Trust the Process: How To Nurture Your Creativity So You Can Flourish
Photo Credit: Martin Adams
How to Nurture Your Creativity and Flourish
Fear Blocks Creativity
We’ve all been there. We sit down to begin a creative project, whether it’s writing, drawing, crafting, or starting that business idea that’s been whispering to us, and suddenly the fears rush in. “What if I get it wrong? What if people think it’s terrible? What if I embarrass myself?”
These fears are so common that they’re almost universal among creatives. We want our work to be “good”. We want assurances that our creative efforts will yield the desired results. But these very desires for certainty and perfection are exactly what keep us stuck.
Learning to Trust the Creative Process
I’ve spent years observing something profound about creativity: whether writing, drawing or creating something new, success always comes down to one essential element: trusting the process.
But what does it actually mean to “trust the process” when everything inside you is screaming for certainty and control?
The Compassion Focused Approach to Creativity
Trusting the creative process starts with building a loving relationship with yourself as a creative being. Rather than being about becoming a “better” artist or creator, it’s about nurturing your creative voice and learning to honour what you want to express.
Here are the key elements of this compassion-focused approach:
1. Embrace Playfulness Over Perfection
Your creativity flourishes when you give yourself permission to play. This means approaching your creative work with curiosity rather than criticism, gentleness rather than harshness. When you prioritise playfulness, you create space for unexpected discoveries and authentic expression.
2. Follow Your Inner Wisdom
A deeper part of you knows what you want to create, even when your mind fills you with thoughts of self-doubt. Learning to trust your inner wisdom means tuning into what genuinely excites and inspires you, rather than what you think others will like.
3. Define Success on Your Own Terms
Instead of focusing on external validation or “perfect” outcomes, it’s important to focus on the process. It’s about the joy you feel while creating, the growth you experience through the process, and the creative expression of your unique perspective. When you define success based on the process and on your own values, creativity becomes a practice of self-discovery.
Creating Space for Your Creativity to Flourish
Building a sustainable creative practice requires not only making time for your art but also creating the right internal conditions for creativity to thrive.
Start with self-compassion. Notice when your inner critic shows up and gently reassure that part of you. Instead of harsh self-judgment, offer yourself the same kindness you’d give a dear friend who was learning something new.
Cultivate gentleness in your creative routine. This might mean shorter, more frequent creative sessions rather than marathon efforts that leave you depleted. It could mean creating a peaceful workspace that feels nourishing rather than stressful.
Attend to your natural rhythms. Notice when your creative energy is at its highest and protect that time. Pay attention to the conditions that help you feel most open and inspired, so you can incorporate them into your practice when needed.
Reconnecting with Your Creative Self
Sometimes we lose touch with our creative selves, especially when life gets overwhelming or we’ve been focused on caring for others.
If you’re feeling drained and disconnected from your creative self, remember: creative expression is a human need. If you are human, you are creative. Tapping into your creativity is about remembering the parts of yourself that light you up and integrating them into your daily life in sustainable, nourishing ways.
The Courage to Begin Again
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of trusting the creative process is that it gives you permission to begin again, as many times as needed. Each creative project is an opportunity to practice expressing what’s true for you in this moment. This can mean letting go of attachment to specific outcomes or how you thought work would look, sound or feel.
When you approach creativity from this place of trust and self-compassion, something incredible happens. The pressure lifts. The joy returns. And you remember what drew you to create in the first place.
Your Invitation to Flourish
Consider this your invitation to trust your creative process. Whether you’re just beginning your creative journey or you’ve been creating for years, there’s always room to deepen your relationship with your creative voice.
Start small. Choose one creative act that brings you joy: writing in a journal, sketching, gardening, making music, dancing or cooking. Approach it with curiosity rather than expectation. Notice what happens when you create from a place of play and discovery rather than pressure.
Your creativity is an essential part of who you are. When you nurture it with the same care you’d give to any important relationship, it becomes a source of ongoing flourishing in your life.
Remember: the world needs what you have to create, because it will be authentically and uniquely yours.
Ready to explore more ways to flourish in your creativity and life?
Taking the Next Step
If this resonates with you and you're ready to explore deeper ways to nurture your creativity and build a more flourishing life, I'd love to support you on that journey. Sometimes we need a gentle guide to help us reconnect with our creative selves and develop sustainable practices that honour our authentic voice.
If you’re ready to begin and want to reconnect with sustainable, creative approaches to your work and life, explore my services here.
Does this post resonate with you? I'd love to hear from you. You can connect with me on Instagram @the_flourishing_space or LinkedIn.
