Self-expression is powerful for this reason

Taylor Swift.

Regardless of your opinion of her or her music, you can’t deny the fact that she is one of the most successful creatives of our time. With her “Eras Tour” topping over $2 billion in ticket sales as well as her business savvy in leveraging her wealth to claim complete control over her music, she’s an example of how someone in an industry can break free of all the machinations that are used to keep one bound to the system.

One can argue that her relatability in her lyrics are among the key factors that have brought her to where she is today.

While you will probably never reach her level of fame and fortune, her example is one that highlights the power of self-expression both as a means for monetization but also as a form of artistic therapy and creative healing. A good portion of her work stems from these two aspects of what we’ll munch on today:

How to use this as a way to manage stress and to become a better person.

Dragging them into the light

This statement is the crux of the discussion today. While you could go through your whole life ignoring the path you walk, never turning back to see how far you’ve come, it is a much better and more fulfilling thing to do on a regular basis.

It’s even better if you share what you’ve learned by doing so with others.

Self-expression through art, whether for edification or for monetization, is a powerful way to externalize the inner chaos of your past. It’s like grabbing a screaming, naked, toddler by the foot and forcing them into their onesies for bedtime. Sure it might be challenging and maybe even painful with a well-placed kick to the groin while they thrash around, but at least you’re not trying to do it to your cat.

Once they’re dressed, it’s time to settle down and snuggle with mommy.

Not my best analogy, but let’s go with it for this, ok?

I may be misquoting, but you get the idea (one of my favorite shows).

I’m pointing out one of the moments in this character’s development arc and slowly coming to realize that he isn’t, in fact, any better than anyone else when it comes to being human. Whether it’s a painful experience or a thrilling triumph, sharing it or channeling through your artistic medium of choice connects you to others. It makes you realize that your problems are not isolated, that you aren’t any different from others.

Self-expression makes the inner world visible and, therefore, manageable.

A regular exercise

There’s a reason some of the best work is done in times of hardship.

Self-expression as a coping mechanism, a creative ritual to manage stress, grief, and anxiety that is beyond the pale often yields results that resonate with the human condition. It’s the acknowledgment that we are all struggling with different aspects of life, and highlighting that truth connects us in a way that brings comfort and a sense of relief; that we aren’t alone in our fight for survival and that we can overcome obstacles that seem to be impossible at the moment.

This is why rage rooms are so therapeutic as well.

Yes, you can make an argument for this as creative self-expression. Who knew you could use a desk chair like a sledgehammer? Surprises abound in the creative usage of various household objects and pieces of furniture for destructive purposes. In a controlled and relatively safe environment, expressing your inner chaos and converting a room to represent it is cathartic.

Now, I’m not recommending you adopt this as your primary means of self-expression (rather expensive if unchecked). For me, writing, running, playing video games, and reading are some of my own ways of relieving the stresses of life. The digital heirloom process is the creative result, and exploring ways to craft yours is my own way of offering something useful in the process.

What about you? What are some of your creative outlets?

Next time, we’ll zoom out a bit and reflect on how self-expression connects to culture and its preservation in civilized society.