Blog

What did you hear as a kid about creativity, talent, or using your imagination? And more importantly, what did you end up telling yourself that kept reinforcing those messages?

As much as we like to pretend otherwise, the messages we receive as children can follow us throughout our lives unless we do something to “exorcise” them. For me, the messages weren’t subtle, and they were more about imagination and talent than being creative.

I still remember Mom saying, “It’s okay. We’re just not the talented ones.” It’s funny because I was probably only 4 when she would take my sister and me to the ceramics workshop. We’d pour molds, clean the greenware, fire it, and paint. She made beautiful things and gave my sister and me the space to do the same. Mom sewed my clothes—not Vogue originals, but she got them done. She crocheted (or knitted), did “paint by number” paintings, and always gave me the tools to try new things. All while believing she had no talent or creativity!

Then there was Dad. He believed everything had to be done perfectly—a message I absorbed, even though he rarely finished his own projects. I definitely learned to stop when things didn’t feel “just right.”

Being the youngest of four, with a big gap between me and my sister, I spent a lot of time alone. I’d sit at my little white table with a stack of blank paper, trying to think of what to draw. I usually drew the same thing—a house with two windows, a door, a chimney with smoke, a tree, and a swing set. I guess it was my idea of what I aspired to someday have.

I’d also play school with my dolls, grading them based on how much I liked them! But I was happiest when I had someone to play with, especially during those rare moments when a friend would come over. I remember one friend who drew amazing trees—at least, they were amazing to me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t replicate them, and so I decided I couldn’t draw.

At school, art class was more of the same. My projects were never as good as those around me, and I always felt embarrassed. Either I didn’t finish them, or I overdid them, making them look like a unicorn had puked glitter all over them! Comparing my work to others only reinforced what I thought I already knew: I wasn’t talented, creative, or perfect.

It didn’t help that those big class projects often felt impossible. I only realized as an adult that other kids had parents who helped—or even did the projects for them!

Looking back now, I can see how much my programming and my talent for overthinking got in the way of letting my imagination run free. My mom’s belief that creativity, talent, or imagination meant creating something from nothing stuck with me, and I internalized it deeply.

And I wasn’t alone. In a recent conversation, my sister said, “To this day, I don’t believe I’m creative. I just have a crazy imagination. You’re the creative one!” This from a woman who’s an award winning, published author of several imaginative children’s books! Go figure.

That’s a limiting belief we both grew up with. We didn’t talk about “limiting beliefs” back then, but looking back, I can see that’s exactly what they were.

So, what do you believe? Does creativity have to start from scratch, or can following a pattern, kit, or someone else’s idea still be creative? I think it can, and if I could hold my younger self in my arms and gently offer some advice, here’s what I would tell her:

5 Things I’d Tell Little Terre About Creativity:

1. You, my darling, are filled with imagination.
   You just need to let it loose. Have fun, explore, and stop judging yourself. Your imagination can be sparked by what others create—just put your own spin on it. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets, along with your confidence. Imagination is an endless resource. No one else can imagine for you or tell you how to do it.
2. Comparing yourself to others is a waste of time.
   You’re not them, and they aren’t you. Stop judging, keep trying, and trust that improvement comes with practice. When you quit, you guarantee you won’t get better. Be brave, and keep showing up as yourself.
3. Perfection doesn’t exist, especially in creativity.
   So stop chasing it. Let yourself play, get messy, and enjoy the process. Creativity is about fun, not flawlessness.
4. If you can’t do it like someone else, maybe you just haven’t learned how yet.
   Getting better at anything takes practice, instruction, and patience. You won’t improve without being willing to be a beginner and make mistakes.
5. Turn down the self-judgment.
   That voice in your head is just old programming, repeating what others told you. Who cares what they think? You are unique, creative, and worthy exactly as you are. Be brave enough to listen to your heart instead—it knows the way.

That’s what I’d tell little Terre if I could. Of course, I’d simplify it for her, but we both know I’m really talking to the stubborn, self-doubting adult version of myself. And maybe, just maybe, I’m also talking to you.

These days, I realize I am creative. Getting here has been a long road, and I’ve had to put perfectionism, worry about what others think, and self-doubt in the back seat. It’s an ongoing process.

Creativity is a journey of the heart. It’s about letting your soul express its unique beauty in this world. It’s deeply personal—it reflects your dreams, fears, and vulnerabilities. And maybe that’s why so many of us hesitate. We tell ourselves we’re not good enough, don’t have the skills, or can’t find the time to be creative.

But here’s what I know: if I could go back and reassure that little girl, I’d tell her to keep creating, keep dreaming, and stop worrying about whether it’s perfect. Because creativity isn’t about perfection—it’s about being brave enough to show up and try.

So, what would you tell your younger self? And what would you create if you believed you could?

I’d love to hear from you.