Something I have become aware of as I have ventured further into the world of creative therapy, and spiritual art, is just how many people are reluctant to engage, either through fear or uncertainty or not feeling good enough. From very early in our lives, and education, we are taught that there are certain ways to create that have value, and others that do not. The emphasis is on perfection and conformity rather than creativity and self-expression.
I remember saying, somewhat sarcastically during my A Level Art course, ‘What? We’re allowed to make stuff up!?’ because up until then, everything had to come from somewhere, everything had to be evidenced, you had to demonstrate progression of ideas and your creative process. You couldn’t just draw something that popped into your head because you felt like it. And, being an academic course, it was moderated and marked and you were given a grade from A to F, depending on how well you did.
Many people have had experiences of art where they’ve been told (often from someone like a teacher, parents, or someone they look up to) that they’re not good enough, or they should just quit, and sadly, understandably, they have carried those judgements with them throughout the rest of their lives. Many artists, who return to art later in life, say how they failed various courses or were told they weren’t good enough. And I feel it is a small miracle that they were able to move beyond that and create again. Many more don’t, and what a loss for the world, and those individuals, that is.
The reality is, anything you express creatively has value, but not everyone will understand or appreciate it. There are creatives whose work I am not the greatest fan of, but who am I to say it’s objectively ‘bad’? Equally, I have been on the receiving end of people who have judged my artistic efforts as unworthy – work I was proud of, and enjoyed, and took a lot of time to create.
And it is true that in certain circles of the art world, there are certain standards and criteria that they expect you to meet. Certain ways that certain people look at creative expression, or attempt to understand it, that will not apply to the vast majority of the population. It’s an exclusive ‘club’ and there are rules. And because those places are considered to be prestigious and aspirational, they are designed so that not just anyone will be accepted, and not all art will be judged to have value.
My own perspective is that more people need encouragement, acceptance, and a sense of safety to be able to open up and let themselves be a little vulnerable, so that they can express themselves freely. We are innately creative beings. We were born to create. Our ancestors didn’t need a GCSE in Art & Design to produce beautiful cave paintings. They just did it! Babies and children don’t worry about how good their pictures are, or if they are in tune when they sing, they do it because they enjoy it! And as adults, we are allowed to do that too, but the world has knocked the stuffing out of us and made us self-conscious, shy, or too filled with internal judgement (to protect our gentle hearts).
And I know not everyone will be drawn to traditionally creative activities like art, music, drama, dance, writing, etc., but there are other ways we can be creative. Creative thinking can mean innovations in science and engineering, which come from being able to see things differently, to be inspired to try different ideas out. That takes courage, and creativity. Being able to play games with your children requires creativity. Baking or cooking takes creativity. Socialising takes creativity. It permeates all areas of our lives.
If you’re looking to develop your own sense of creativity and play, are there any ways you can give yourself permission to do that this week? Sing while you’re washing up, wiggle and dance while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil. Draw picture on the steamed up glass when you’re in the shower! Jump in the damn puddles. Do it! 😄
And if you’d like a little help on your creative journey, pop me a message and maybe we can figure it out together.
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