Express Yourself! The link between Identity and Creativity.

By Alex Norman

Have you ever considered that your identity mirrors your creativity? Both the way in which you express yourself creatively, and the creative forms of other people that you consume can give you a strong indication about what makes you who you are.

Let’s take music, a very common form of creativity, and see how it is a part of us all. Whether you create your own music, or listen to a form of music, from heavy, politically – charged rock to upbeat, dance pop there is a reflection of you in your music. The earliest known instruments date back 42,000-43,000 years, which is the same age of the earliest discovered fishing equipment. Creating and listening to music has been as important to humans as foraging food and surviving – even in 40,000 BC. Music has always allowed us to understand and embrace parts of our identity and unites us in these common areas.

Alongside music, there are countless creative processes which can give you further insight into your identity. For me, writing this article is an example; writing in any form, such as stories, poetry, journaling, or essays, provides an opportunity to reflect upon your own thoughts. Articulating these ideas in a creative way will help you to navigate your own mind. Dancing, sports, fashion, and art are a few of many forms of creativity. It is astonishing that we have evolved to use our minds in such fascinating, beautiful ways; our creative abilities set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. More importantly, the power to form such complex identities through our creativity is not a power to waste. Why would you not want to showcase your personality, your tastes, your attitudes, your ideas to the world – or back to yourself?

Putting aside time for you to explore your creativity will help you to appreciate your talents and explore your passions. This will reveal much more to yourself than you would expect. What is so incredible about creative outlets is that you don’t even need to be good at what you do; if it brings you joy, who cares if you can’t draw, sing, write, or paint? It sounds cheesy but do it for yourself, and in that process, you will discover your own strengths and weaknesses. There is a sense of invigoration that you receive from sharing your creativity with other people, though. You are owning and accepting your identity, which is a key step in living freely.

I love sharing music with other people as I know it reflects my tastes and ideas, so I created a playlist which best encapsulates my identity in music. There is nothing better than discovering new music to learn more about yourself - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/27TNiYm48jo09kRYzjkqe3?si=tAMcKLTiT26rtr1iRyPCgw

However, sometimes expressing creativity can be difficult. Social restraints would love us to rid ourselves of our individuality and conform. Conforming will strip you of your identity. As an example, schools train us to follow strict dress codes, show obedience and follow rules. It is no secret that school inhibits creativity, in an attempt to morph us into cereal – box adults. But we have autonomy. We can choose to follow our own desires and passions instead of ignoring them. We can give ourselves time to investigate what we really love to do, and what we are skilled in.

Finding new talents and passions is genuinely thrilling; you may be able to turn these skills into a career, where you can wake up excited to work (it seems unrealistic, I know, but these types of jobs exist!). Discovering these new abilities is a re-investment back into your own happiness. Finding your identity through creativity is something everyone should strive to do. What makes you feel true excitement? What makes you feel best understood? What makes you feel on top of the world? If something came to mind, promise to yourself that you will make time to do it.