Creativity Baggage
One of the biggest myths out there about art therapy is that it is only for artistic or creative people. This idea unravels if you recognize that creativity is an inherent part of the human spirit, including yours. Don’t believe me? Let’s walk it through together.
Creativity is one of the core qualities that has allowed us to adapt as a species. Without creativity we wouldn’t have learned to make tools and clothing, we wouldn’t have expanded our diets to suit all types of different environments, we wouldn’t have innovated such diverse means of shelter, or created the technology we needed to live in some pretty harsh climates. Likewise, creativity has been consistently present in most of our human rituals across cultures and throughout time. Whether in music, dance, play, story-telling, sacred writings, and or the act of feasting together on the gifts from the land - these are all creative acts. From the first moment you traced your fingers through sand, felt a drum beat in your bones, delighted in a new flavour, or felt comfort through someone’s choice of words, creativity was also there. It is not, I repeat NOT, the exclusive domain of art galleries, and art history textbooks (which have been systematically and predominantly curated by those with power, just saying).
In his book Imagination in Action, art therapist Shaun McNiff wrote, “Approaching creativity as being everywhere present, like the physical energies in our environments, shifts the emphasis from initiating something alone to responding and participating with what is already there.” Let that sink in a little. What is already there. Everywhere present. These are powerful ideas that disrupt the notion that art or creativity is only for the elite.
So if this is true, why does it feel unfamiliar, like it’s for those other people but not for ourselves? McNiff went on to write, “I have found most of us carry considerable baggage about how we view ourselves in relation to the creative act…”. Ahhh, there it is: the baggage, doing exactly what baggage does, holding us back. If you reflect back you may be able to pinpoint an experience that cut you off from the creativity around you. Perhaps a critical comment from a parent or the sense that your creations were being negatively evaluated in a school environment. Maybe it became an activity associated with performance, praise, comparison or critique. Maybe it was shaped by someone that hurt you, who insisted it look a certain narrow way, or who took a controlling interest in what used to be your expression. Maybe it was labelled as “foofy” or disparaged as a “waste of time”. In any event, many of us have had experiences that cut us off from the innate and embodied pleasure of creative exploration, expression, and experimentation.
So, how do we reconnect with this creative nature, that is already there, everywhere present? I have a few suggestions:
Start where you are. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money on art supplies or wait for a course to play around. Put on some music, use whatever you have available and let your hands explore. Maybe you scribble. Maybe you tear. Maybe you just feel the texture of your materials and observe what arises.
Notice your own rules and decide if they are worth keeping (hint: most of them aren’t). Our mind, in its’ efforts to be efficient, tends to start judging things pretty quickly, so notice the thoughts that come up (these might point you to the source of your creativity baggage or some of the rules your creativity has been steeped in). Here are a few common rules that get in the way of creativity:
I can only create if I have a large chunk of time.
I can only create after I’ve done everything else on my to-do list.
I can only create once I buy the best quality materials.
I can only create if I am going to make something specific.
I can only use my art materials on something I am going to put on my wall or give as a gift.
Insert-your-rule-here
Try a new material. Sometimes using a new material helps remove some of the baggage that comes with more familiar materials, reducing the expectations, as we embrace a “beginner’s mind”. If you don’t know where to start, ask yourself, “What could I use?” Maybe it’s carving soap with a butter knife. Or creating patterns in your coffee grounds. Or repurposing some old t-shirts for weaving…don’t be afraid. You can’t do this wrong.
Create with others. Like exercise, tapping into creativity is often easier when we do it with other people, especially if we have a similar mindset (for example, creating to explore versus creating to sell). It can help to have an art buddy, try a workshop, virtual studio, or join an art therapy group. Traditional art classes can be wonderful too, but do notice their different intent (to teach technical skills, which may bring back some of the rules or lead to comparison).
Make time and space for it. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the “I’ll do that later” mindset (full disclosure: I let years slip by telling myself this lie). Set a realistic and specific timeline for yourself (this might mean 5 minutes a week if you are super busy) and protect your creativity time from intrusions. It can also be helpful to put together a little creativity nook / toolbox / folder / corner so that your materials are accessible and there, visually inviting your response.
Be gentle with yourself as you make shifts to re-awaken your creative nature. We live in a constant self-improvement culture which can quickly lead to not feeling good enough. Watch out for your Inner Critic and practice self-compassion instead: ”I’m doing something new. It’s okay to take my time and explore what works for me”.
