Creativity and Me
“Our life was crumbling around us whilst you made paper flowers” and it was true. Our family unit was struggling, and I was hyper focussed on creating paper flower bouquets! Hours and days went into perfecting paper creasing, gluing and sticking. During the same time, I purchased a sewing machine and made clothes for our children and baby blankets for new arrivals – perfectly imperfect stitches. I baked cookies and cakes and we devoured them. Perhaps what I was actually doing was eating my feelings? I bought, sanded, primed and painted vintage furniture. In my sleep deprived state, I would pore over new projects on Pinterest. I loved it. My home was filled with heartmade, homemade artefacts. Externally, I gave the impression of being UK’s answer to Martha Stewart but for me, all these creative expressions were a lifeline through the struggle of everyday.
By its dictionary definition, creativity “is a characteristic that allows for the generation of new ideas, alternatives, solutions and possibilities in a unique and different way.” And on reflection whilst I may not have been conscious of it at the time, creative outlets rerouted me away from the stuckness and monotony of the everyday. In the world of creation there was an alternative, there was possibility, there was hope. It allowed me to find a sense of myself when everything else felt somewhat chaotic.
I do not think of creativity as something that you are born with, an event, or a talent. It is not passive, but alive; it is a process. It is something that you can train yourself in and I would go as far as saying that it is a necessity.
Creativity as…
A Form of Communication
Creative expression is a way to communicate what words cannot – it is a form of communication that is not bound by the confines of letters and sounds. It is something that is felt and experienced. Historically, humans have used cave paintings and carvings into cliffs as a way to communicate stories of faith, belief, and their understanding of their relationship with the world. Engaging with it allows not only for the creativity to be felt and emotions to be evoked, but we also feel a connection to the creator.
Some of the greatest artists in recent history exemplify the close ties between creativity and mental health. For centuries, emotional states ranging from depression and anxiety to psychological disorders have served as an inspiration to artists who have captured human conditions with sensitivity and empathy. Vincent Van Gogh, known as the ‘mad artist’ once said ‘I put my heart and soul into my work, and lost my mind in the process.” Van Gogh was said to have suffered from depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder and in a ‘fit of madness’ cut off his ear – depicted in his famous painting ‘Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear.’ Edvard Munch, alongside Van Gogh, is also known to have drawn upon emotional turmoil in his paintings (see: ‘The Sick Child’, ‘The Scream’ and ‘Anxiety’). We cannot concretely conclude that the emotional turmoil of these great artists were the sole reason for their works of art, but we can deduce that the process of creating artwork and the art itself was a way of communicating their inner selves to the world.
A Way to Experience Freedom
American scientist and inventor Edwin Land once said,“An essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail.”
Rules, processes, cultural norms, and frameworks can dictate ways of being and existing in the world; they are often prescriptive, causing us to become creatures of habit. I am not saying that routines or habits are always a bad thing. Many of us enjoy order and structure as it gives us a sense of security and logic gives us reasoning, nothing wrong with that. But what happens when we are submerged into chaos? When the unexpected happens? When we are thrown a curve ball? There is no doubt that this is something that we will all face in our lives, multiple times, because this is life.
In light of this, it is vital that we regularly practice breaking from routine, stepping outside our comfort zone, putting our hand to something new and thinking outside the box. I appreciate that the thought of putting yourself in this position sounds terrifying, but the flipside of this very coin is the gains that are to be made from relinquishing control.
In the words of poet Erin Hanson, “There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask ‘What if I fall?’ Oh but my darling, What if you fly?”
Creative expression can allow us to express ourselves without confine, it can lead to generating new and exciting ideas, observe or be part of something that we may not have ever imagined. If we are able to hand over ourselves to the creative process, it can allow us a taste of freedom.
A Way to Build Community
I think we can concretely say that, as a society, we live in an era of disconnection. Whilst one of the main culprits of this is technology – which has been successful in severing the relationship we have with one another, our environment and ourselves – it is not the sole reason. We can also be distanced by other factors such as ethnicity or age, the divisions are many. Regardless of these factors, creativity does not differentiate.
During the COVID19 pandemic, collective creativity became a life saving bridge that helped forge connections and reduce isolation for many. Individuals’ need to connect saw a rise in online choir groups, bands, sharing cooking tips/recipes, joining online dance programs and online art classes.
When we engage with creative forms, we are not only able to connect and be present with the art but also to the artist, ourselves and each other.This gives rise to a sense of belonging and reduces loneliness.
An Opportunity to Recalibrate the Mind
We are engulfed in a constant drone of noise; work, social, world events, personal situations, commitments, duties – which at times can feel pretty overwhelming. Every so often we need to unplug ourselves from the stereo surround sounds and plug into creative activities which allows us to exist in the moment. When we are able to hold our minds still and focus, we allow ourselves to be present and can reflect on things we often lose sight of the everyday bustle of life.
An Outlet for Emotions
Creativity is a messenger for emotions. It has the ability to bypass our logical conscious mind and tap into the subconscious, evoking emotions and memories that our conscious mind cannot. For example, listening to music, going to a rave, cooking a particular dish may stir or even allow us to experience and ‘be with’ our feelings. Emotions can also move usfrom one state of being to another.If you have ever felt overwhelmed, then you know that it can make you feel submerged by your thoughts and feelings. If we allow for those emotions to be felt, then we can move from the ‘stuckness’ to feeling lighter.
Art, drama and music therapy are becoming an increasingly popular in helping people that struggle with expressing their emotions. Engaging with these therapies is less about analysing what we are feeling and more about experiencing the feelings and allowing them to move through us without filter.
A Path to Healing
We are stories. And when we can own those stories and translate them into works of art, poetry, drama, music, etc. it can be healing. The process of healing is not limited to us as the creator but can also be therapeutic for those that engage with the creative expression. Being able to tell our stories is an opportunity to free ourselves from the narratives that may be binding us and give other people the permission to claim and own their story.
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