The Importance Of Creativity

This is a topic very close to my heart. It’s also my first blog post, so I ask that you read with love.

As someone who has always been far more interested in the arts than anything “sensible”, I’ve always felt the struggle of having to justify my choices. For many years I felt not enough; unworthy of this busy & modern world because I was so much happier spending my days playing music, sketching out my inner world or dancing for the sake of dancing.

And so for a little while there I tried to shift my focus; essentially, to be someone I’m not.

But for me, without an outlet for creative expression, or the time to consciously connect to other people’s art, life feels empty.

As humans, we are wired for connection. We seek out meaningful relationships & shared experiences that help us feel seen, heard & understood. And one of the most powerful ways to connect with others, from my experience, is through vulnerable, creative expression.

Creative connection: that’s what I’m chasing.

When we create, we tap into something deep within ourselves, and when we share our creations with others we open the door for connection on a level that goes far beyond words.

I play guitar & sing. Very nervously, I might add. But I’ve recently started sharing this, despite the nerves. Not because I think I’m particularly skilled, but because I know how much I appreciate it when others share their vulnerable, creative expression with me. I want to give you an easy opportunity to see the humanness in another person; me. Maybe you hear a quiver in my voice, and you’re reminded that you too, sometimes falter. Maybe you see a flash of insecurity in my eyes, and you recognise that in yourself. Maybe you notice that moment when I’m lost in whatever I’m doing, fully inspired, and it lights up something inside of you.

Through creative expression, we are able to see the humanness in others. We see their struggles, their triumphs, their joys & their sorrows. And there’s a lot I don’t know, but one thing I do know for sure is that now more than ever, we need to learn to see humanity in each others’ eyes.

Creativity isn’t about me & it isn’t about you. It isn’t even about the art. It’s bigger than that. It’s a powerful force that has the ability to transform & uplift the world. When we share our creations with the world, we have the potential to inspire others, to spark new ideas, and to drive progress in our communities and beyond.

So how does one “be creative?”

From how I see it, there are two types of creativity.

The first is skilled creativity. This requires practice, patience & commitment. To outwardly express what’s happening internally via a particular craft, you need to know your tool. Someone doesn’t just pick up for a guitar for the first time and play what’s on their heart. Just like I didn’t pick up a soldering torch and immediately create exactly what I was inspired to make.

When I first started learning, I found it frustrating, because I had all these ideas in my head of beautiful designs, but I didn’t have the skills to be able to bring them to life. Over the years I have really honed in on my craft so that when the creativity does flow, I am not limited by my skillset.

The second, is intuitive creativity. And thankfully, we all have this. This type of creativity is not about following rules or guidelines, but rather trusting our instincts & allowing ourselves to be guided by our intuition. Whatever we are doing, our intuitive creativity is always present, waiting to be unlocked & expressed in new & exciting ways.

And it doesn’t need to look a certain way.

I hear so many people saying “I’m just not creative.” Full stop.

I will always challenge that, every time I hear it.

There seems to be a common belief that if you can’t draw, you’re not creative.

Art is everything.

The way you make your breakfast, the way you dress yourself, the way you organise your pantry.

The way you participate in conversation, the way you parent your children.

The way you solve problems; whether it’s finding a new route to work or finding a solution to a household problem. Problem-solving requires a huge amount of creativity.

It’s important to remember that creativity is not just about producing a masterpiece or being a skilled artist. It’s about finding new & interesting ways to approach everyday tasks & experience, and expressing yourself in a way that feels authentic & meaningful. Anyone can be creative - all it takes is an open mind and a willingness to explore & experiment.

Oh, and one more thing - feeling.

The more you can allow yourself to feel, the more you can express. Some of the most exquisite art comes from people allowing themselves to go to the depths of their emotions, feeling it fully, & then expressing it.

And the more you express, the less hold your feelings have on you. I find creativity a to be a powerful tool for processing emotions; for understanding them & for letting them go.

So yes - creativity is important, to say the least.

It is a way of connecting with yourself & the world around you & inspiring change. As Toni Cade Bambara put it so poignantly: “The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”

We are all innately creative & perfectly unique, and one of the most beautiful gifts we can give each other is the gift of our true creative expression.

And so I leave you with a reminder of your inherent creative genius, and a question:

How will you nurture your creativity today?