May Blog

Hey Strong Friend!

Happy May, and happy mental health awareness month!
This month, we’re going to talk a little bit about stifled creativity. We will also share some of our new community updates with you, and later on, we’ll talk about repression and suppression, in layman’s terms.

Dare to be Creative

In the course of my life, I’ve come across a few people who have told me that they are not creative, and I often wonder, ‘Really?’

It’s pretty hard for me to believe that a person who came into existence through an act of creation—yes, I mean sex…just stick with me here—that such a person is somehow not creative. I get it, the world has led us to believe that visual, musical, performing artists, and other “creators” are the only creative people, but that is not true, we are born creative. If you have ever been around children, you can see clearly that they are naturally creative. Especially so when they are given the freedom to safely explore their curiosity and use it to solve problems and learn more about the world.

I am aware of the fact that many of us have been devalued, shamed, and dismissed when we’ve sought to use our creativity to solve problems in the past. Oftentimes this occurs early in our lives when we are in full alignment with our creative power. This rejection can spur feelings of abandonment, self-esteem issues, lack of self-efficacy, anxiety, and even depression. This causes us to abandon our creativity and curiosity as we try to live a life that others have imagined for us.

Examples of this can be people who settle down before they are ready, people who stay in jobs that they hate, or people who never start the businesses they dream about. It could also be people who remain in unhappy relationships or are too scared to travel to unknown places and people who don’t ‘shoot their shot’ for the relationships and life experiences that they truly want. In short, it could be you. And I can recall times when it has been me. 

These creative blocks paralyze our creative process, generating more problems and barriers. So how does one start to re-engage with their creativity?

If you know me, by now you know that I typically refrain from giving any multi-step instructions because the issues specifically impacting you are unique, and they may not fit into the cookie cutter “just do these three things” multi-step approach. If you prefer reading to help jumpstart your creative process, I recommend Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield, and if you prefer one-on-one help, I recommend seeking individual support so that your background, culture, and abilities can be considered when coming up with your success plan.

You may want to reach out to your therapist, coach, and/or spiritual advisor for some guidance on re-engaging with your creativity and strengthening your ability to work through problems without damaging your mental health. If you are in need of a therapist or coach, please feel free to reach out to us at Eye In Me for a free consultation. 

And finally, remembering that you were once a kid too…this month, I’d like you to dare to be creative again! See if you can intentionally apply your curiosity and creativity to resolve a problem in your life.
Whether or not you succeed in resolving the problem, we would like to hear about your experience and what it has taught you. Share your stories with us on Twitter or LinkedIn with the hashtag #Dare2BeCreative.