Healing takes many forms. For some, it’s found in conversation; for others, it’s in solitude. For me, writing has always been the steady hand that guides me through the chaos. But over time, I’ve learned that healing isn’t limited to words. Creativity, in all its forms, has the power to mend what feels broken.
There’s something transformative about creating. It’s not just the act of making something new—it’s the process of pouring yourself into something that exists outside of you. Whether it’s painting, sculpting, cooking, or playing music, creative expression becomes a mirror, reflecting who we are and how we feel in ways words sometimes cannot.
When I began exploring creative outlets beyond writing, I felt unsure—almost unworthy of calling myself “creative” outside of my poetry. I didn’t see myself as an artist, a musician, or anything remotely close. But creativity doesn’t demand perfection; it only asks for presence. So, I began small: sketching simple lines, humming tunes that came to me in quiet moments, even arranging objects on my desk in ways that felt intentional. Each act, though small, brought me closer to myself.
One evening, I found myself lost in the rhythm of painting. The brush in my hand moved almost instinctively, translating emotions I couldn’t name into strokes of color. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t a painter; what mattered was the release, the way it felt like I was untangling something knotted deep within me. When I stepped back to look at what I had created, I didn’t see a masterpiece—but I saw myself. And that was enough. † My original painting pictured above †
Creative expression isn’t about skill; it’s about connection. It’s a dialogue between you and your inner world, a way of saying, “I see you. I hear you.” And in that conversation, healing begins.
If you’re hesitant to explore creative outlets, start where you are. Pick up a pencil, a spatula, or an instrument. Don’t worry about the outcome—focus on the process. Let it be messy, raw, and imperfect. Let it be yours.
Healing doesn’t come all at once, and it rarely looks like we expect. But through creativity, we find pieces of ourselves we didn’t know were missing. We discover that in the act of creating, we are also recreating—building something beautiful from the fragments of what we thought was lost.