Okay, so let’s get real for a second. 🎨 Have you ever felt like your creativity was just… stuck? Like you had this whole universe of ideas swirling in your head, but the moment you tried to put them on paper (or canvas, or whatever), it was like your brain hit a giant pause button? Yeah, me too. But here’s the thing: I’ve learned that creativity isn’t some magical gift reserved for the “chosen ones.” It’s a muscle. And just like any muscle, it needs to be worked, stretched, and sometimes even forced to do a few extra reps.
Let me take you back to where it all started for me. I was sitting in my tiny apartment, staring at a blank canvas, feeling like the least artistic person on the planet. I mean, I had the supplies—paint, brushes, even one of those fancy easels—but zero inspiration. I kept waiting for this “aha” moment to hit, like a bolt of lightning from the creative gods. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
What did happen, though, was a slow, messy, and honestly kind of frustrating journey of trial and error. I started small. Like, really small. Instead of trying to paint a masterpiece, I’d doodle on the corner of my notebook during meetings. (Pro tip: if your boss asks, it’s “mind mapping.”) At first, it felt silly. I mean, I’m a grown woman drawing little flowers and swirls, not exactly the next Frida Kahlo. But here’s the thing: those tiny, seemingly insignificant acts of creativity started to add up.
One day, I decided to take it a step further. I signed up for a local pottery class. Let me tell you, there’s nothing quite as humbling as trying to center clay on a wheel. (Spoiler: I failed. A lot.) But you know what? I didn’t care. For the first time in forever, I was having fun. I wasn’t worried about being “good” or “talented.” I was just… creating. And that’s when it hit me: creativity isn’t about the end result. It’s about the process. It’s about letting go of perfection and embracing the mess.
Now, I’m not saying I’ve suddenly become the next big thing in the art world. Far from it. But what I have discovered is a newfound sense of freedom. I’ve learned to see inspiration in the everyday—the way the light hits my coffee cup in the morning, the sound of rain on my window, even the chaos of my closet. (Yes, I once painted a still life of my shoes. Judge me.)
Here’s the kicker: creativity isn’t just about art. It’s a mindset. It’s about approaching life with curiosity and a willingness to try new things. It’s about giving yourself permission to fail, to make mistakes, and to keep going anyway. Because here’s the truth: we’re all creative. Yes, even you. You might not think of yourself as an “artist,” but creativity shows up in so many ways—cooking a meal, solving a problem at work, even putting together an outfit.
So, if you’re feeling stuck, here’s my advice: start small. Like, really small. Doodle on a napkin. Rearrange your furniture. Try a new recipe. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be good. Just do something. Anything. Because the more you create, the more you’ll realize that creativity isn’t something you find—it’s something you unleash.
And hey, if all else fails, just remember: even Picasso had to start somewhere. 🖌️