As professional creatives, we can often get wrapped up in our creative output. Are we creating enough? Is it getting the attention we need? Is it leading to more revenue, a larger audience, etc?

But the truth is, our creativity at its core isn’t about that. It’s about play and experimentation and making space to just let things happen sometimes. Putting pressure on the outcome of creativity often stifles what could be a breakthrough and also puts unnecessary pressure on something that could be our safe recovery space.

So in this episode, I’m challenging you to rethink how you approach creativity, how you can take some of the pressure off of your creativity, and how you can start thinking about it through the lens of self-care. Let’s get started!

What’s in this episode:

• [00:30] How most creatives typically view creativity and why that can be detrimental
• [02:36] How to stop putting pressure on our creativity and treating it like a safe space
• [05:27] How we can come back to creativity in times of stress and burnout
• [08:22] Why creativity can be its own form of self-care when we let it 

Tune in to this episode for some encouragement to rethink the way you approach creativity in the new year!

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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Resources Mentioned

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Did this episode give you a new perspective on creativity for the new year? Check out this episode Mind Your Mind: Mindfulness for Creativity with Heidi Hope

Transcript

[00:00:00] Hey friend, welcome to the Art and Soul Show. I’m your host Lisa DiGeso, a mom, a photographer, and entrepreneur. Tune in here for pep talks, conversations, and advice on photography, creativity, mindset, business, life, and that messy in between. This is the place where you can go when you need a boost of encouragement, a kick in the pants, and inspiration to pick up your camera.

[00:00:24] This is the art and soul show. Hello, my friend. Welcome back to the show. So today we’re diving into a topic that’s been kind of rolling around in my brain for a little bit. It’s about how we can actually use creativity as a form of self care. Now I’ve been thinking a lot about how we often associate creativity just with output.

[00:00:47] That it’s something that needs to be packaged, polished, and even shared. But what if our creativity could be just for ourselves? What if it could be a way to meet your emotional needs and recharge [00:01:00] your spirit? And maybe reconnect with yourself too. So that’s what we’re talking about today. How creativity can be an act of self care.

[00:01:08] So traditionally we really approach creativity as something that has to be productive. Now, as a photographer, often every photo we take, it feels like it needs to serve our portfolio, maybe our social media feed, or even our business. But that kind of thinking can often just leave us feeling really stuck and maybe a little stagnant and maybe even a little bored.

[00:01:30] I know that I often feel boxed in and stuck in sort of the humdrum of running an efficient photography business when I’m repeatedly editing my photos the same way, or I’m shooting the same way, or I’m not learning anything new. And when I’m doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, it sort of kills that sparkle and our big, beautiful brains need something fresh and new to keep it excited.

[00:01:53] We often also get addicted to the applause. It could be the likes on Facebook, maybe on Instagram, and it can really start to feel like our [00:02:00] creativity and our arbitrary popularity that the algorithm wants to serve up are directly linked, but truly they aren’t at all, or at least we should really try not to let them be.

[00:02:11] Because if our creativity is tied to the attention or the applause we get. When the algorithm isn’t playing nice with us or showing our work in people’s feeds, we can actually start to feel like there’s something wrong with our work. And that often simply is not the case. We often forget that the whole reason we even started photography was because we love to create and simply because it delights us.

[00:02:36] My friend, your photography really doesn’t have to be for anyone else. It can be just for you. And when we treat creativity like self care, it It can really become a safe space, it can become a way to meet emotional needs, really without worrying about people pleasing or about anybody’s expectations. Now one thing we need to stop doing, and this is something that I teach myself too, is [00:03:00] stop telling yourself you aren’t creative.

[00:03:02] Creativity isn’t just for artists. It really shows up in everyone. Everything, it could be from the way that you design and run your business, how you even structure your day, how you decorate your house, or even how you problem solve when life is throwing curve balls to you. Now, if you’ve ever managed to throw a dinner together with everything left in the fridge in my house, we call that God, I use it up at dinners, or if you figure out how to get a cranky toddler to cooperate with you during a session, or if you’re juggling your work and your family life with some semblance of sanity.

[00:03:34] Well, guess what? That is creative. Your business is also an extension of your creativity. Really, every decision you make in your business, your logo, your brand colors, even the way you greet your clients, it really reflects your unique self. Even the systems you put in place are creative. Now think about it.

