Tending to the Creative Wound

I believe that we are all creative. That creativity is an inherent human trait. Yet many of us fear it and we suppress and restrain our expression. As a creative therapist it’s common for me to hear phrases like ‘I’m not creative’ or ‘I can’t draw/paint/sing/dance’. Yet mark-making, spoken word, movement and voice are all natural elements of life… human life. The reason that we exist today is down to our creative nature, our ability to adapt, grow and express ourselves in the world. Everything we do is an act of creation, and we choose our artistry every day. Words spoken, songs sung, dances shared – it’s all art. Our love for each other is an expression of that creative lifeforce. Our awe of nature, cloud watching, birds singing, a smile from a stranger, the touch of a friend, the birth of a human being…it’s all creative energy. We are already out here living creative lives everyday – yet when it comes to putting pen to paper or allowing our voice or body to move freely, many of us falter.

Some speak of the art teacher at school who didn’t support their expression but If I’m honest with myself...I didn’t experience that. My art teacher was filled with enthusiasm and encouragement for my creativity. It was me. I suppressed me. I suppressed, ridiculed, and minimised my expression. It is much easier to blame someone else…a parent, teacher or bully, and my life has too been full of critics and bullies but ultimately it came down to me. It is much harder to accept responsibility for our own imprisonment but when we do, we have an opportunity to change, to experiment with a new way. Society is full of critics and if we let it, it will put a lid on our authentic and creative lifeforce. We must be courageous despite the outer and inner critics. It is a form of activism and advocacy to share ourselves with the world and to challenge the unkind voices within. Over the years I’ve put so much effort into learning how to take care of myself, eating well, exercising, attending therapy, spending time with people I love and tending to my spiritual wellbeing. It took me a long time to recognise that acting on my creative impulses is an act of self-love. Living a life where my expression is imprisoned restrains my life force, it stills my breathing and robs me of joy and pleasure, love and friendship. Allowing my creative manifestations in the world to come to light and tending to the inner fears of failure, ridicule or shame allows me to live freely and abundantly.