Creativity Is Important, Especially as We Age!

My friend and I used to run workshops for women in New Zealand entitled FIGJAM Workshops (Fresh Insights Give Joy and Meaning). And in our workshops, we focused a lot on creativity and its importance in our life. In these workshops, the one sentence we heard over and over again was: “I’m NOT Creative!” Our response, every time, was, “EVERYONE is creative!”

And when we were working with women over 50, the second response we heard most was, “I’m too old to learn how to be creative!” Of course, our response – every time – was, “No you’re not! You just have to get out of your own way.”

Pablo Picasso is quoted as saying: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

Creativity vs. Outcome

The problem is, we have somehow conflated being creative with being a successful artist. We look at a blank canvas and think we have to immediately paint like Monet or Georgia O’Keeffe. And if it doesn’t resemble a famous work of art, then that means we are not creative. Or that we should immediately be able to pick up a guitar and sound like Joni Mitchell or Eric Clapton. And if we don’t, we should put the instrument down immediately and never play again.

What we need to do is unlearn what we’ve been taught or heard from others (especially some teachers!) and learn to let creativity flow through us, without worrying about the outcome. Be creative for creativity’s sake, not doing it for the final product.

Really, Why Is Creativity Important?

And this is especially important as we get older. Creativity boosts our well-being, improves our vitality and enhances our quality of life. Here are a few reasons why creativity is so important as we age:

Cognitive Health

Engaging in almost any creative activity can help maintain and even improve cognitive function. Creative activities stimulate the brain and enhance neural connections, (I talk about these neural pathways in a different article in Sixty and Me.) Studies have conclusively shown that creativity has the potential to even reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Emotional Expression

As we get older, inevitably we encounter some big life changes. Creative outlets provide a means of expressing difficult emotions and processing certain experiences. This can be incredibly therapeutic and help to promote emotional resilience.

Sense of Purpose

As we age, we can lose that sense of purpose we once had. Engaging in creative pursuits can contribute to an enhanced sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Satisfaction, Quality of Life and Subjective Well-Being

Studies have shown that creative activities provide a sense of accomplishment and sense of well-being. As we age, we can sometimes lose that sense of joie de vivre. Being creative can enhance our overall life satisfaction and promote a more positive outlook.

Physical Benefits

And don’t forget, creativity can also involve physical activity. And we all know that movement is imperative as we age. Put on some music and dance. Go out in the garden and dig. Go for a walk with a mission in mind – looking for colors and admiring nature or architecture. Move with a creative mission in mind.

So please remember, you are a creative being. Everyone is born creative, but for so many of us, it’s been taught right out of us. (*If you haven’t watched this TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson, do it NOW! It’s the most popular TED talk of all time.) Creativity is hugely important in every aspect of our life as we age, leading to a more vibrant, engaged and fulfilling life! Remember Sylvia Plath’s words, the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. Go out, create, ignore that self-doubt, and just have some fun with it!

If you are interested in more articles about Creativity, it is one of my favorite subjects! You can find more on my Website or my Substack Page. And I love hearing from people, so please let me know your thoughts about creativity and aging, or any other subject that comes up as you read.