"I have the impression that the concepts of creativity and that of a healthy, self-realizing, and fully human person are increasingly coming closer together and may turn out to be one and the same."
-Abraham Maslow
Human beings have a great creative tendency and capacity…
However, we often think that artistic and intellectual creations are reserved for others, while our role is to passively consume what other people create. This can affect our self-concept, since we would be ignoring a very important part of ourselves. That which, through inventing, researching and producing, tells something about who we are and what interests us, and it also allows us to release some tension.
When we use our creativity, we are releasing tension through our ability to transform, create, and produce. This is called sublimation, and according to psychoanalysis, it allows us to release or discharge mental tension in a constructive way.
Creativity lives in all of us.
Some time ago I wrote about The psychological benefits of exploring our creative side But it's a message worth repeating: we are all creative. All of us. Creativity is not reserved for established artists. nor for a select group of tormented people whose only escape from their suffering is composing, painting, or writing. The risk of not exploring our creative side is feeling frustrated, incapable, and even empty.
The article Art and soul: how sparking your creativity helps you stay well states:
We need to remind ourselves that being creative can be as simple as doing the same things differently. This way, we can give ourselves permission to open the door to other activities and reap all the benefits of creativity—from time to reflect to overcoming perfectionism, or simply having fun. In this way, building sandcastles or writing clever emails can be a gateway to a pottery class, journaling, or writing a poem.
Imagination and creativity are for everyone.
In what ways can you try to be a more creative person? Maybe you've thought about (and put off) composing a song, writing a letter or a book, cooking an exotic dish, drawing, dancing, etc. Why not give it a try?
From here, I invite you to explore your creativity and dare to experiment.
