The Creative Process sets you Free

A breakdown because I need it desperately

As someone addicted to using their phone, and a creative person, I have been worrying over my habits and finding how to get my creative spark back through methods and avoiding scrolling. While this has all been extremely helpful, I don’t want to write about how my creativity has been sapped, and instead, reconnect with what it feels like to enjoy creative practice again.

Let’s just talk about the nature of creativity, and let’s just imagine that, for now, we don’t have a problem with finding it.

First of all, there is a spark, some sort of ignition: an image, a question, a sound; anything at all, that is “intriguing” - something that makes you want to stop and say…

“wait a minute, what is that? Let’s examine this closer.”

Or maybe it’s something more soft or ephemeral, like a feeling or a smell; something that takes you out of your current place and time and reminds you of something, or makes you imagine somewhere else you wish to be.

Yes, this is nothing more than inspiration. But a lot of the time, this is the igniting point from where you can begin.

And then, all that needs to come next is the question, “What if?”

Then, there are no holds barred. What if that smell came from an animal and not a place or person? What if that feeling could transport you to another place and time, physically, instead of mentally or emotionally?

What if one day, while on your morning commute, you discovered you had superpowers? What would fundamentally change about how your day plays out?

That’s really all it takes.

But we are all so focused on results: what does this idea give me? Will anyone else like this idea? Can I make this into a YouTube Short or a Reel? What if this idea already exists and I just didn’t know about it? Why bother going through the trouble of making something with this idea if it already exists and no one will see it or pay for it?

Social media and the pressure to perform for capitalism has normalized this idea more than it should. I am exhausted from this way of thinking, even if my livelihood might depend on it.

No, creativity really is very simple. We just tend to over-complicate everything when we are so worried about how something will be received.

Instead, I say creativity really is just mental indulgence. And if you, like me, are of the working class or poor, we are trained to avoid indulgence when it comes to making our impact - whether that’s for financial gain or social networking - because we have too much riding on each decision, our jobs, our homes, our lives.

We are trained more often to be practical and reasonable, and abstain from indulgent behavior. Well, not all of us, but too many of us are forced down this path against our wills (women and/or people of color).

This, for better or worse, was drilled into me as a kid. That you work hard, get everything done, and play later. That was before my ADHD diagnosis was discovered.

Now I am seeing that play should be ever-present. A constant in my life. Yes, life can be practical, logical, and serious in some cases, some of the time. But every moment of every day cannot be too serious

I am making an effort to engage in more indulgent behavior and thinking. I want to allow myself room to breathe and imagine - even while on the clock (don’t tell my bosses).

Because if all creativity takes is a little spark and what if, then there can be plenty of space for that whenever that is most needed. And if you don’t have ADHD, have fun doing that on a logical rhythm with all that ability to plan, prioritize, and remember things well. I for one, will need to be writing all this down the moment I physically can or it’ll leave me - object permanence and all that jazz.

Creativity should be rightly thought of as indulgence, but an indulgence no one should be shamed or disciplined out of partaking in. We should relish our indulgence in creativity. It reminds us that we are humans with souls and minds that are capable of so much more than what is expected of us.

Also, since it is an indulgence, why oh why would we waste away all that creative drive and power for the benefit of the corporations? Why, tell me, should our God-given ability and right to indulge in creative thinking and play be outsourced to the ends of making rich people even richer?

Almost as if creativity is actually very lucrative with the right conditions.

First and foremost, your creativity is for you. You get the reward since you do the work. If you even want to think about it that way, and if you are anything like me, a writer on the internet in 2026, it makes sense that you might.

Now, creativity is the force that drives, the energetic push and pull to make things. But, it does not equate to craft. That is something else. But in my opinion, that can be just as intuitive:

1. Inspiration sparks idea.

2. You start asking “what if…?”

Ask yourself a follow-up question

3. Ask “What form do I want this to take?”

Appeal to the senses. What senses does this idea tickle? Is this a visual idea? - something people should be able to see in space or on a screen? Should it be heard? - are the most important aspects of this idea audio-forward? Could this be something someone can experience on a page? Is is colorful, or is it monochrome? Can it move or is it still? Is there any blending of the senses that would benefit this idea the best?

Name the senses that are the most compelled by the idea. Once you have that… you can begin creating the thing.

It might take a little bit of skill to learn the medium to bring your idea to life, and you might even end up having to share the idea with others before it’s made so they can assist you or collaborate with their own talents. But, before you do that - give yourself permission to take a stab at the medium without being good at it - make a shitty version all by yourself. Then, try again.

Rinse and repeat until it’s in a form that others can experience. Unless you don’t care much about its quality, don’t share it widely; show a few trusted people first.

Take some feedback, negative along with positive, and only hold on to the points that help enhance your idea and make it more enjoyable and interesting (for you).

Again, rinse and repeat. Process gives birth to result.

Why is this considered frivolous if not to distract from the beauty and power of such an innately human experience?

We are always seeing products, buying merchandise, watching, reading and listening to online showcases - rarely do we see or experience the process of making those results.

To me, this is a big reason why creativity is not as fun or easy as it once was. It isn’t about the process anymore, because we are far too involved only with the idea of the end result.

These things don’t just appear out of thin air. No matter what, it takes something to make something. Even if the speed and quality seem miraculous, it always took something from something else to become itself.

And that is the process, the alchemy of being a creative. It is a force for human life and expansion, a normal and rightful indulgence, and it takes energy as it gives.

Preserve some energy today to imagine being creative. Indulge in the fantasy and see how it feeds back into you.

It isn’t complicated. Stop over-complicating it by making it a chore.

Play.

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