joy

Opening Access to Creativity

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Creativity and Parts Series, #3

There are so many potential blocks to our pathway towards creativity. Our inner critics take on a variety of roles, and as protective parts they are often trying to work to keep us safe from harm. Or from vulnerability. Our internal protectors don’t always know the difference.

Creativity requires vulnerability; vulnerability fuels creativity.

So when we have parts that directly criticize us, or indirectly engage in behaviors like procrastination, prioritizing other tasks, or somehow devaluing a creative endeavor, they are trying to keep us from myriad harms that can come with vulnerability. Being creative requires messiness, the potential of failure, being disliked by someone, being criticized by someone, and above all else, being seen in a genuine way. This is the thing that can be scary about therapy, too – and is also kind of the point: being seen.

“Being seen” is a big deal – especially if we’re talking about being seen at our core. In order to be seen at the core, we have to work at first seeing the parts of ourselves that are closest. Most of us don’t have a congenial relationship with our inner critics, but that’s actually a great place to start. We have to understand what they’re trying to do for us, what they’re scared of, and how we can care for them, in order for them to stop shouting at us. We can’t skip ahead or around – they’ll find a subversive way to stop us. But if we understand and care for the needs of the critic, or even find a way to use its skills in harmony with our goals, we can open up more access to the vulnerable process of creativity.

We don’t go around protective parts, or check them off a list and then move on. It’s through the relationship with parts that we experience opening. By seeing all parts of ourselves – protective layers, younger hurt parts, and even some playful and joyful young parts – we can open access to vulnerability, and to creativity.

What parts of yourself are hard to see? What parts feel easy to see and understand? When do you notice yourself feeling playful and allowing joy?

Why Do We Need Creativity?

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

(Creativity and Parts Series, #1)

We often think of creative pursuits as little luxuries or hobbies. Some people may consider them to be unnecessary, or child-like. But I believe creative pursuits are not a luxury so much as one of the most important things we can do, and an access point to joy.

By creative pursuits, I don’t mean necessarily big activities that require a lot of time or money or emotional investment. For some people, they may be. For some people, creative pursuits may even encompass their career or life’s work. But creativity is also sometimes how we get the toddler to put on their shoes (by pretending their toes are running away and we need to catch them, of course), or what we flavors we choose to cook with for dinner, or play with a pet. Creativity can be infused into daily life. When we’re paying attention, we may also notice where else we feel a pull towards play.

Creativity is also at the heart of a type of therapy for managing depression called Behavioral Activation therapy, which focuses on finding areas of enjoyment and meaningfulness and enhancing the activities that meet both criteria. Involvement in things that are enjoyable and meaningful is preventative against depression!

In Internal Family Systems therapy, when our busy protective parts give us space, we can access what’s called Self-energy. This may look like a self-critical voice quieting enough to allow ourselves to be creative. Self-energy often feels calm, confident, light, open, and… creative.

The upcoming series of posts focuses on the creative process, what parts can hinder it, and how to work with these parts in order to access more internal vulnerability and creativity.