The Importance of Artistic Expression

Have you ever told yourself you’re “not creative”? Or felt that artistic expression is something reserved for other people -musicians, painters, writers -but not for you?

If so, you’re not alone. Many adults carry the belief that creativity is a luxury, a talent you either have or don’t, or something that belongs to a different phase of life. But psychology, neuroscience and lived experience suggest something very different: artistic expression isn’t optional. It’s a deeply human need.

In our latest video, which you can find here, George explores why creativity matters, why so many of us disconnect from it as we grow older, and how reconnecting with artistic expression can improve wellbeing, self-understanding and emotional resilience.

Creativity isn’t about talent. It’s about being human

For most of human history, creativity wasn’t something you “identified with.” It was simply how people made sense of the world, through music, stories, images, rhythm and movement. Artistic expression helped us process emotions, share meaning and connect with one another long before we had formal education or professional artists.

Somewhere along the way, creativity became something to be judged, graded and compared. At school, many of us learned that art could be “done wrong,” that only certain people were good at it, and that expression needed to be impressive to be valid. Over time, that belief quietly pushed a lot of people away from their creative instincts.

But creativity isn’t about producing something beautiful or impressive. It’s about expressing something true.

Why adults lose their creative confidence

Most adults can remember a time when creativity felt natural. What changed wasn’t the ability, it was the fear. Fear of being judged. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of wasting time on something “unproductive.”

Psychologically, this makes sense. As we grow older, we become more self-conscious and more concerned with outcomes. We start filtering our actions through expectations, our own and other people’s. Creativity, however, thrives on play, uncertainty and imperfection. When perfectionism takes over, expression shuts down.

Research consistently shows that perfectionism doesn’t improve performance or fulfilment. Instead, it increases anxiety, avoidance and self-criticism. In creativity, waiting until you feel “good enough” often means never starting at all.

Creativity as emotional processing

One of the most overlooked benefits of artistic expression is its role in emotional regulation. Creative acts give the mind space to breathe. Writing can help organise thoughts and feelings. Music can regulate the nervous system. Movement and visual expression can release emotions that are hard to put into words. This is why creative approaches are often used therapeutically. Artistic expression allows us to process experience indirectly, safely and honestly, without needing everything to be logical or articulate. It’s not an escape from reality, it’s a way of making sense of it.

Comparison is creativity’s biggest enemy

In a world of constant comparison, creativity can feel especially vulnerable. Social media shows us polished outcomes, never the messy process behind them. We compare our beginnings to other people’s finished work and conclude that we don’t belong. This problem is amplified by AI-generated art, which appears flawless, instant and endlessly productive. But perfection isn’t what makes art meaningful. What resonates in human-made art is imperfection, context, struggle and emotional truth. Art matters because it carries lived experience, something that can’t be replicated by machines.

Creativity isn’t about competing. It’s about connecting, to yourself and, sometimes, to others.

Practical ways to reconnect with creativity

You don’t need hours of free time, expensive equipment or public validation to be creative. Small, consistent acts matter far more than intensity.

• Start small and private. Write one page without editing. Sketch without erasing. Play music without recording it.

• Remove the outcome. Focus on the process, not whether it’s “good.” Creativity grows through doing, not judging.

• Use creativity instead of scrolling. Even ten minutes of intentional expression can be more regulating than passive consumption.

• Don’t share unless you want to. Creativity doesn’t require an audience. Some of the most meaningful expression is just for you.

  
  

Creativity is about honesty, not quality

Artistic expression isn’t about talent, productivity or perfection. It’s about honesty. About giving yourself permission to explore, experiment and express without needing approval. When we reconnect with creativity, we often reconnect with parts of ourselves we’ve neglected, like curiosity, playfulness, emotional depth and self-trust. Over time, this can strengthen identity, resilience and confidence in ways that extend far beyond art itself.

Creativity isn’t something you have to earn. It’s something you return to.

So here’s a question worth sitting with: If there were no pressure, no audience and no expectation to be good, how would you express yourself creatively?

Sometimes, the most important step isn’t knowing the answer. It’s simply allowing yourself to begin.