[00:03:53] You actually designed a business from the ground up and that takes vision and it takes imagination too. [00:04:00] But when we get so close to it, we often dismiss our business decisions as just part of the job. The truth is you really are creating something meaningful every single day. That sense of flow you get when you’re tweaking your client process or maybe working on your website or curating a gallery is the same kind of creative energy artists feel when they’re in flow or deep in a project.

[00:04:23] And sometimes the most meaningful creative acts are the ones that never even see the light of day. Like, I can’t tell you how many pieces, self projects I’ve made, or even client sessions or model calls I’ve made and I’ve never ever shared, simply because I wanted to keep them to myself. Or even different hobbies I start.

[00:04:41] I’ve started aromatherapy or felting animals, simply because I just had the desire to create something. And even my recent playing with baking, baking is creative, could be sewing or knitting or really any. Creative pursuit that delights you. It’s really not about the output. It’s about how it actually makes you [00:05:00] feel.

[00:05:00] And Steven Pressfield, who writes in the war of art, the artist’s life is one of necessity. She must create to feel fully alive. And that’s exactly how I feel. A lot of the time creating isn’t about being productive. It’s about connecting to yourself again. And a lot of the times when we stop feeling connected to ourselves or our art or our work, it’s What we need to do is get back into a creative mindset and start creating again.

[00:05:27] Now I’ve learned that creativity can be a real big lifeline during tough times, especially after experiencing burnout, anxiety, or even those messy seasons when life just feels like it’s too much. Sometimes just the smallest creative act can offer a way through. Could be even doodling on a notepad or just journaling, whatever sort of helps you calm things and feel less chaotic.

[00:05:51] Creativity really gives us permission sort of just to show up exactly how we are and give it whatever we can. So we also [00:06:00] have to trust that our ideas are going to keep coming back. So I don’t know if you’ve ever had a creative idea that just will not leave you alone. You try to push it to a side thinking it’s silly or impractical.

[00:06:10] My brain loves to tell me things are stupid, but it still keeps showing up. I’ve had so many of those moments and I’ve realized That those really are the persistent ideas that are worth listening to. They’re like almost like a little emotional nudges. They remind us of sort of what we need and especially my personal projects.

[00:06:30] And even now I keep putting it off. I keep telling myself it’s not important, but it doesn’t go away. I keep having those ideas pop in my head. So when I finally give in, it really becomes sort of the most healing projects I’ve ever done, because I’m not creating for anyone else. I’m creating just for me.

[00:06:48] A lot of the time, that’s exactly what I need in that moment is I have that desire to reconnect with myself. We often think that creativity also has to happen in these big focus sessions. [00:07:00] And so we kind of overestimate the energy or the time that we’re needing to put into it, like setting aside hours or just waiting for inspiration to strike.

[00:07:08] But sometimes the most healing creativity happens just in those small little moments. It could be like a doodle while you’re waiting for dinner or just jotting down a few song lyrics or a poem or even snapping a photo with your phone of something totally ordinary. These little moments really are not insignificant.

[00:07:27] They’re just part of your self care. Creativity sort of gives you that permission to pause and just be. And sometimes that is exactly what we need. And also, here is the thing. Self care through creativity is not about perfectionism. It’s not about making the best art or having it all figured out. It’s about showing up and it’s about giving ourselves permission to be messy and playful and experimental.

[00:07:54] I have had creative sessions when nothing goes as planned. My fog machine [00:08:00] didn’t work or my lighting crashed the floor or my camera fell off the tripod that I was using or I went to go have everything set up and my trigger and my cam ranger were not charged. But you know what? Those messy moments often end up being the ones I cherish because also I learn something from them to be more prepared to be able to have creativity on the fly.

[00:08:22] And that’s the heart of creativity is self care too. It’s not about impressing anyone. It’s really just about making that playtime space for you. If there’s one thing that I think I’d love for you to take away from today’s episode is this, creativity doesn’t have to be a huge or a grand event. It can be those quiet moments where you just meet yourself right where you are.

[00:08:44] Whether it’s through photography, or maybe it’s baking or painting or journaling, or just daydreaming or writing, those creative acts matter because my friend, you matter. So the next time you really are feeling the urge to create, don’t wait for that permission, don’t overthink it, just follow it and [00:09:00] let it be playful and fun.

[00:09:01] Messy and imperfect. And stop telling yourself that idea is stupid because it’s not. We need your genius to creativity isn’t about what you make. It’s about who you are becoming along the way. My friend, thank you so much for spending this time today with me on the art and soul show. If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with someone who needs to hear it.

[00:09:22] And I am sending you so much of my light and my love today. And every single day, we’ll see you next time.