“In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?”
—Gabrielle Roth
When was the last time you experienced creative expression? When was the last time you were witnessed expressing yourself creatively?
We are all born creative. Studies show countless benefits in the use of creative and expressive arts like music, movement, writing, art, storytelling, role-playing, and more for enhanced problem solving and innovation, as well as increasing feelings of empowerment and joy.
Often, we find ourselves more relaxed, more intuitive, and with more access to inner wisdom, which we may not find without the use of an art medium.
Though we can observe performance art used all throughout history to help humans connect and transform, survive and celebrate, we live in a time and society where most people are starving for this creative outlet.
I have witnessed and experienced the depth and magnitude of wisdom and joy accessed when given the opportunity to express creatively, and furthermore, to be witnessed doing so. Brain science supports it, too, as performing creatively is known as a form of anti-anxiety and anti-depression treatment.
So, why aren’t we all expressing ourselves creatively? We have many false beliefs and narratives about creativity standing in the way, blocking us from accessing the joy and bliss accessed through creative arts.
Illuminating these false stories removes them as obstacles so they can no longer stand in our way. Dr. Daniel Seigel of the Mindsight Institute at UCLA observed, “If we can name it, we can tame it.” Naming these inaccurate beliefs unblocks your path to fulfillment and freedom through creative expression and performance.
False Story #1: I’m not talented enough.
Has someone ever asked you to participate in an art form only to hear yourself respond with, “I can’t do that”? The truth is—you can. We can all sing, dance, draw, paint, and write to some extent. However, somewhere along the way, maybe a parent, teacher, or mentor, with the best of intentions, told you that you weren’t good at said art form and to take up something else.
We hear this false story from each other all of the time: “I can’t draw.” “I can’t sing, dance, paint…” (fill in the blank). The truth is, we are all born to do all these things, but we carry a false story we need to be schooled or talented in order to perform.
Creativity is housed in our right brain, which we all have access to. In fact, our ancestors depended upon creativity and innovation in order to survive as a species.Infants and small children are a beautiful example of life before this story.
For those of us that break through this false story and allow ourselves to partake in artistic expression whether or not we are classically trained or always on key, we find access to an innate shortcut to joy. Think of the most recent wedding or karaoke you went to—people singing and dancing. Did they seem happy or miserable?
False Story #2:Arts are self-indulgent.
Somewhere along the line, we have defined art as a luxury, something only those with time and wealth can afford to pursue. Whether it’s because we are supposed to be doing something more “industrious” or it is a waste of time, it is heartbreaking to see the diminished prioritization of art and creativity.
Interestingly enough, taking time to be creative not only helps us be more productive, but also helps us be more imaginative and solve problems in ways far beyond what just our logical, left brain can do.
For example, writing a poem can help us find our way to the other side of grief or the loss of a relationship. A collage, sometimes called a vision board, will help us gain more clarity on what we really want in life. The more we incorporate art into our lives, the more we discover it is a necessity, not a luxury.
False Story #3:The vulnerability of creative arts should be avoided.
Part of this story is true. There is vulnerability in being creative, but that does not mean it should be avoided. In fact, the power to heal, to learn, to grow lies within and on the other side of that vulnerability. The ability to conquer loneliness, sadness and disconnection happens because of that vulnerability.
Famous author and researcher Brené Brown says it best: “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful parts of ourselves to be seen and known, when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.”
It’s true it takes courage to be vulnerable, but avoidance is not the antidote. When we face our fears of vulnerability and allow ourselves to access creativity, we actually find unique and effective ways to transform whatever challenges we may be facing.
Ever listen to a song to help heal a heartache? Take that a step further and write your own song to empower yourself and give hope to whatever you are facing. The opportunities for healing and transformation are endless in the form of arts when you are courageous enough to step toward them and not let these false stories stop you.
False Story #4:I must listen to the inner and outer critics and silence myself.
When it comes to the vulnerability of artistic expression, we often encounter an inner and/or outer critic dissuading us from wanting to practice creative expression. We cannot let this story get in the way of accessing the deep and profound power our expression provides.
Often our inner and outer critics think they are keeping us safe and protecting us from vulnerability and embarrassment. Set an intention and request that the voices of criticism, whether from inside or outside, be silenced enough for you to be able to pursue a powerful tool that will bring you joy and wisdom.
The next time you notice one of the above stories getting in the way of you expressing yourself creatively, notice it with curiosity and gentle compassion and ask it to step aside. That awareness will help put you in the driver’s seat rather than the false story blocking your access to freedom.
When you can step forward and transform your life in positive ways through the arts, transformation and evolution will occur. Just give it a try and you will see.
This article was originally published in The Spirit of Change online magazine.
