create to feel again

welcome back to sunday goods,

let's talk!

we often think of creativity as a talent, something reserved for the artistic, the gifted, or the naturally inspired.

but creativity isn’t just about painting murals or writing poetry.

it’s choosing colors for your home.

cooking without a recipe.

capturing a moment in a photo.

scribbling thoughts in a journal no one will ever read.

creativity is not about being good at something.

it’s about expression, release, & connection.

three things our brains crave for emotional balance.

when life feels heavy, chaotic, or overstimulating, creativity becomes a doorway back to ourselves.

creativity is a powerful mental health tool because it:

1. interrupts overthinking
when you focus on creating: coloring, writing, building or crafting, your brain shifts away from rumination.

you move out of your head and into the present moment.

it’s mindfulness in motion.

2. releases stored emotion
we hold emotions in our bodies.

creativity lets them out without needing the perfect words.

what we can’t say, we can paint.

what we can’t explain, we can move through.

expression turns pressure into peace.

3. activates the “reward” centers of the brain
studies show that creative activities increase dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter linked to motivation & joy.

creativity literally gives the brain a chemical boost, helping with stress, low mood, & emotional regulation.

4. builds resilience & confidence
every time you create something, even something tiny, you send a message to yourself:

"I try. I experiment. I expand."
that mindset spills into other parts of life.

you were born creative (even if you don’t feel like it)

think about children: they draw, pretend, invent, sing, imagine.

they don’t judge it.

they just do it.

creativity is our natural language, we only lose confidence in it when we get older & start worrying about being “good.”

but creativity for mental health is not a performance.

it’s a practice of freedom.

some simple ways to add more creativity into your week

you don’t need hours, & you don’t need talent.

start small.

try one of these this week:

• mindless doodling while you sip your morning coffee

• create a playlist that matches your current mood

• journal for 5 minutes with no structure, no rules

• take photos of things that make you feel something: colors, shadows, people, nature

• collage with old magazines

• knit, bake, garden, or rearrange a space in your home

• color (yes, adults can color, & should)

the point is not the product.

it’s the process.

the presence.

the pause.

a final reminder

when your mind feels heavy, pick up something that helps you create.
a pen.

a paintbrush.

a notebook.

a camera.

your voice.

your body.

your imagination.

create to express, not impress.
create to release, not to perfect.
create because your brain & your heart feel better when you do.

here’s to doing something this week that gets you out of your head & back into your life.

with care,

elle