What If Creativity Has to Break You to Unlock Your Freedom?
And Natural Remedies to Support the Process.
You ever sit down to write or create and suddenly feel like Pandora’s Box just exploded in your head? One second, you’re minding your business, typing away, and the next—you’re knee-deep in feelings you didn’t even know were still lurking. Ugh…
It’s like your brain decided, “Hey, let’s throw all the unresolved issues into the mix right now. That’ll be fun!”
Why does this happen? Why can’t creating just be… peaceful? You know, sit down, crank out some brilliance, sip your coffee, call it a day? (Spoiler alert: because it’s never that simple.)
Creativity is like shaking up a snow globe.
Sure, it looks calm when it’s sitting on the shelf, but the moment you touch it, all that glittery stuff goes swirling everywhere.
That glitter? That’s your past, your worries, your insecurities. And, unfortunately, it doesn’t settle as quickly as the snow globe.
But here’s the thing: if you’re feeling “all the things” when you create, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re digging deep, doing the real work.
And that? That’s where the magic lives.
Why Creating Feels Like Emotional Gymnastics
Let’s be honest: creating is not just about making something pretty or meaningful.
It’s about facing yourself.
And when you face yourself—really look at what’s “under the hood” - you’re gonna find some stuff you didn’t plan on seeing.
Old memories, unresolved conflicts, that voice in your head that loves to whisper, “Who do you think you are?” Yeah, it all shows up.
I’ll never forget the time I sat down to write, determined to crank out something amazing. Five minutes in, I was spiraling about that one awkward thing I said to a friend at lunch ten years ago.
Like, why brain, why now? But that’s creativity for you—it’s not just about what you’re making. It’s about what you’re working through while you’re making it.
And for creators like writers, artists, and other makers, it can feel even heavier. When it’s just you, your thoughts can get loud. It’s not just, “Is this any good?”
It’s, “Am I good enough? Will anyone care? What if this is all for nothing?”
The Emotional Toll of Being a Creator
When you spend a lot of time alone with your thoughts, they have a way of sneaking up on you. Every creative person on the planet has wrestled with these questions, whether they admit it or not.
The self-doubt, the overthinking, the occasional existential crisis—it’s all part of the deal.
But just because it’s “normal” doesn’t mean it’s easy. That’s why it’s so important to equip yourself—not just to create, but to handle the emotional whirlwind that comes with it.
How to Work Through the Creative Storm
The good news? You don’t have to let those emotions derail you. Here’s how to keep moving, even when the “floodgates open”:
1. Name It to Tame It
Feel overwhelmed? Put it into words. Write it in a journal. Say it out loud. Text a friend (preferably one who won’t reply with “Ugh, same” and nothing else).
Naming the emotion takes away some of its power.
2. Don’t Fight the Glitter
Remember the snow globe analogy? Let the glitter settle. Take a breath. Go for a walk. Do something that gets you out of your head, even if it’s just folding laundry.
The thoughts will calm down eventually.
3. Give Yourself Permission to Suck
Not everything you create has to be brilliant. Sometimes, it just has to exist. Give yourself permission to make bad art, write terrible first drafts, or create something purely for you.
Even Picasso probably had an “off” day.
4. Find Your People
Even if you’re working alone, you don’t have to go through this alone. Join a writers’ group, connect with fellow creators online, or grab coffee with someone who gets it.
The weight feels lighter when you share it.