Making Space for Meaning: Why Creative Work is More Than Just Output

My creative process changes depending on how much energy I have on any given day. On low-energy days, I lean into tasks that feel softer — playing with new materials, experimenting without pressure, or simply making marks for the sake of it. This kind of creating matters just as much to me. It supports my mental wellbeing, and sometimes even sparks ideas for future projects.

When I became too chronically ill to do the things I once loved, art became a way to process that loss. Creating something beautiful out of a difficult situation felt powerful. In a time when I had very little control, making art helped me reclaim a small part of it.

I also discovered neurography — a method of scribbling emotions onto the page and then softening the sharp edges. I found it especially helpful during a period of deep grief, when I couldn’t physically be with a loved one who was dying. Letting my emotions flow onto the paper gave me a space to be present with what I was feeling, without needing to explain it.

For a long time, I felt pressure to always be “producing” something. I still feel that pull occasionally, but now I try to return to the process. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t only about outcomes — it’s also a way to feel grounded, to self-soothe, and to express something when words fall short. The process itself can be the most healing part.

Over to you:

How do you make space for creativity in your life right now — and what would you change if you could?