We often see creativity as a gift or a talent that only some people have. But nurturing our creativity has such immense benefits for mental health recovery: It helps us express our emotions, cope with stress, find meaning and purpose, and connect with others who share our interests (social connection is extremely important for mental wellbeing, even if we sometimes don’t feel like it). Creative outlets can also challenge certain thought patterns, boost self-esteem, and foster a sense of achievement and accomplishment.

In short: Creativity can provide an outlet for feelings that are difficult to verbalise. It helps us explore our inner world, discover aspects of ourselves we might not even know existed, and communicate our ideas and perspectives to others.

Most of all: It roots us in the present moment.

Questions for Exploration

* What are some creative activities that you enjoy or would like to try?

* How do you feel when you are engaged in a creative activity?

* How can you make time and space for creativity in your daily life?

* Who are some people that inspire you with their creativity?

* How could you use your creativity to support your mental health recovery goals?

* What are some creative activities that help you express your emotions and thoughts, to yourself and others?

* How do you feel before and after expressing your emotions and thoughts through creativity?

* What are some creative activities that help you reduce stress and anxiety?

* Who in your life currently supports or encourages your creativity?

* How could you use your creativity to help others?

If you would like to share what you have found out, or meet other likeminded people: You can do both via our community on Substack (it’s free).

If you would like to access all information mentioned in this episode and get a written transcript: You can find it here.

If you are interested in exploring mental health and creativity through a lens of storytelling, please also check out my newsletter The Sandman: Shadow Truths, which alternates with The Creative Cure and also has its own companion podcast.

You can also join my Facebook group or follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks to Aleksey Chistilin of Lexin Music for creating the music.