Why is expressing our creativity so difficult?
Just about every time I want to express myself creatively, my inner voices come out screaming at me why I can’t do whatever it is I’ve had an idea to do. I start off by thinking of some “great idea,” usually it has to do with writing on a certain topic that I feel strongly about, but then I start comparing myself to other writers, reading every column I come across and slowly getting the idea I don’t have what it takes to write. Oh well, that wasn’t such a good idea after all. Then there is the “pressure” of submitting an article, which I’ve never really done before except on here. And I’m suddenly writing so someone, anyone, will think I can write a good article. Now it’s not me writing but what my expectations of others expectations are. Might as well give that up—I can’t write like Anne Tyler, Jodi Picoult, or Erma Bombeck. It never occurs to me that they were authentically expressing themselves, not doing what they thought others would like. That’s why they’re so good! To me!
Art, whether it be writing, painting, photography, is always in the eye of the beholder. My idea of a great author is another person’s reason not to read! Art and creativity to me are synonymous, it doesn’t matter the medium, as long as it speaks to me directly! I’ve submitted one other article besides this and one person, ONE! Liked my story! Awesome!! At least one person thought it was good enough! Maybe they could relate to it, maybe their life was in the same place mine is! Awesome! Isn’t that what expressing ourselves is all about? Not everyone is going to agree with me because they don’t see things the way I see them, yet, or maybe never. That’s okay! My life is nothing special; I’m not on the road to curing cancer or eradicating poverty, but someone, one person, has decided they liked what I had to say! Wow! I made a connection with someone else! Isn’t that what we all want? To be linked with others in a way that we can relate to? That speaks to us directly?
I’m tired of stifling my creativity, no matter how unpolished it is, because I don’t feel I “measure up” to others. But then again, isn’t that my own personal misgiving? Something I can overcome when I put myself out there by expressing myself creatively? Hmmm, worth a try, don’t you think?
