Developing your creative identity

If you’re a creative person, it’s important to embrace your creative identity. This can be difficult in our society where creativity is often seen as a hobby, self-indulgence, or non-productive trait. But the truth is that being creative is an essential part of who we are and what we do. It makes us human.

What stops you from boldly proclaiming, “I am a writer,” or “I am an artist” with the same confidence you’d list off your day job? 

(Probably capitalism). 

No matter what my life looks like — career wise, money wise, social life wise, health wise — I always find comfort in writing. Journaling each morning helps me feel connected to my thoughts and creativity. When I miss a few days (or weeks) of journaling, it always feels like reconnecting with an old friend as I lt the words cascade in loopy handwriting over the pages, making them crispy and curved with the pressure of the ink.

Writing blogs helps me get back to the roots of my writing past. I’ve been blogging on this site for ten years (OMG) and a blog is how my book started its journey to publication. Speaking of books, I’m about to release a poetry book and I’m working on a sci-fi novel trilogy, which has been incredibly fulfilling and amazes me every time I work on them. 

I’ve already written one, I’m not sure why it’s such a surprise when I can do it again. (Probably capitalism). 

I am a writer. 

I’m a journalist, a marketer, an author, a poet, a blogger. A writer. 

I love writing. I think I could get by without a lot of what makes me me. But I couldn’t give up writing. Not for a billion dollars, not for a pile of puppies that never, ever poop or bark. Because I am a writer.

Are you a writer? A painter? A speaker? A sculptor? With the advice in this blog, I hope to help you embrace your creative identity too and shout it out loud as often as possible. Let’s dig in.

1: Understand Your Creative Identity

First and foremost, you have to understand who you are as a creative person. What do you love most about writing, painting, singing? What makes you excited and motivated to pursue your passion and art? These are all important questions to answer when it comes to embracing your creative identity.

Your creative personality is unique and wonderful. Yes, there are other creatives out there, but no two are the same! You don’t need to be just like anyone else, nor do you need to be completely and utterly unique. These are two sides of self-sabotaging thoughts that will stop you from embracing who you are as a creative.

2: Be Yourself

When you create, don’t worry about pleasing others. Write, paint, create for yourself. If someone likes what you’ve created, great! But your creative dream isn’t about getting validation from others; it’s about expressing yourself through your particular art form. So go ahead and explore your creative side without worrying about what other people think. Notice the thoughts that pop up and cause you to compare, contrast, and think you’re not good enough.

These negative thoughts will keep you from embracing your creative identity.

There will be times when the creative process is frustrating and difficult. When that happens, let go. Don’t try to force or control the outcome of your work. Allow yourself to make mistakes, and learn from them. Don’t beat yourself up over every imperfection – it’s part of the learning process as you embrace your own creative identity just as you are.

3: Define What Creativity Means to You

There’s no one right way to be a creative, and that’s okay. What matters is what you bring to the table when you create. For some people, creativity is about coming up with new ideas. For others, it might be about expressing themselves through their artwork. And for still others, creativity might involve creating something from nothing – anything that can be turned into art.

The important thing is that you define what creativity means to you and stick to it. If you find yourself struggling to embrace your creative identity, take some time to reflect on what it is that makes you creative in the first place. Once you’ve figured that out, keep striving towards authenticity and defining what creativity means to YOU specifically.

4: Believe in Your Creative Spirit

Creativity is about putting your heart and soul into your work. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s going to be pretty hard to make any creative progress. So find a place in your heart where creativity lives, and hang on to it tight. When you start creating, let go of any reservations or self-doubt and just go for it. The results will speak for themselves.

To get in touch with your inner creative, practice the intuition exercises mentioned in the How to Hear Your Inner Voice blog and/or podcast episode. You can also find intuitive exercises in my free eBook and try a few out at your own pace. 

5: Embrace Your Unique Style

No two creatives are the same, and that’s a good thing! Embrace your unique style and don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, that’s what makes creativity so fun. If you’re not sure where to start, take some time to look through your favorite creative pieces and see what makes them stand out. Then start experimenting with different styles and techniques until you find something that feels genuine and true to you.

It’s okay to be inspired by other creatives you admire and put your own twist on the medium. Many of your favorite writers, musicians, and artists may even teach their methods or techniques in an online course or have a book you can read. Check out their social media and websites to see if they offer anything to help you hone your own sense of style.

When you’re ready, take actions towards achieving your creative dreams. Start painting, writing, singing – whatever it is you want to do with your art. It might seem scary at first, but once you start taking action, it gets easier and more exciting. Surround yourself with people who support your creative pursuits and help you achieve your goals. And most importantly, have FUN and don’t be afraid to be your wacky weird authentic self — your true fans will be there through it all (your number one fan being YOURSELF).

6: Find Inspiration Wherever You Can

No one has exactly the same creative identity. What inspires you may be different from what inspires someone else. So don’t be discouraged if you can’t find a style or technique that suits you perfectly right away. In fact, embracing your creative identity means finding inspiration from all sorts of places.

Look at things around you and see how they can be used to create art. Pay attention to the colors, shapes, and textures in everyday life. Listen to music, watch movies, or read books – anything that strikes your fancy. And of course don’t forget the internet! There are plenty of resources available to help you find inspiration no matter where you are in your journey as a creatively minded person.

The best way to learn and grow as a creative is by surrounded yourself with other creatives. Find artist friends, music lovers, bookworms, etc., and get together for mutual support and encouragement. Share your work with them and get feedback that will help you move forward in your creativity. There’s nothing like sharing your passion with other people who understand it – it will make the process easier and more exciting.

7: Develop Your Skills and Talents to Reach Your Goals

One of the key things that helps you embrace your creative identity is setting goals for yourself. Without goals, it’s easy to get bogged down by the challenges of creating – but once you have a goal in mind, all the other pieces start falling into place. In fact, if you’re not keeping up with your goals, you might actually be hindering your creativity instead of helping it along.

So set some lofty goals for yourself and stay focused on them throughout the entire process – whether you’re working on a new piece of artwork, writing a new story or developing a new business plan. Without goals, we might as well give up on our dreams altogether.

If you’re looking for an absolutely rocking container to develop the skills you need to reach these goals, the 90 Day Goal Glow Up is opening for its fall cohort in September. Snag a spot now! 

Conclusion

By embracing your creative identity, you’ll not only feel more confident but you’ll also be able to tap into your full potential as a creative person. When you start embracing your creative identity and practicing the tips outlined in this article, success will follow suit. So keep working hard and celebrating your successes along the way!

Don’t miss a dose of inspiration

My email list is the place to be to get creative inspiration every week. Let’s be honest: I have ADHD and I don’t always blog on a schedule. I blog when my heart says to blog. But I am very committed to my email list. It’s a little love note from me to you every Monday, plus more if the spirit moves me. Perfect for creatives of all kinds! Join the party.