What If You Stopped Trying to ‘Prove’ Your Creativity?

You made a thing. You feel good about the thing. You put the thing into the world and the response you desired to get from it is… less than encouraging.* You feel despondent. You feel unworthy. You feel like the hours you put into this thing were wasted. 

Guess what?

They weren’t wasted. Creativity and creative expression are not reflective of your value nor worth. And other people’s opinions on your creative pursuits are in no way indicators of your skill, effort, or personality (even when it feels like it).

We have reached an era where the external push to make things is almost superfluous to the push to share things. This publicizing of our lives, our individual selves, exposes us to unecessary judgement of facets of life that were never meant to be public spectacle. And it’s put pressure on us to perform and prove ourselves for any title we claim or opinion we have. 

And that is entirely antithetical to why we need creativity in our lives. 

Creativity allows us to explore our thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires. Those explorations are vital to our mental, emotional, and physical health (seriously, look it up). Creative activities keep our minds and bodies healthier, more equipped to deal with unexpected circumstances, calmer in the face of stress, and more. And we’re the only species in the known universe that can use our bodies to create everything from paintings and music to theatre and glass blown sculpture, from digital architecture to our own clothing, from sand castles to cathderals, and so many other amazing things. 

The whole concept of having to perform or prove ourselves as creatives negates the individualized specialness of creating in the first place. Only you can create what speaks to your inner self, what fuels your dreams, what soothes your stresses, what expresses your voice. The idea that anyone else has agency over that is nonsensical, and yet that is the landscape for so many creators.** 

So here’s a challenge to those already creating on a regular basis, either as a profession or in their free time, but sharing that part of their work with the world: find something creative that you do just for yourself, and that you don’t show anyone. 

It doesn’t have to be a big project. It doesn’t have to be the same activity every day. It should be something you can do or work on in 5-10 minute sprints, with minimal prep. Spend a month (or at least 10 sessions, however long that takes for you) doing that activity. Don’t tell the internet about it. Don’t even think about trying to monetize it or tie it into any other venture or project. 

One thing. Just for you. 

Refill your creative kettle without anyone else’s input. See what emotions come up. See what ideas flourish (or flounder). See how long you can keep it up without the temptation to post about it. 

And then, if it worked for you, keep going. Keep that thing (or things) for yourself, without a view to making it another job, or side huslte, or showcase to lure people in for your other projects. 

Creating can be uncomfortable, emotionally. Sometimes it needs to be. It’s a reflection and insight into your very individual, personal self, and even the prettiest pictures can bring up deep, conflicting emotions. As humans it is our privilege to experience those emotions and find ways of expressing, exploring, and dealing with a huge range of feelings. 

And the pill that can be difficult to swallow: You may never feel ‘ready’ as a creator. You may suffer from imposter syndrome for years. You may doubt the validity of your work, your talent, your form of expression. But if you let insecurity guide you, you’ll never know what you’re capable of, as a creative or as a human being.

*Harsh truth we’ll address in future: once you put something you create into the world, you open yourself up to any and all feedback. And in a certain way, that thing no longer belongs to you; it belongs to whoever interacts with it.

**This isn’t even addressing the myth of AI ‘creativity’ — yes, we said myth and put creativity in sarcastic quotes, and we meant it. The tl;dr of that for now is: a generative prompt in no way, shape or form, is using your own mind, hands, and heart to actually create something of your own. Only your personal body and mind can create. And if you’re stuck on the what or the how, there are hundreds if not thousands of websites, books, videos, podcasts, etc. to help you narrow your focus or teach you how to do something — ones created by other humans, not a learning machine that stole knowledge and experience from those humans to regurgitate it into something completely inauthentic. And if you don’t know what your ‘voice’ is, the only way forward is through, not taking a shortcut to let a machine decide what it should be for you.

