Messy Without Permission

A quote from Henri Matisse on a letter board in front of a dandelion knit blanket that reads, “Creativity takes courage”

Editor’s note: Written from my current vantage point.

Welcome back, passionate hearts and courageous souls, to another chapter in the Creative Control series, where we will discuss reclaiming authorship over our lives through creative means. We’ll learn when it’s time to hold on, when to let go, and how to create from truth instead of fear. In today’s post, I’ll be sharing the importance of imperfections, what that means for us now, and how it’ll help us as we move forward.

But before I do, don’t forget to check out the first two posts in this series. You’ll find a brief explanation of each below as well as a link straight to the post.

• “Making Without Measuring” — This post explores what happens when creativity is no longer tied to results, benchmarks, or expectations. It reflects on how letting go of constant evaluation can allow creativity to feel like exploration again.

• “Unintended Reflections” — This post looks at how creative work can quietly reveal our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, even when we aren’t intentionally expressing them. Sometimes what we create, and even what we avoid creating, becomes a reflection of where we are in life.

All caught up? Let’s get straight into it.

As creatives, we want our work to be flawless, to inspire, and to have our vision come to life. Except that’s not always the case. Oftentimes the process is messy, it’s chaotic, and it can take multiple tries just to get a piece right.

At times, it can be frustrating. Disappointing. Tiring. And then, sometimes, it’s almost as if we need approval to make mistakes, to create something that isn’t “finished”, or that it’s okay to experiment. And that’s where creativity suffers. When we wait for permission, we risk showcasing our creativity in the present moment.

I’ve been there. I’ve allowed moments to pass me by because I didn’t feel “good enough” in terms of my skills or qualifications. I also didn’t ever feel “ready”. I’ve been nervous to share my work (and, at times, still am). And I’ve held myself back from sharing ideas or artwork because it wasn’t quality work. It wasn’t perfect.

From a personal growth perspective, they challenge isn’t always a lack of creativity, it’s that we often don’t give ourselves the chance to explore it. We hold ourselves back, waiting for the right moment or the right result, instead of allowing ourselves the freedom to simply create, be present, and enjoy the process. In doing so, we may unintentionally limit both our creativity and our growth.

I’ve noticed this in my own creative journey as well. When I first returned to creative work, it wasn’t about pressure or outcomes. It was about the release and the enjoyment of creating. Some pieces were purely experimental, and many still are. Others were unfinished until inspiration comes along, and then, there are some I’m not entirely sure about.

But over time I realized something important: messiness is a part of the process. Not every piece needs to be perfect or complete to have value. Sometimes the messy moments are simply signs that we are exploring, learning, and allowing creativity to unfold.

In other words, experimentation often leads us to new ideas. It allows us to make connections or opens our minds to new possibilities. And so, creativity becomes easier when we stop needing permission to explore, to experiment, and to even make mistakes. Sometimes growth begins the moment we allow ourselves to create imperfectly.

So, the next time creativity feels messy, it might not be a problem. It might be the process working exactly as it should. After all, messiness isn’t always a sign that something is going wrong. Sometimes it’s a sign that something new is beginning.

If you’re someone who enjoys creating whether that’s through art, writing, crafting, or another outlet, consider giving yourself the space to create without expecting perfection. You might discover that the messy moments are where the most growth happens.

And before you sign off, ask yourself this, when was the last time you allowed yourself to create something messy or imperfect just for the experience?

Join me again on Monday as the Creative Control series continues with the next post, Facing Resistance, where we’ll explore the moments when doubt, hesitation, or fear make creativity feel difficult, and how learning to move through that resistance can become part of the creative process itself.

As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!

***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***

I spent a lot of time asking myself questions when I write these posts. This time, I decided to ask some of you instead. You Tell Me is a little different from the other entires in For What It’s Worth. Rather than keeping all of my questions on the page, I handed a few of them over to others and got curious about where their minds would go. There were no right answers and nothing anyone was supposed to figure out (the norm and same with my polls). I just wanted to see what might happen when different people were given the same information. And well… you tell me 💛 You Tell Me is now live • •• ••• •••• ••••• •••• ••• •• • #YouTellMe #ForWhatItsWorth #Perspective #Curiosity #LetsTalk

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Every story has a storyteller And no matter how honest we try to be, there’s only so much of an experience we can fit into the version we tell someone else Long Story Short, the second chapter of For What It’s Worth, had me thinking about perspective, context, and what happens when complicated experiences have to become much shorter stories Maybe the shorter version can still be true The question is what might fit inside it. 💛 Read “Long Story Short” (now live) | Part II | Week 41 | For What It’s Worth series | • •• ••• •••• ••••• •••• ••• •• • #LongStoryShort #ForWhatItsWorth #Perspective #ContextMatters #PersonalReflection