creativity (genre, time period, industry, location.

contact form

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Name Email By submitting your information, you’re giving me permission to email you. You will receive a response to your email You will also be added to our Brian Beholds mailing list. I do not send out a lot of email, and no sponsored messages or high pressure sales messages, but you may of course unsubscribe at any time. Contact Brian

History: The Universal themes for Brian Beholds were created in 2014 to help organize the information being gathered for my website. As the focus of the site shifted over time to Creativity, the list of themes was revised in 2018. They were first published on the site on December 15, 2018. The page was updated with new graphics on February 28, 2020. The page was extensively expanded and redesigned in September 2022. The themes were realigned in February 2023, with some moving into new categories.