Creativity May Be The Most Powerful Health Tool You Already Have

We are all inherently creative.

Yes, really.

The cultural acceptance of creativity is changing rapidly, and your mental health might be the biggest beneficiary. Historically, creativity has been viewed through a narrow lens, one reserved for those producing something deemed traditionally artistic. But creativity isn't just for artists, and it might be exactly what your health needs.

It's quite common to hear someone say, “They are so creative," but quite uncommon to hear the opposite. How often have you heard a person described as “not creative?” Perhaps uninspired, unimaginative, or uninventive, but uncreative doesn't circulate. Because while art is in the eye of the beholder, creativity isn't.

Did you know that all humans are inherently creative? Our high-level cognitive abilities, the very thing that sets us apart from every other mammal on Earth, are at their core, creative. Now more than ever, we're seeing how creativity lives in our everyday thoughts, actions, and intentions.

So how does creativity connect to your mental health? More directly than you might think.

The power of positivity and taking control of our internal narratives is not just a current trend; it's moving to the forefront of many fields of medicine, and for good reason. Neuroscientist and Stanford professor James Gross, widely regarded as the father of emotional regulation, has transformed our understanding of psychological well-being through his “Theory of Emotional Regulation” and the concept of reframing negative emotions.

We can simplify his process into two parts. First, acknowledge an unproductive or unhealthy response. Then, reframe that response toward a more positive or healthy perspective. When put into practice, the first part requires self-awareness, while the second calls for creativity.

So where does this reframing actually come from? It lives at the intersection of two very powerful ways of thinking: critical and creative. Critical thinking evaluates and analyzes information, assessing its validity and soundness. Creative thinking generates new ideas and solutions, breaking away from conventional patterns to produce something original. The two are complementary, the yin to the other's yang, and practicing both can greatly affect how we think, feel, and move through the world. 

And the research backs this up. 

A 2023 randomized controlled trial published in BMC Complementary Medicine found that mind-body and art therapies showed real benefits for chronically ill patients' ability to emotionally regulate. And at the heart of their regulation? Creative and critical thinking. It also confirmed what many of us intuitively know: effective emotional regulation isn't just good for your mind. It can directly impact health outcomes too.

Now, let's put this into practice. How can you think more creatively to help regulate your emotional state?

Here are four ways: 

First, accept that you are more creative than you think. This isn't a platitude; it's a biological reality. We are, in large part, what we believe ourselves to be. If you have spent years convinced that you don't have a creative bone in your body, that belief has likely become a ceiling, one that limits what you allow yourself to try, explore, or express. And that is a disservice to yourself.

Creativity is not a gift handed to a select few. It is a capacity, and like any capacity, it expands when you open your mind to it. So start there. Challenge the story you have been telling yourself. Believe that you can be and do more than your self-imposed limits suggest. Give yourself permission to be a beginner.

Second, do something new and different to flex those creative muscles. Here, "doing" doesn't have to mean making something. This can include opening up to new thinking patterns, stepping outside your proverbial box to expand your perspective, or reframing negative experiences into positive ones.

As a "lifelong creative maker of too many things," I have to add: it never hurts to pick up a hobby where you exercise your creativity in some form. And the options are wider than you might think. Art therapy, dance therapy, and equine therapy are all clinically recognized creative outlets with real mental health benefits. But you don't need a therapist's office to access them. Draw, write, paint, read, dance, sing, whatever. Even for those dead set on believing they can do none of the above, try them anyway.

As an artist, a great way to engage my creative brain is to draw with my non-dominant hand. It forces the energy out without trying to control how it looks. No judgment, no perfectionism, just expression. These actions reconnect us to our younger selves, who had unlimited access to their creative wells. Let go, release your inhibitions, and watch what happens.

Third, be curious about the hows, whys, and what-ifs. Creativity is fueled by curiosity, and vice versa. Ask questions, push deeper, and resist the pull toward worst-case thinking. In times of poor health, it's easy to hang around the negative end of the spectrum, but consider the other end of that spectrum: the positive one. Dive deep into the rabbit hole of best-case scenarios; you might be surprised what goals and dreams surface.

And lastly, stay consistent. Consistency isn't just motivational advice; it's biological. The brain's capacity for neuroplasticity means that every creative thought or action you repeat is literally forging new neural pathways. Did you know the brain can form new neural connections, rewire existing ones, and even reassign functions from damaged areas to healthier ones? And while our brains are incredibly resilient, they're also masters of efficiency, defaulting to well-worn pathways when there aren't other viable options. To forge new ones, you have to get out there and make them, one creative thought or action at a time. 

The path to better mental health might be just one creative thought away. The only thing left to do is start.