Creativity often feels like it’s defined by results—whether it’s a polished painting, a novel on a bookstore shelf, or a viral video. But lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what happens when we detach creativity from the outcome. What if the process itself is where the magic lives?
In a recent Pain In The Arts episode, Lyndon and I dove deep into this idea. We talked about how societal pressures, life’s curveballs, and even our own inner critics can stifle creativity. But we also explored how embracing the act of creating—messy, imperfect, and unpolished—can reignite the joy that drew us to art in the first place.
Here’s what we uncovered about valuing the process, silencing that judgmental little voice, and keeping creativity alive no matter what life throws your way.
Creative vs. A Creative
Have you noticed how the word “creative” has shifted over the years? It used to be an adjective—someone was a creative spirit or had a creative flair. Now it’s become a noun: a creative. At first, I thought this was a step forward, giving creativity a seat at the professional table. But the more I’ve sat with it, the more I’ve realized how much it reduces creativity to a title or designation.
Creativity isn’t just a job title or skill. It’s a way of seeing the world. It’s how I navigate everything from parenting to running a business. Reducing it to a label can feel stifling, especially when creativity is such a fundamental part of who I am—not just something I do.
Valuing the Process
For years, I’ve kept Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way on my bookshelf. One of her quotes has always stayed with me: “Creativity occurs in the moment, and in the moment, we are timeless.” It’s such a beautiful reminder that the real value of art isn’t in the finished product—it’s in the act of creating.
That perspective has been a game-changer for me. Writing has always been my safe space, but it’s easy to feel weighed down by the expectation of producing something “worthy.” When I focus on just writing—letting words spill out without worrying about what they’ll become—I remember why I love it.
The process of creating, without obsessing over the outcome, is where I find freedom.
Fighting the “Shoulds”
I’ll admit, my inner critic is loud. It’s the voice that constantly says, “You should have done more,” or, “You’re falling behind.” For years, I let that voice run the show, and it left me feeling exhausted and defeated.
But here’s the thing I’ve learned: that voice is a liar. It’s born out of fear, and it only exists to stop me from trying. It tricks me into thinking I need to hit certain milestones or prove myself in some way. But creativity doesn’t work like that.
By actively challenging that voice, I’ve started to shift my focus back to the joy of creating for its own sake. The product doesn’t matter nearly as much as the process.
Balancing Creativity and Life
Let’s be real—life rarely goes as planned. Between parenting four kids (including one with high-care needs), running a copywriting business, and trying to keep up with my creative projects, there’s always something pulling my attention in a different direction.
When I realized life wasn’t going to unfold in the neat, linear way I’d imagined, I had to make a choice. I could either put my creativity on hold indefinitely or find a way to weave it into my messy, unpredictable life.
That’s when I decided to enroll in a part-time Master’s program in Creative Writing. It wasn’t about career goals or accolades—it was about carving out time to write and forcing myself to show up consistently. Even with a packed schedule, those creative dates with myself kept me connected to my art.
Making Time for Creativity
What I learned from that experience is how vital it is to schedule time for creativity. For me, university deadlines gave me built-in accountability. But you don’t need to take a formal course to make it happen.
Creative dates can be as simple as setting aside an hour a week to journal, sketch, or play music. The important thing is to treat this time as sacred. Even when life feels overwhelming, these small acts of creativity can make a huge difference.
Rejecting Perfectionism
Perfectionism is one of the quickest ways to kill creativity. I’ve spent too many years trying to make things “perfect,” only to realize that striving for perfection often robs me of the joy that comes from experimenting and making mistakes.
When I give myself permission to play—to write something that might never see the light of day or scribble down ideas that don’t fully make sense—I feel so much more connected to my creative voice. It’s not about creating the “best” version of something; it’s about showing up and letting the work flow.
Creativity as a Lifeline
During some of the hardest seasons of my life, creativity has been my lifeline. When we were navigating our daughter’s diagnosis and the uncertainty of what her future would hold, I leaned on my writing to process my emotions.
Lyndon often found similar solace in his music or even in the everyday act of making coffee. Those moments reminded us that creativity doesn’t have to be big or public to matter. Sometimes it’s about finding joy in small, quiet acts of making.
A Kindness to Myself
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s the importance of being kind to myself. For years, I held myself to impossibly high standards—always striving, always criticizing. But when life threw curveballs I couldn’t control, I decided to let go of that constant self-judgment.
Giving myself permission to create without worrying about results has been a gift. It’s allowed me to rediscover the joy of writing and to approach my creative practice with more openness and curiosity.
The Gift of Being Present
Creativity isn’t about titles, deadlines, or polished results. It’s about showing up, exploring ideas, and giving yourself the freedom to create without judgment.
If there’s one thing I’d encourage you to take away from this, it’s to make space for your art—however small or unconventional that space might be. Schedule a creative date with yourself, silence your inner critic, and remember that the joy is in the doing.
For me, that’s what creativity is all about: being fully present in the process and finding beauty in the act of making.
