Everyone is creative: creative outlets and the positive impact of creative expression
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What does it mean to be creative? According to the Merriam-Webster definition, creativity is “marked by the ability or power to create.” However, when considering who is and is not “creative,” I have noticed a common outlook. Speaking for many, it can often feel like the title of “creative person,” is an attribute strictly applied to the iconic visionaries whose artistic creations are displayed in museums across the world or those whose pictures are hung up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In fact, I have found myself dismissing the pure possibility of being considered a “creative.” But it is important to stray away from this narrative. Despite what you have been told, or told yourself, everyone is creative. Yes, that includes you. And expressing yourself creatively, whether big or small, is a vital ingredient to improving your overall well-being and mental health.
Creative expression is more than just a hobby, it has real and measurable effects on your mental health. Research found in the National Library of Medicine states that engaging in creative activities can reduce stress and improve mood. One study found that people were “happier and more active when they were performing something creative.” Creativity gives your brain a break from stress and allows you to shift into a different mindset. The Mental Health Center even claims that it can help with emotional processing and resilience, giving people a way to express feelings that can be difficult to put into words.The study also found evidence that creativity and wellbeing tend to positively coincide.
Creativity often gets confined into a minimizing, very specific definition. To be a “creative” by society's standards can feel like you have to be the next Monet or some breakthrough musician. If you are not exceptional, it does not count. But this idea is both false and discouraging. In reality, creativity exists on a spectrum. According to the National Library of Medicine, researchers even describe it as ranging from everyday, personal creativity to big world-changing ideas. There are even terms for this like “little-c” creativity, which refers to the small, everyday ways in which people create meaning in their lives. So yes, you are creative!
Some popular creative outlets involve music, innovation, artistic expression, and problem solving. For some it can look like dedicated karaoke time in the car, solving a jigsaw puzzle over the span of months, or getting into sourdough making. These expressions of creativity are not necessarily extravagant life-long commitments, but rather, I think, are non-threatening ways of taking a little time out of your day to stretch your creative limbs. Creative activities do not have to be groundbreaking to matter; no matter the external impact, they still support mental health and wellbeing, according to the National Library of Medicine. Finding a creative outlet can feel intimidating, but it can be helpful to remember the endless amount of options. Different creative outlets offer a wide range of hobbies tailored to your specific skills and interests.
Another thing to consider is that the stakes are as high or low as you make them. There is no one telling what you can and cannot do, your process is personal and determined by your own desires and decisions. That being said, creative outlets can be incredibly liberating and exciting. They give you space to explore, reset, and reconnect with yourself in a way that everyday routines do not always allow.
So take a moment to reflect: what is your creative outlet? Maybe it is something you already do without realizing it counts or maybe it is something you have been hesitant to try because you did not think you were “creative enough.” Either way, it does not have to be perfect, consistent, or even good to still be meaningful and fulfilling.