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taking ownership of your creativity,
one step at a time…
Photo by Pamelah Landers
By Pamelah Landers
When you read the subject line, had you already decided that you are or are not artistic?
What would you have to “own” to be able to say, “Yes, I am artistic.” Saturday night, I had the pleasure of dining with a new friend at the lovely Casa Del Mar hotel in Santa Monica. Rachel Resnick and I met specifically, at my request, to have her help me with my next book. If you’re familiar with my work, you know I’ve published several products on Hand Analysis. My next book, however, is personal and thus, more revealing. Publishing it has been somewhat of an extended journey. Rachel specializes in personal story writing, being an author herself, Love Junkie: A Memoir. During our conversation, I had an opportunity to share with Rachel all the artistic and creative expressions I employ at different times in my life or different occasions. Being fully heard by Rachel was immensely satisfying.
Hearing every level of confidence as I spoke about each artistic endeavor anchored me even more into owning my artistry. Rachel supported it with her feedback. And…she was so enthusiastic about each expression I shared, genuinely interested. I felt so seen and acknowledged.
Here is an example of one of my creative endeavors: I crochet afghans. Over the years I’ve made about 100. Early on I used patterns. Once I learned the basic stitches, I started experimenting with yarn types. Why am I sharing this? Because there is a very good chance that your creative side is seeking expression in some way that is not how you are expressing now. So many of the people for whom I provide insight about themselves through their hands are marked with “artistic” line formations or fingerprints. And many of them, at least 2/3, could not say, “I am an artist.” I used to be one of them. But no more.
It is of no service to you or your life to deny that you have creative skills at some level. It doesn’t support you to downplay it or diminish it in any way. I did that. What matters, from this moment on, is that you start allowing yourself, even if just to yourself quietly in your mind, to have some real, truthful conversation about how you express creatively and/or artistically. The reason this matters at all for you is because denying a part of your expression causes challenges in relationships. When others can see in you something that you hide from, it prevents intimacy. You want to blame them, maybe, for not “seeing” you but you are the one who is not seeing you.
Or you feel embarrassed to be so talented.
Maybe it’s going to cost you to be more creatively expressive than somebody else in your life.
I am sure any of these “hold back” reasons are costing you intimacy. Why you can’t claim your artistry Maybe you can relate to this: “There were the voices in my head that said, ‘You are not an artist because you haven’t ‘sold’ anything.’”
Or here’s another voice: “Artists are painters or sculptors or stage performers or actors. I don’t engage in those particular endeavors.” (I’ve heard this from clients so many times I lost count!) About 10 years ago, I got tired of resisting what is true: I am an artist. I’ve learned that being an “artist” is about what I decide to “own” regarding my creative endeavors. It’s not somebody else’s decision or judgment. It’s my definition, my viewpoint, my perception and mostly my knowing that counts. Who made up the rules about what artistic expression qualifies as “real artistry?” Really? Did they ask you about your opinion or your perception? No.
Whatever you define as “real artistry” most likely came from cultural experiences or family conversations or school teachers and other students. You believed it, as we all do — until we don’t.
What if today is the day you choose your own definition of artistry?
What if today is the day you can claim one creative expression as being “artistic?” Maybe that takes you one step closer to owning your full out “artist.” Questions for you:
- What is the cost of owning your artistry?
- What backlash would come to you?
- What voices would want to diminish that?
- What would you have to step into for yourself if you actually were an “artist” for yourself?
Some areas of your life to consider for owning artistic expression:
- how you dress
- how you decorate your home or a room
- food preparation
- layout visions of your garden or flower arrangements
- decorating gifts you give to others
- creating a music mix
- designing class materials
- problem-solving (This seems to be an entry point for many people to begin owning their artistic expression. “Oh, yes, I can do creative problem solving but I’m not an artist!”)
You might want to ask a friend to help you look at your artistic expressions to step into some ownership. One step at a time.