Embracing Creativity for a Thriving Life
My Conversation with Dr. Hayley Quinn
Recently, I had the pleasure of appearing on Dr. Hayley Quinn's "Welcome to Self®" podcast to discuss something close to my heart: how embracing creativity can transform our lives.
Here are some of the key insights from our conversation.
"I'm Not Creative" - The Story We Tell Ourselves
How many times have you heard someone say, "Oh, I'm not creative at all"? Perhaps you've said it yourself.
The truth is: creativity isn't just about painting and drawing. It's everywhere - in how we solve problems, approach challenges at work, or even arrange a food platter. As helping professionals, we use creativity constantly when we think of new ways to support our clients, frame therapeutic interventions, or navigate complex situations.
Creativity as a Human Need
In our conversation, Dr. Quinn and I discussed something that's often overlooked: creativity is a fundamental human need. It's not frivolous or self-indulgent. It's essential for our wellbeing, but often neglected.
This is especially important for those of us in caring and leadership roles. We're so focused on meeting everyone else's needs that we often neglect our own. We've been socialised to be of service, to put others first, to feel guilty when we take time for ourselves.
But here's what I've learned: taking time for creative expression isn't selfish. It's necessary. When we honour this part of ourselves, we become more whole, more present, and ultimately better able to serve others.
Small Acts, Big Impact
You don't need to quit your job and become a full-time artist to benefit from creativity. Some of the most powerful creative practices are small and simple:
Doodling between meetings - Research shows this simple practice has significant benefits for wellbeing and can help prevent burnout
Choosing colours mindfully - Even colouring can be both creative and meditative
Appreciating others' art - Enjoying poetry, paintings, or music is also a form of creative engagement
Journaling and writing down ideas - I keep a notebook for lines that come to me unexpectedly. You never know when inspiration will strike.
The key is permitting yourself to engage with these practices for you, not to create something perfect or impressive, but because it feeds something essential in you.
Bringing Ourselves to Our Work
One of the deeper themes in our conversation was about bringing more of ourselves into our professional lives. For too long, I felt like I had to keep my psychology practice and my poetry completely separate. But why?
How do we honour our authentic selves while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries? This is a question worth exploring, whether you're a therapist, teacher, healthcare worker, or in any other helping or leadership role.
The Flourishing Space represents this integration - combining psychology, compassion, mindfulness, and creativity in ways that feel authentic and nourishing, both for me and for the people I work with.
The Flourishing Way: Reclaiming Your Creativity and Playfulness so you can flourish
This is exactly why I created The Flourishing Way, an 8-session program for people in helping and leadership roles who are ready to reclaim their creativity and reconnect with themselves. It's for those who've been caring for everyone else’s needs and are ready to remember that they matter too.
The program isn't about becoming a professional artist. It's about giving yourself permission to explore, to play, to express parts of yourself that may have been dormant for years.
Taking the First Step
If this resonates with you, if you've been telling yourself you're "not creative," or if you're ready to reclaim parts of yourself you've left untapped, I encourage you to start small:
Think back to what you enjoyed creating as a child
Try one small creative act this week - doodle, write a few lines, immerse yourself in an artwork that you love
Give yourself permission to be imperfect, to experiment, to play
Remember that this is for you, not for anyone else's approval or judgment
Listen to the Full Conversation
I'm so grateful to Dr. Hayley Quinn for this beautiful conversation and for creating a space where we could explore these important topics. If you'd like to hear our full discussion about creativity, compassion, and thriving, you can listen to the episode here:
Listen: "Embracing Creativity for a Thriving Life" on Welcome to Self®
What creative practice will you try this week? I'd love to hear about it. You can connect with me on Instagram @the_flourishing_space, or LinkedIn.
If you're interested in learning more about The Flourishing Way program, I'd love to share more about this transformative journey back to your creative, authentic self. Click the link below to learn more.
