Your creative work is not a “nice to have”
I recently saw a video from friend and colleague Alex Baisley that reminded me of something I talk about frequently - how important our creativity is.
One of the early online courses I took back in 2013 or 2014 was a Brené Brown course on her book The Gifts of Imperfection. I remember there was an exercise in one of the first lessons on creativity where we had to write ourselves permission slips to do art. We’d take sticky notes, writing our name at the top. I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but it was something like:
Diane, you have permission to draw in your journal. Or this: Diane, you have permission to play with watercolors.
The next thing we did was to write out in our journals some of the bad or hurtful things others had told us about being creative. Then we had to get out a box of band aids and put a Band-Aid over that statement.
I still remember that two-page spread in my journal. All these bits of phrases or words in purple sharpie peeking out behind a pale bandage.
I remember thinking it was all kind of hokey.
But I followed along and did the lessons, filling my journal. There was a self-portrait, I think. Maybe some collaging.
Giving permission
Brené was right—most of us need to give ourselves permission to do creative work.
This culture socializes us to believe that creative pursuits are a ‘nice to have.’ Something you can add on once you’ve gotten on top of things. Once you’ve gotten the to-do list under control, the house decluttered or your fitness routine on track.
What if your writing – or your other creative work – weren’t a nice-to-have, but a must-have?
What if it were something like a vitamin? Something that enriched your system? That made you feel good.
Because in truth it is like that.
We write because it nourishes us.
And when we express ourselves through our creativity, it makes us better somehow as people.
When we feel something inside bubbling up or when we notice something gorgeous or heartbreaking or unjust. When we pay attention to those things and allow that awareness to come through and connect with our lived experience and create something?
That there is the heart of creative self-expression
I do it by writing. You may too. Or you may do it through your art or bookbinding. Through your quilting or your photography.
It doesn’t matter how it comes through you, only that you give time to it.
That you give yourself permission to do this thing, for no other reason other than because it nourishes you.
What will you give yourself permission to create today?
Online Women's Writers' Studio
If you've been feeling a pull toward writing and want to spend more time with it, the Online Writers' Studio is a place I've created to do just that.
We have two generative workshops and daily (Monday to Friday) co-writing sessions, all for $45 USD. We've just started the cowriting this week, and there's still time to join and make one of the workshops.
You can find out more by clicking below.