5 Ways to Connect with Your Creativity

Do you ever feel like you’re not really connecting with life the way you should? Do you ever feel a bit unfulfilled? If so, you’re not alone. A lack of fulfillment can be caused by many things, but one cause that impacts many people without them realizing it is a lack of creativity in their lives. Creativity might not seem like an essential aspect of life (especially if you don’t have a creative career), but creativity helps us avoid stagnation and boredom. It helps us see the world from a fresh perspective, and exploring creative outlets can positively impact mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

Creativity is not just about artistic expression, of course. There are so many things you can create: good ideas, stimulating conversation, delicious meals, strong relationships, etc. While these things are worthwhile, there’s something to be said for the art of making something in the traditional artistic sense. There’s something uniquely satisfying about paintbrushes swiping across canvas, clay being molded by hands, a sketchbook teeming with doodles, or fingers flying over a keyboard in pursuit of that perfectly written sentence. Though it might seem unessential, connecting with your inner artist is incredibly effective for mindfulness, positivity, and overall fulfillment. In fact, it’s vital for your happiness.

You might be thinking: But I’m not creative! I have no artistic ability! How can I connect with my inner artist if I’m not a creative person? And I’m here to tell you: you are a creative person. And, in case you couldn’t hear me: YOU ARE A CREATIVE PERSON.

How do I know? I know because we are all creative. As Picasso famously said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” You might not always feel creative (even if you’re stereotypically “creative” or work in an artistic field), but there is still a childlike artist inside of you. And connecting with that creative aspect of yourself can have some major benefits. Don’t believe me? Give some of these ideas a try and see how you feel!

1 / GIVE IT A TRY (NO JUDGMENT!)

First and foremost, you have to give it a try. This is the hardest part of creativity — allowing yourself to just try and see what happens. Choose any medium you like — writing, drawing, painting, photography, etc. — but pick one and go for it. You don’t have to invest in any fancy materials or equipment. Just grab a pen, paper, or your computer and start making something. Block off 30 minutes on your calendar at some point this week to just get creative. And, while doing this, try your absolute hardest to refrain from judging yourself. It’s hard, I know. Our adult brains are equipped to critique and assess and put things into “good” or “bad” categories, but try your absolute best not to do this. The point of creativity isn’t to make something that other people will appreciate; the point is to experience the joy of making something.

2 / SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE OR IRL CLASS

Last week, I took a children’s book illustration class at Strathmore Music Hall. It really pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I had a chance to work with materials that I never work with and come up with a story I never would have considered on my own. Getting out of your comfort zone is key when it comes to creativity (especially if you already work in a creative field), and taking classes can really help you see and do things in new way. While IRL classes are great, I’ve also had wonderful creative experiences with self-paced online classes, like those from Nicole’s Classes, Skillshare, or Atly. Signing up (and paying!) for a class makes it more likely that you’ll actually create something, and that accountability can be crucial when you’re struggling to connect with your inner artist.

3 / DO SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY

As I mentioned, getting out of your comfort zone is so important for stimulating creativity. A great way to do this is by doing something you do all the time — taking notes in a meeting, snapping pics for Instagram, writing in a journal — in a completely different way. For example, instead of taking bullet point notes, try drawing what you see and hear. Or, instead of simply snapping photos with your phone, get out your camera (or borrow one) and try taking photos that way. Or, rather than putting pen to paper at the end of the day, try using magazine scraps to make a collage of how you felt that day. It doesn’t matter what you do, only that you do it in a different way to spark your creativity.

4 / START A CREATIVE JOURNAL

Speaking of journals, starting a creative journal is an excellent way to corral all of that creativity in one place. You can create a very specific type of journal (like a hand-written gratitude journal) or you can have a broad creative journal, in which you can write, draw, paint, collage, paste photos, etc. The journal doesn’t have to be fancy — in fact, the less fancy, the better. Whatever medium(s) you choose for your journal, it should be a place where you can get creatively messy. The fewer limitations, the better. Your creative journal should be a place to express yourself in whatever way you feel like it, without judgment or hesitation.

5 / TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RESOURCES

We touched on this point a bit in #2, but it’s important that you remember two things: (1) you don’t need fancy things or a lot of money to be creative, and (2) there are so, so many good resources (many of them free!) to help you connect with your creativity. For example, you can look up drawing tutorials (or almost any kind of tutorial!) on YouTube. You can also find great inspirational talks on there, if you’re struggling with creative motivation. Or, for more in-person inspiration, check out books from the library on art or creativity (this is one of my favorites!). There are so many resources available for connecting with your creative side, but it’s up to you to put them to good use!

Remember: even if you don’t always feel like a creative person, YOU ARE. And you’ll miss out on a lot of inspiration, exploration, and fulfillment if you choose to ignore the creative aspect of your life. Give yourself the incredible feeling of making something just to make it — with no agenda, no judgment. It’s incredibly gratifying, and it will show you things about yourself that you never knew you never knew (Pocahontas reference!). Now get out there and create something amazing!