The Secret To Being More Creative
We’re all born creative.
Every child knows how to play, how to imagine, how to make art for the sheer joy of it. But somewhere along the way—usually right around the moment someone mocked our art or graded it—we begin to believe that we’re not “the creative type.” That we can’t be trusted to make anything worthwhile.
This is a lie.
Creativity is not reserved for a gifted few. It’s a natural part of being human. If you’re not creating, it’s not because you’re broken or lazy—it’s because you’ve been conditioned to take life too seriously.
And that, my loves, is a trauma response.
Creativity as a Trauma-Healing Practice
Most adults don’t play. We’re too busy performing, pleasing, producing. But our inability to loosen up, to get messy, to make things for fun—these are signs that our nervous systems are stuck in survival mode.
We’ve been led to believe that we must earn joy. That rest is indulgent. That play is childish. But this binary—work or rest—is missing the most vital third option: play.
Play is neither productive nor passive. It’s free. It’s present. And it’s where creative energy lives.
Why You Can’t Force Creativity
When adults try to create using “adult-style solutions”—like better time management, more discipline, or perfectionism—we usually end up frustrated. That’s because creative energy is elusive. It doesn’t thrive under pressure or fear. It needs softness, spaciousness, and safety.
If your nervous system is stuck in sympathetic activation (fight or flight), your body thinks it’s in a life-or-death situation. In that state, art feels irrelevant. Expression feels unsafe. And the inner critic wins.
This is why it matters what energy you’re in when you create.
Creating With Intention (Not Just Positivity)
You don’t have to feel “good” to make something powerful. Some of the most resonant art comes from grief, rage, or heartbreak. But what matters is that you create intentionally—that you’re aware of the emotional imprint you’re leaving in your work.
Every piece of art carries an energy signature. And that signature reflects your state at the time of creation.
So ask yourself:
Am I creating from freedom or fear? From curiosity or control? From joy or performance?
When Anxiety Hijacks Your Flow
Many of us who are creative also deal with anxiety. That anxiety can be paralyzing. It can drain the fun out of projects and turn them into chores.
If you're not creating to communicate your anxiety—if you’re just feeling anxious and trying to push through—it might not work. The result feels forced, flat, or worse, avoided.
The solution? Check in with your emotions.
If you notice you’re anxious, get curious. What are you afraid of? What’s underneath that tension?
Take breaks. Pause often. Give yourself space to return when you feel calmer—not because you “have to,” but because you’re drawn to. Because it feels like play again.
Don’t Create Alone
Art doesn’t have to be lonely. Sometimes, we need quiet witnesses. Someone present, even silently, can make a big difference.
This is called body doubling, and it’s common in the neurodivergent community. It’s why having a friend around—even if they’re not helping—can make it easier to clean, write, or finish a project.
You can recreate this with:
Silent writing or art groups
Leaving the TV on in the background
FaceTime sessions where you each do your own thing
Community spaces that support (but don’t critique) your expression
You don’t have to suffer through your process in isolation.
Play Beyond the Page
If you’re doing heavy emotional work, it’s especially important to cultivate lightness somewhere in your life—even if not directly in your art.
That could look like:
Swinging on a swing
Buying a silly toy
Making a collage with glitter and glue
Trying something new just because it sounds fun
And don’t underestimate the power of humor. Humor is soul medicine. It’s a core sense that reconnects us to life’s absurdity and helps soften the edges.
Your Homework: Go Play
This week, I invite you to reconnect with play.
🧸 Think of a toy or game you loved as a child.
🎨 Or think of something you’ve always wanted to try just for fun—no agenda, no end goal.
Then go do that thing.
Seriously. Permission granted.
You don’t need a reason to enjoy your life. Play is enough. And through play, your creativity will return—not as a task to master, but as a natural expression of who you already are.