Creating in the "Not Ideal" Times

We’re starting this venture at a precarious time in our life and gestures vaguely to the world everything else. There may never be a perfect moment to launch a business, but there are certainly "not ideal" times. Yet, the reality is simple: if we don’t do the thing, the thing never happens. Even when the timing is off, and even when the weight of the world feels heavy, we have to move forward.

That is the heart of Room to Breathe Studio. We believe in the value of a creative practice not when conditions are perfect, but fitting within the framework of our lives no matter how crazy and overwhelming things get.

To be clear, we’re not advocating for "toxic productivity." If you are so immersed in burnout and overwhelm that adding one more thing to your plate might send you over the edge, this isn't the time. We’ve been there. Your practice needs to add to your life, not aggravate it.

However, if the yearn to create is there, if you can look at your to-do list and find even a tiny sliver of wiggle room, that is as good a place as any to begin. Whether you are a seasoned creative professional or someone who doesn't even have a medium yet, we’re here for you. We’ll hold your hand while giving you the occasional firm nudge to remind you that you can make space for yourself.

What matters is the commitment to try now. Not when things are ideal. Not when you feel your absolute best. Not when the world finally aligns and you feel "allowed" to be creative.

You are allowed to create when you’re tired. You’re allowed to create when the world seems to be teetering on the edge of collapse. We want creativity to be as consistent as brushing your teeth—even if, initially, that’s all the time you have to give it.

It won’t always be easy. What you make won’t be "good" right away. At first you may only create for five minutes 2-3 times a week. This is about creative practice, not creative perfection. The only real mistake is forcing what isn’t working because you think you "should," or trying to fix your creative blocks in total isolation.

If you’re ready to commit to trying, I’d be honored to help you get to a place where not only is your creative practice a vital part of your everyday life, it’s also something that brings you joy, refreshes you, energizes you, and keeps you wanting to explore and expand creativity into more parts of your life, and others’ lives.

Screens vs Scenery

Technology is not inherently bad. Nature is not inherently good. The purposes for which we use either are often far more subjective and nuanced than we like to examine. Physical retreats in "natural" settings that promote a digital detox can be inspiring, coupling a vacation with active creative engagement. However, they are also less physically and mentally accessible for many. This reality heavily influenced our choice to offer retreats virtually. We want to help creatives around the world, not just those with the means to travel.

We believe that the accessibility of a creative retreat should not depend on location, travel finances, or physical ability. As people who live with chronic illness, we understand that fluctuations in energy and physical capabilities are unpredictable. It is impossible to get the best experience out of a retreat if a flare-up hits, which is why we allow for flexible rescheduling.

We have crafted our virtual retreats to maximize benefit without requiring participants to spend hours staring at a screen. We build in movement breaks, offer alternative timings, and focus on your individual needs and tolerances to minimize distractions while keeping you engaged without exhausting you.

Screen time can have lasting detrimental effects on our attention spans and cognitive functions. Our brains are being retrained by platforms designed by mega-corporations to keep our eyeballs glued to screens, keeping our cortisol levels elevated and dopamine imbalanced. It is telling that many tech executives send their own children to tech-free schools because they are well aware of how their products are designed to be addictive. We scroll and consume, diving into a digital ocean of unknown depths where the monsters are waiting to keep us underwater as long as possible.

But our bodies can adapt and heal. One of the best ways to reclaim our focus is through creative outlets—making things, experiencing art, and engaging with practices that free our minds from the trap of endless short-form content.

Advocating for this on corporate platforms is a paradox, but until we can thrive without these digital connections, it is a necessary path. This is all the more reason to invest in a retreat that, while held on a screen, works with you personally to build a practice where devices become tools for connection and inspiration instead of ‘escapes’ that aggravate more than they nurture.

Sometimes the screen is necessary. Play is vital, and if a video game is a source of joy, embrace it. Connection is necessary, and if an online group offers a genuine exchange of ideas, join it. Accessibility is fundamental, and if apps help you function, keep them. We don’t want to discourage tech use entirely. We want to help you be more conscious. By making creativity a primary counteraction to screen time, you can cultivate a more balanced, fulfilled life.

