Creativity has surrounded me in many forms throughout my life. My mom sewed a lot of our clothes growing up, made outfits for our dolls, cultivated large gardens for food, and even developed curriculum for our homeschool. My dad fixed everything in our house from broken dishes to cars, with a garage full of odds and ends that could be repurposed whenever a fix-it solution was needed. My sister danced, and my brother has been in several bands. An eye for fashion has been passed down through several generations, and my great-grandfather’s art is hanging in my home. For me, creativity was almost inevitable.

But as I have explored my own creative interests, I started to realize that not everyone sees themselves this way. More often than not, I hear people lament their “lack of creativity.” This always confuses me—because in my mind, we are all inherently creative. It is a great injustice that creativity has been made to feel intimidating and out of reach for so many. In part, our definition of creativity has been too narrow. Maybe creativity isn’t just about painting or sewing or decorating a room, etc.

Having spent my life exploring my own creativity, I’ve pondered this question with curiosity. One of the defining traits that sets us apart as humans is our brain’s ability to innovate. This problem-solving capacity is creativity! A brief look at human history shows countless ways we've used creative thinking to shape the world: from cave people developing basic tools and discovering fire. Even the wheeel had be invented by some curious person. We established agriculture, explored new continents and figured out how to exist there. Two brothers who specialized in repairing bicycles even figured out how we could fly. All of this came from creative thinking—asking questions, trying new things, failing, learning, and eventually discovering something new.

We engage in this kind of thinking every day. Maybe we’re not inventing the next exciting gadget, but every time we solve a problem or adjust our perspective, we are using our creative brains.

My own experience of creativity shows up in many ways. From designing upcycled garments to figuring out how to sustain homeschooling my kids while meeting our financial needs. There is nothing like the natural high I feel when the creativity starts flowing and I'm carried away by an idea and the pieces start coming together. It is truely the most theraputic experience to sink deep into this flow. Everything around me softens. The chaos in my brain settles as it focuses on the meditative process of play, discovery and resolution. Watching something come together into existence that I dreamed up in my mind soothes my need for prupose and progress. Sometimes I get so lost in this space that I forget to come up for air. In a flow, I will forget to eat or go to sleep, deep in a world that feels exciting and calm all at once in a way I can't access outside of a really good project. It feeds my soul in the most refreshing and full way.

And this experience? It’s not an accident. While our paths to accessing it may differ, we all can access it. Our brains thrive on challenge, and digging into a creative endeavor—no matter how small—stretches our perceptions and invites us to imagine new possibilities. The dopamine boost we get from creating or discovering something new is also a nice bonus.

Like any skill, creativity needs practice. First, we need to accept that we are all creative, and there’s no single way for that creativity to express itself. If you feel stuck, even just watching someone else engage in a creative activity can spark your own imagination. Some of my best shop ideas came from witnessing another artist’s process.

When we practice creativity—especially from a young age—we train our minds to meet life’s challenges with curiosity and innovation. And the more we apply those skills in our communities, the more we all thrive. Ultimately, creativity is the key to freedom: the freedom to make choices, imagine change, and evolve. Practicing creativity makes us unstoppable. Because when we question how things are and reimagine how they could be, we resist a system that demands we mindlessly consume and dissociate.

Creativity isn’t just a cute hobby—it’s rebellion.

So, what does this tell me about creativity? In my opinion, creativity is a badass. It’s therapy, it’s an antidepressant, and it’s resistance all wrapped up in one neat, powerful package.

Next time you doubt your creativity, remind yourself: your expression doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Find a problem or idea that excites you—and play. No creative expression is perfect. That’s what makes each one of us uniquely beautiful.

Need some simple ways to exercise your creativity muscle? Try these:

• Go outside: Take a walk or just sit and observe. Experiencing nature stimulates creativity.

• Free draw: No expectations—just put pencil to paper and let your hand move however it wants.

• Free write: Don’t set a goal. Just write whatever comes to mind—even if it’s “I don’t know what to write.” Start there.

• Write down your ideas: Get them out of your head. Look at them. Which ones feel exciting? What would a first step look like?

• Dance: Move your body freely to music you love. It can shift your energy and spark inspiration.