The Joy of Creating, For You...
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton
This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
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Welcome back to another Slow Sunday Letter! I hope you have had a slow and gentle week.
A warm welcome to all my readers and subscribers to Generosity of Spirit and thank you to my paid members of Slow & Steady, I appreciate your company so much. I hope you are enjoying these letters and the invitation to slow down, and live gently.
In this month’s A Writer’s Life, I want to explore the joy and value of creating for yourself. For those of us who share our work with the world, or who often slip into the grip of perfectionism, or the pressure to create for purpose or a specific outcome - making something just for the pure sake of it can feel unfamiliar, unproductive and even difficult.
But there is something deeply nourishing about creating simply for the pleasure of it -for no audience, no end goal, just the delight of connecting with that most intuitive, creative part of ourselves.
This letter is a gentle reminder: you are free to create anything you wish, whenever you wish. And that creation can be just for you.
So, grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s explore more together …
The Joy of Creating - For You …
When we create just for ourselves, we are free to create more honestly, to have fun with it, and tap into our inner child. There is no one to impress, no image to uphold, no need to explain, no need for perfection. It is a safe place, to explore and create. A place of your own design, to connect with a free, curious and adventurous part of yourself.
‘You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.’ - Maya Angelou
Sometimes, the most meaningful art comes from that place within and perhaps was only ever meant for you. Opening up that part of yourself, and allowing it to create with you is a gift.
I try to incorporate a regular practice that is just for me. I see my morning pages as part of this, I journal regularly, have started to try creative writing, I have started a junk journal this year and while I am not an artist, I have worked hard at not letting this stop me. I have my ‘arts and play’ box and it's full of paper, card, stickers, paint, colouring pencils, pens, stencils, colouring projects and so much more. I love this little box and every time I open it, I feel my inner child getting excited and ready to play. I can feel her joy, and I'm right there with her.
(
journals featured - they are beautiful - go explore! )I also have my crafting box which is full of wool, knitting needles, patterns, crochet projects and more. This box doesn't get opened quite as much, but every now and then I open it up and explore. I am such a beginner, and beyond a few baby blankets and copious scarves (oh and a bobble hat!), I've not moved my learning on much beyond that. But that's okay. I love knitting, and there is no hurry to get better and start learning more right now (if at all!). I can enjoy where I am.
When I look back I can see the times I have let my creativity play are the times I felt more in-tune and more at peace. Creating for fun, and allowing myself the freedom to create not for an audience, but just for me. It's uplifting and it feels my creative cup right up.
In whatever form you create your art, I want to encourage you to release expectation…from others and from yourself. To be free of perfectionism, performance, assessment, it taps into the purest and most wonderful reason to create - to spark joy within us.
I love the invitation to slow down, notice what is going on inside of yourself, and listen to what you need. To give the wheel over to the creative side of your brain, and produce something, anything at all, that comforts and is fun!
Too often we can get stuck under the weight of expectation, in a world that focuses on external validation. When it comes to our art, it feels there must always be a point, a purpose, it must be part of a bigger picture. But, I want to encourage you to make sure you are regularly creating purely for yourself, that you let yourself play. To turn inward feels like a quiet act of rebellion. So let's be mighty creative rebels!
‘Creativity is intelligence having fun.’ – Albert Einstein
Our creativity is something we have to nurture, talk with, and allow it to be messy, imperfect, curious, full of wonder and emotions. Sometimes, the best way to just let yourself flow, and be free to wander and explore is to release the need for purpose, for value - just create because it feels good, and it matters to you.
I love that creating is one of our most powerful ways to truly connect with ourselves. Connecting our memories, our emotions, our inner child, our past, present and wishes for the future come together and pour out of us in whatever channel we choose. It is like a conversation, a heart to heart with yourself, and if you regularly make time to sit down, to talk and listen to yourself like this, you will begin to understand yourself on a deeper level.
In whatever form you choose to create, you will create an energy, a space and an outlet - safe, fun, free and honest.
Journal Prompts : Creating Simply for Yourself
These journal prompts can be explored slowly, I hope they serve to make you think twice about your creative practice, and if you may need to inject some more freedom and fun into your process as a gift to yourself…
What would I create if no one else ever had to see it?
When was the last time I created just for fun? What did it feel like?
What forms of creativity bring me the most joy, regardless of the result?
If I were to make something today only for myself, what might it be?
What stories have I been told about what “counts” as worthwhile creativity?
What does “creating without a goal” mean to me? What would that look like?
How do I feel when I give myself permission to make a mess or be imperfect in my creative life?
Write a love letter to your creative self—the one who plays, explores, and dreams without rules.
What would I say to a younger version of myself who loved to make things?
How can I gently invite more spontaneous, joyful creativity into my everyday life?
Journaling Challenge
A Week of Writing for You
Follow the prompts below for the entire week, or just a few days. If you don’t normally journal, try using these to explore yourself on the page. You don’t always have to write, you could take photos, create mood boards, draw pictures - anything that expresses your creativity. The point is creating just for you, and seeing how that serves you.
Day 1: Write a letter to yourself.
Write as if you’re writing to a close friend. What do you need to hear today?
Day 2: List three small things that made you smile today.
They can be little things - a good cup of tea, a smile exchanged with a stranger, wearing your favourite jumper…
Day 3: Finish this sentence: “If I could create anything today, I would …”
Ignore practicalities, just let yourself dream…
Day 4: Free-write for 10 minutes with no filter, no structure, no judgment.
Keep writing, don’t worry about spelling, structure or even form, just follow where it leads…
Day 5: Describe your dream creative day …
From morning to evening, describe what would make a perfect creative day for yourself…
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I hope this week’s Slow Sunday Letter leaves you feeling empowered and excited to create simply for yourself - whether that’s through writing, art, journaling, crafting, puzzling, building LEGO or any hobby that brings you joy.
When you connect with your inner artist, you awaken so many parts of yourself. It is a beautiful weaving together of your inner child, your skills, your memories, your imagination. Your mind becomes alive with creativity, your emotions find a space to be expressed, and your whole being- mind, body, and spirit is invited into the process.
Creating for yourself is a gift. It’s a space to play, explore, and let your creative spirit lead without needing a purpose or destination. Your creations don’t need to be part of a larger project or to be ‘useful’. They can exist simply because they bring you joy -because they help you feel more like you.
May you find a little time this week to create something that’s just for you, and have fun with it!
I would really love to know your thoughts, and when the last time you created something just for your own pure enjoyment was? If you feel able, please do share in the comments.
Thank you for being here,
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This is such an encouraging post Emily. I think many of us need a reminder that creating art doesn’t necessarily need to lead to something.
I remember someone making the observation that when children build sandcastles on the beach, they become totally immersed in the joy of creating, even though it will be either washed away by the sea at the end of the day or jumped on!
Thank you for reminding us of the sheer pleasure of simply immersing ourselves in something that we love to do.
Oh goodness Emiliy! I don’t think I’ve ever created for fun. I think there has always been a purpose behind what I do. That means that there is judgement somewhere from someone even if it’s just me. I don’t think I would know where to start to do something just for me. Any ideas?