But also, fuck using ai to create. That’s not creating. That’s using a bot to steal creativity from others and shielding yourself from the essential discipline, learning, discovery, and inherent humanity of creativity.

Why a Virtual Retreat (Built for YOU) Matters

Is it not incredible to be able to say, “I’m going to a retreat at an Italian villa for a week to paint!”?

Of course it is. We’re not trying to take anything away from that experience, especially if it works for you. Especially if the vacation is needed. Especially if you’re supported in your creative work before, during, and after the retreat. 

Unfortunately, it’s not always the break, vacation, or lasting inspirational journey we need. Post-retreat crash and malaise are common, not the least of reasons being there’s rarely any support of your craft after the retreat ends. There might be a friendly check in from the folks you attended with. And a plug for the next retreat of course. But rarely does anyone follow up in the weeks after to see what you’re working on now, how that new painting schedule you proclaimed on a sun-soaked terrace was absolutely going to stick because of all the inspiration you’ve found is going.

Inspiration is great. 

It’s also unreliable. And fleeting. Building skills and consistency based on inspiration alone is never sustainable.

So why do it this way? 

One day, we hope to have a physical retreat space (or several, we can dream). We know that the screen can be a barrier for some folks and deep, personal moments are often more difficult to achieve in a short span of time via webcams. 

However, we want to be as accessible as possible to anyone wanting to experience our services, without spending even more money and time on travel. 

Virtual retreats are also more accessible for those who struggle with in person meetings, physically and/or mentally. For some, a chronic condition or disability might make not only the travel to but experiences planned at a gorgeous villa with mountain views unattainable due to accessibility limitations. For others, small group retreats create more anxiety than space — whether it’s the ‘freedom’ of an unstructured retreat for those needing set schedules, or the possibility of personality clashes with fellow attendees, or the retreat guide(s), or an inability to feel comfortable creating in a space with people they don’t know, freezing their creative muscles in a place they should be able to relax. 

The alternative: a retreat built for you — just you.

There’s a lot of issues that can sour the group travel experience when a) you don’t know anyone else in attendance and b) the retreat experiences sound good in theory but ultimately are designed to make group activities easy (and the addition of excursions, sharing time, meals, etc.) for the organizers. Any good retreat organizer wants to ensure their attendees have a good time, but at the end of the day, you’re there for the experience they have curated, not one you helped curate for your specific needs, goals, projects etc. 

That’s different with us. We work with you to build a retreat that has structure, but ultimately is about you. 

You may love hiking. Most of us could use a refreshing walk to fire up the creative synapses on a more frequent basis, but is that really something you want to pay for during a time when you’re not only supposed to find inspiration but be able to capture that experience and carry it with you beyond the hike, beyond the group meal where we reflect on it, and beyond the couple photos snapped at the top? 

Movement, getting out in nature, and using it as fuel for your work all helps cultivate creativity. But is the group walk also addressing what’s keeping you from engaging with your creative practice and projects once you’re back home, staring at a blank page or canvas or guitar or pile of art supplies you haven’t touched in months?

Crafting a retreat for you, personally, designed for your needs, your goals, your life circumstances, we believe is a valuable investment. And we absolutely include moments of fun, exploration, revelation, and movement. But in a way that suits you best (and a time that does, too).

That’s what we want to help you find — the ability to create consistently and sustainably while life keeps happening around you. Not a once in a lifetime escape to try and capture moments to possibly fuel you for a short time after the experience. 

We lift you up during your retreat, set up goals for after, and actually follow up with understanding and compassion if those goals haven’t settled into your everyday life. We want your creative practice to become as natural a routine as brushing your teeth, and we’ll help you find adjustments so creating doesn’t feel like a chore.