Creativity needs nurturing to thrive; it is vulnerable to harm. Even subtle messages of judgment can drive it into seclusion. Maybe your art didn’t get displayed in the classroom or someone misinterpreted your image or poem instead of asking you to tell them about it. Maybe someone opined on your song or dance without understanding that how you felt about it was more important. Slowly, creativity can drift into the realm of external validation seeking. When this happens, we may try to please and risk losing our creative voice, if we don’t quit altogether.
I once witnessed this disheartening scenario:
My preschool-age granddaughter and a classmate are each given an upside down section of an egg carton, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners. The other preschooler immediately goes to town gluing eyeballs—maybe a dozen of them—all over her three egg-carton humps. After some thought, my granddaughter glues a single eyeball to the top of each of her three humps. Moments later, a well-meaning classroom aide confiscates the 12-eyeball creation and says “No,” as she plops down a two-eyeball prototype of a caterpillar. “Oh, that’s what it’s supposed to look like,” shrieks my granddaughter, as I silently lament the missed opportunity to reinforce creative thinking and risk taking, independent decision making, and the formation of creative identity.¹
Dr. Charles Limb has shown that creative expression and self-judgment are incompatible in the brains of jazz musicians. We find—in individuals of any age, background, or ability—that when our creative voice is freed from critical messaging, we can extend the edge of our comfort zone, think outside the box more fluidly, open ourselves to connection, increase our sense of agency, strengthen our self-esteem, and be heard when it matters.
This holiday season, let’s nurture creativity in ourselves and others. Engage in our From the Heart: Wishing Gift Activity about what you wish you could give or do for someone. Create your own designs (or affirmations!) on our 25 in 25 Challenge Coloring Sheets. View our White-House-performed “12 Eco-Days of Christmas” for inspiration. Add your own personal touch to a gift or meal. Make your own card, wrapping, or centerpiece with a meaningful message or theme—perhaps inspired by the artwork of our Certificate Program alums featured in this letter.² Or join us for an upcoming, free HOPE Series session.
Through the generosity and service of our 25 in 25 Challenge supporters, Visionary Circle members, program participants, and community partners, our small but mighty team can continue to transform lives through the innate power of the arts, guided by mental health practices, to foster healing, connection, and resilience for all.
Our world needs creative minds and voices now more than ever.
May your creativity soar in 2025,
¹ Excerpted from The Innovative Parent: Raising Connected, Happy, Successful Kids through Art by Erica Curtis and Ping Ho.
² Imagery: Top row (L to R): Untitled by Gina Grice, “Dirty Ideas” by Shanna Beauchamp; Bottom Row (L to R): “Cooking Up Art” by Shanae Sharon, “Building Community: Love Surrounds You” by Ebony T. Perry-Retana, and Untitled by Bernadett Toth.