The Necessity of Creative Work

I have a confession. As I sit here, it has been over a month since I have written. Creatively. And I can tell. Not just because the stories are unfinished or the goals are unmet, but because of the hollow feeling in my chest that remains unfilled.

I forayed into creative non-fiction this spring, writing personal essays and outlining a someday memoir. Fiction is easier than telling the truth. I have always insisted that when we create, regardless if it is a well-crafted meal, an oil painting, a novel, or even graffiti on the overpass, we infuse the work with a little bit of our soul. That is how self-expression works. It is why art is meaningful and important. But that is a whole other essay. Writing one's truth, telling a personal story, requires more soul. So I needed a break. It is ok to take breaks.

I caught up on reading, and that to-do list. I

planted my garden, meditated, and spent quality time with my family. I refilled my soul. My soul is full, yet I still have that hollow feeling in my chest. As a creative person, and I would argue that we are all creators in our way, self-expression isn't just a hobby or an outlet or a way to spend my free time. It is vital. It is necessary. For me creating connects me with my purpose, to who I truly am, and to who I want to be. It is a way of learning about myself and the world and how to exist in it and with others. It is a way to center myself when the world becomes unrecognizable. Without creative work that hollow feeling spreads as I get farther away from and more disconnected from myself. Nothing good comes of that. Depression is never far behind.

Creators create because we need to. Most of my work won't be read, that isn't the point. Followers and book sales do nothing to fill the hollow. It is in the act of putting words down on a page or a brush on a canvas. It doesn't have to be good, or skillful, just expressed. That is all it takes to fill that hollow. The world we live in isn't necessarily a safe space to create. It is too focused on popularity and consumerism. I think we must lose some really important work in all the noise. Voices are silenced by self-doubt before they even have a chance to say anything.

I found that for me, a month was long enough, maybe too long, and it is time to get back to work. Writing is how I choose to express myself, although I do like to dabble in other mediums from time to time. Whatever your way of expressing yourself, if you feel that space in your chest start to expand, that sense of dissatisfaction, maybe it is time for you to get back to work too. If you are struggling to find your way to, or back to, your creative work, here are some things to try.

• Schedule time - This is important self-care, make it a priority.

• Prepare - Sharpen your pencils, stock up on supplies or surround yourself with whatever tools you use to express yourself.

• Be quiet - Sing if you want or listen to music but be available to listen to what you have to say or need to express.

• Be kind - You may spend hours staring at a blank page or doodling on a pad. This may not seem like it, but it is important work. Give yourself time and space, creating will come, I promise.

• Read more about creative space here.