New Year, New You

Unlock Your Creative Spark with the Power of Gestalt Therapy

The New Year is a perfect time to reflect on goals. One of mine is reconnecting with creativity, whether for professional ambition or everyday expression. However, the journey to unlocking creativity doesn’t always run smoothly and often it is our own emotional material impeding our flow. These creative blocks can manifest in various ways:

• Fear of Judgment: Worries about how others will perceive our work can hinder the creative process. I’m sometimes guilty of this myself, but I also know it doesn’t have to be that way. Using this blog as an example, I’ve held back from posting for fear of being criticized for my ideas and opinions. However, people are going to think what they are going to think; it’s more their problem than yours.

“Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.”

– Brené Brown

• Perfectionism: My perfectionism presents herself as the critical voice in my head telling me I’m “not good enough,” and she gets louder whenever I compare myself to others. If I leave her alone in good growing conditions (like not practicing self-care or self-compassion), she’s likely to bloom into something far more treacherous like anxiety and depression. To overcome perfectionism, you need to climb out of her negative loop by realising:

• Perfectionism isn’t some ‘badge of honour’ that makes you better than the person who didn't work 10 hours on a two-hour project!

• Life is not a race. Constant comparison will get you nowhere – someone’s ‘perfect’ Instagram is not their real life.

• Beware of confirmation bias. If you only look for your failures, that is all you will find. It's important to celebrate your successes, even if they are small and feel insignificant.

  
  

“Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish.” – Aristotle

• Past Trauma: Experiences that leave emotional scars can create mental barriers to self-expression. A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress Disorders and Treatment found that individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibited significantly lower levels of creative achievement compared to their non-PTSD counterparts, highlighting the detrimental effects of trauma on creative potential.

  
  

I remember really struggling to begin writing my master’s dissertation – I couldn’t even pen the first sentence. Then, I came across Kathryn Stauffer’s book Emotional Neglect and the Adult in Therapy. I felt like she had written that book just for me. It helped me zoom out and see the canvas of my life. I discovered that I had complex PTSD from my difficult upbringing which had been locked away in that basement with my perfectionism. I hadn’t forgotten about it, I had just convinced myself that it was okay.

Trauma doesn’t always affect the imagination in this way. In some people, the imagination can become overwhelmingly negative and intrusive, resulting in nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks. If you find yourself in this boat, give yourself a gentle hug for me. You are incredibly strong for having survived those moments in your life. What happened to you was not your fault. The dark moments in your life do not get to say who you are.

So how do you recover your imagination when it retreats to unreachable corners of the mind? There might be a temptation to think the answer is “effort.” In reality, the recovery of creativity will look different for every person who heals. I searched tirelessly for the one book, guru, or resource that would rescue my lost creativity. But what I realise now is that I needed to mourn and work through my wounds with a therapist. My creativity didn’t go anywhere. It’s still part of me. But by pushing down the pain and the intense emotions connected to my trauma, I pushed away all of me. And that included my creativity.

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath

Now, I am finding ways to bring my creativity forward both in my mind and body. For instance, I’ve been learning to handstand over the past 18 months. It’s taught me persistence and offered a new perspective—literally! I can hold it for 15 seconds, which is a significant accomplishment for someone with the hand-eye coordination of a turtle.

Speaking of new perspectives, I’m also hosting a new monthly creative development group, starting in February. If you’re looking to further your connection with your creativity, trying to find inspiration for your next big marketing campaign or looking to bounce ideas around in a synergetic environment, you can sign up here today – no handstands required.

“Art washes away from the Soul the dust of everyday life” - Picasso

Here are my 5 tips to help you unlock your creativity:

1. Stay Present: Begin the year by focusing on the present moment. Being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and senses can help you tap into your creative side and understand what might be holding you back.

   
   

2. Do Something New: Experiment with something different like role-playing, dancing, or diving into nature to explore your emotions and thoughts. This can give you a fresh perspective on your creative challenges.

   
   

3. Express Yourself Freely: Don't be afraid to show your true emotions while creating. Let yourself feel a range of emotions without self-criticism, as this can lead to new ideas.

   
   

4. Explore Your Imagination: Take some time to delve into your dreams and fantasies to uncover hidden inspiration. Talking about and acting out your dreams can spark new artistic concepts.

   
   

5. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how your body reacts to your creative pursuits. When we are deeply embodied, we are more attuned to our physical sensations and emotions, which allows us to access a deeper level of awareness and intuition. It also helps us to let go of the self-judgment and self-doubt blocking flow states.

As you think about your goals for the New Year, consider adding creativity as a key part of your plans. Being creative isn't just about having talent; it's also about being in touch with your emotions and being able to bounce back from challenges. By working through the things that are holding you back creatively, you can find your own voice and share it with others.