Creativity Is A Portal
It will speed everything up
Im writing from the confines of my bed. A few days ago I fell while pruning the roses in my garden and I twisted my ankle quite badly, so I’m currently on day 5 or 6 (I’ve lost track) of sitting down and being still.
I am somebody that lives plugged into the belief that everything happens for a reason, but even more so that everything is happening FOR me, not too me. So after the initial scream (and loads of swearing) from pain, I knew immediately this was an invitation to slow down, and since I hadn’t been paying attention to the subtle cues, a big bang was needed.
Of course I had my knitting, and as I curled the wool around my fingers and slipped it into knots I remembered how many breakthroughs I had had whilst creating, and this is when I realized that truly, the act of creation, the making of art is what is missing from the narrative.
Art is quite often sidelined and relegated to being something for children, or the privileged because there is always something more “useful” to be done. Creativity requires time and rest, and this process is counter intuitive to the capitalist societies we have been raised in, which demand, not even demand but make it impossible for us to live unless we monetize every breathing moment of our lives. Who, therefore, has time for art?
We are drowning in podcasts and content centered around optimization, biohacking and even meditation, be better, be younger, be more productive, and whilst the narrative around “rest” is gaining momentum, very few are speaking on the importance around creating art.
Creativity IS the missing piece to your self development and wellbeing.
Art & creativity, the act of creation is a portal to fast tracking new ideas, solutions, healing and processing of emotions and even trauma.
We have studies (here - here - and here to name some) that show that people who engage with a creative activity, or even just view art, experienced reduces anxiety, depression and stress and feel more connected, joyful and experience more peace. Cortisol levels decrease whilst dopamine increases.
If you follow me on instagram you know that I knit, a lot, and this gives me a lot of mental space to absorb new information, or to churn over the thoughts in my head, which is usually how in unlock new downloads, new epiphanies, ideas creative solutions etc… I made a reel about it here.
But my creativity didnt begin with knitting, I was always an arty kid. When I was younger and still growing up in Italy my dream was to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, a prestigious art school. Then I moved to South Africa where there was barely an art program in my 300 student strong school, so whilst uninspiring I was able to find an outlet for my trauma in colors and pencils. I played the piano since I was 5-6, and in my 20’s I picked up a guitar and taught myself to play by watching my friends who are some of the most talented musicians. In my late 20’s I got out of an abusive relationship and processed much of that through writing and recording an album of depressing folk songs. I’ve been writing on substack for 2 years (almost!), and I’ve started writing a book a few times (hopefully in the future).
My constant companion along this journey I realize, has been my ability to create something out of my feelings and whether it's any good or not is irrelevant. I would be absolutely nowhere without my creative process, and I know that it can help everyone take things to the next level. What I mean by next level, is a range of things, it can be jus more mental space by taking up a hobby, it can be processing trauma through writing words or music, the possibilities of what art can do for you are endless.
Imagine growing up without music, without books, without visual art, without stories, without beauty, with nobody and nothing to ever reflect your pain, to inspire you, to move you, to make you feel seen, loved, understood, or challenge you and force you to confront feelings you buried, or didnt even know they existed. Imagine you couldn’t listen to music during a breakup, or on a roadtrip. Think of all the feelings you have felt whilst engaging with art and creativity.
Art and creativity are the key to your self development and wellbeing.