Creativity and playfulness as a Superfood for resilience
How do you understand creativity in the context of resilience?
What role and priority does play have when challenging situations arise?
How do you design your response and integration to change?
A few years ago, I found myself screaming and crying in a forest in Brandenburg, Germany, after receiving a very challenging diagnosis. Not only did I have NF1 - a genetic mutation that causes tumors to grow around the nerve endings - and needed to have three tumors removed, but one of them had a very high possibility of being cancer.
I was appalled, to say the least. I had just turned 25, had barely arrived in the country with only 20 euros, my career as an artist was just starting, and the sweet lure of the Berlin summer was upon me. I was not in contact with anyone from my blood family except for my father and was dealing with most of it on my own. Tumors were hard enough to handle, but cancer? Where would I fit it all in?
What was I going to do? How would I manage to not die inside?
I knew rationally that I could do it, show up, do the things, and ideally not die right away. But what about my inner world, and my quality of life? How was I going to integrate this whole mess into the beautiful life that I had started curating?
I realized that it was not the diagnosis itself that frightened me, but the "usual" ways sickness is dealt with - serious, cold, empty of play, and full of pain. The gasps of pain and worry when I would share the news, the pity that would marinate people's voices….I cried for a bit more until I got tired and sat by a tree. I was feeling powerless, in a spiral of stories and fears about a future that I could not control. I was a victim of monsters that fed on helplessness and victimhood. I could not afford to miss more life. I did not want to miss more life. So, calling upon my deep desire, I decided that what would determine my life and this story was how I walked my walk. My power was not in a road that I could not control, but in my steps, my intention, and my action. In my character, the genre I was going to write this into is the odyssey that my life was. My life had been a song of love, courage, playfulness, resilience, and creativity - and this would not be the exception. I looked to my left and saw a piece of bark with three holes in it, and to my right, a long stick. In front of me, my feet, one of the shoelaces untied. I took it off to bond the two pieces together. I took the deepest breath I could muster and I commanded it to be my Magic Stick because it was filled and basked in the power and determination of my heart. I named it Hope because that is what I brought to the situation, it was intended to help me walk in my weakness. A very tangible expression of the metaphors that were taking space in my inner world. Just like in a hike, while the trust is on my legs and core, a walking stick can be incredibly helpful when it comes to more tricky hikes. Hope was temporal support.
I took it to every hospital appointment I had that year, and I reached out and held it every time life got hard(er). I knew I could do without it or need it, but being able to choose, and allow myself to have it, changed my life and the quality of it. It opened doors to connection and softness and brought color and play to cold white walls. It fostered love and magnetized questions and curious conversations.
It created a tender, positive space in a place of tension. It allowed me to remember that there is so much more than the walls of sickness and that even in that there is space for life to blossom beyond the blood test, diagnoses and
It invited me to test the courage in my belief and self-expression - German hospitals are not the most charming warm places ;) - and bring vulnerability and a dash of mischief to play in places where it’s usually not allowed. To create a bit of sweet, artistic chaos that would hopefully help others question how we understand the healing process. It is not that I believe that everyone should make a magic stick and heal with a diversity of colors and play, but I do believe there is a version of the play in everyone’s language. That place of play is an oasis, a well that can renourish and revitalize us in the journeys we take.
By creating intentional spaces and behaviors of play, we enter a flow state. In that flow state, creativity, and regeneration occur. The way we experience and wire the situation in our brains becomes less traumatic and it fosters self-love, confidence, and a deep sense of well-being.
Playing in today’s world can come off as escaping reality, not taking ownership, and being irresponsible - and I experienced that judgment firsthand. But for me, when we come from a place of acceptance - shit happens to everyone at a certain time - creativity and play are essential to make the best out of it. It helps us compost that shit and make fertile soil so new things can grow. Rebel against the dogma of suffering and meet others from a place of gratitude for their service.
With this experience, I realized that creativity and playfulness are not only helpful but essential for resilience. They help us move beyond the limits of our rational minds and connect with our inner child, the part of us that is unafraid to explore and try new things. In this way, creativity and playfulness become a kind of superfood for our resilience, giving us the energy and motivation to face even the most challenging situations.
I invite you, my dearest reader, to reflect how does your play look like.
Where would you like to bring it?
How will you integrate it into your next design when change comes?
Remember to give yourself permission. I know that we get so caught up in our responsibilities and obligations… but make a conscious effort to give yourself permission to play, whether that means taking a break to doodle, dance, or daydream.
Trust yourself and embrace uncertainty: Play is all about exploring the unknown and trying new things. Embrace uncertainty and allow yourself to be open to new experiences and ideas. You’re strong enough for the unknown.
Find your playful ecosystem: Seek out environments and people that embody playfulness and creativity. This could mean joining a community theater group, attending a creative writing workshop, or simply spending time with friends who bring out your playful side.
By cultivating creativity and playfulness in our lives, we not only enhance our resilience but also create a more joyful and fulfilling existence. So, the next time you face a challenging situation, consider how you can infuse it with a sense of playfulness and creativity. Who knows, you may just find that the experience becomes a source of growth and transformation, rather than a source of pain and suffering
With heart, courage and a playful ROAR,
