Lesson 1.2: What is your relationship with creativity? 

Maya had always been "the practical one." While others in her family pursued artistic paths, she chose accounting, dependable schedules, and a life that made logical sense. By forty-two, she had the career and carefully curated life she'd planned.

But lately, something felt off. A restlessness followed her through her days, and she found herself wandering through art supply stores without knowing why.

One Sunday while cleaning, Maya discovered a dusty box containing sketchbooks from high school. She sat on the floor, turning pages in disbelief. The person who created these wasn't a stranger – it was her, a version of herself she had somehow misplaced.

"I used to paint every day," she whispered. She remembered the peace she felt mixing colors, the way problems solved themselves when she wasn't looking directly at them.

At the bottom of the box was a note from her high school art teacher: "Maya, your work shows remarkable sensitivity. I hope you'll always make room for this gift, no matter what path you choose."

She hadn't made room. Somewhere between college and career, she had closed the door on that part of herself, convinced that creativity was an indulgence she couldn't afford.

That evening, Maya set up a small easel. As she picked up a brush for the first time in twenty years, something inside her shifted. It was like discovering a room in her house she had forgotten existed – dusty and neglected, but still hers. She began painting for thirty minutes each evening. She noticed she slept better. Solutions to work problems came more easily. She found herself seeing colors and patterns she had been blind to for years.

Maya started asking herself questions: When had she decided creativity wasn't for "serious people"? Why had she believed that story?

Six months later, Maya hadn't quit her job to become an artist – that wasn't the point. But her life had expanded.

"It's not about becoming an artist," she explained to a curious colleague. "It's about reconnecting with a way of seeing and being in the world that I had cut myself off from."

The colleague nodded. "I used to write poetry in college. I haven't thought about that in years."

Maya smiled. "Maybe it's time to ask yourself why."

Key Idea: Our relationship with creativity is shaped by messages we received throughout our lives, and many people unconsciously abandon creative practices due to beliefs about practicality, value, or identity. This relationship can be examined and transformed at any point in life.

Exercise: Look back on your life to this point- what are some creative moments? What discussions or opinions helped you determine your perception of creativity? Was creativity different than innovation? Please open the pdf below to help you create a Creative Identity Map.

Takeaway: Reconnecting with creativity doesn't require becoming "an artist" or making dramatic life changes - it's about reclaiming a natural way of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world that enhances all aspects of life, including problem-solving, wellbeing, and professional success.

Like Maya, many of us have complex relationships with creativity – influenced by messages we received growing up, practical concerns, and our evolving identity. By examining these relationships through the character sketch exercise that follows, you may discover forgotten rooms within yourself waiting to be reopened.