Can Healing from Trauma Unlock Creativity? My Journey Back to Art and Self-Love

How Hitting Rock Bottom Helped Me Reclaim My Creativity and Find My Purpose 2021 was the year my life radically changed. At the time, I believed life was testing me with a series of curveballs. But now, with deeper clarity, I see those events as profound lessons and blessings. Spending two weeks at John’s hospital bedside gave me ample time to reflect. Returning to my studio months later, while sorting through piles of fabric, I had a huge light bulb moment: I realized I had been drifting since graduating from university over 30 years ago. I had rejected the artist path, believing I had to "save the planet," only creating from recycled materials to avoid harming Mother Earth. This belief led me down a path of creative suppression. I convinced myself that art was wasteful and would end up in landfill. Instead, I turned to making "useful" things like bags, hoping they’d be bought and reused. But behind that was a deeper pattern: collecting materials, storing them for "someday," but never fully using them. On reflection, I saw it stemmed from a fear of not being good enough—a belief that my art wasn’t worthy, and that I wasn’t either.

Nearly six months later, a powerful and painful shift pushed me to choose myself over a long and often abusive marriage. That was the true beginning of my healing journey. For the first time in my life, I invested in myself completely—emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. I began one-to-one healing sessions with Katie Holland, and what followed was a deep unraveling of ancestral patterns, conditioning, and the binding beliefs I had unknowingly carried for generations. Why Creating for Me—Not the Market—Unlocked My Inner Artist As the healing work unfolded, I let go of the life I thought I was meant to live and began fully embracing the life I was actually living. No longer controlled by lists and "shoulds," I started to live in flow. The masks I'd worn—to please others, to fit in, to survive—began to fall away. And in the heart of all that chaos came a surprising gift: a wave of calm, clarity, connection, and creativity. My artwork began to transform. I no longer tried to replicate reality perfectly. Instead, through sacred dance and quiet reflection, I tapped into the feelings and visions buried deep inside. I soon realised that as I began healing from trauma, I started creating art from the heart—raw, honest, and just for me. How Sacred Dance and Reflection Helped Me Channel My True Vision Sacred movement opened me up in ways I never imagined. It became a language through which emotions, memories, and truths could rise to the surface. Paired with stillness and introspection, I accessed parts of myself long hidden. My art began to reflect this new inner world—not polished or perfect, but powerful and real. And magically, as I raised my vibration, my art began finding its own new guardians. Pieces started to sell without me pushing. It was as if my creations were calling out to the right souls on their own. The process of healing from trauma lead to Creating Art from the Heart: Letting My Soul Lead the Brush. Embracing my authentic self has radically reshaped how I create. I no longer create for approval, utility, or perfection. My Art is expressing truth, expansion, and honoring the inner voice that was once silenced. I now trust that creating from the heart is not just valid—it’s vital. FAQ: Reclaiming Creativity After Trauma Q: How can I reconnect with my creativity after a major life change? A: By letting go of perfection, quieting external voices, and allowing emotion to flow freely through art or movement. Creating without judgment opens the door to true expression. Q: Is it normal to feel like your art isn’t good enough? A: Absolutely. It’s a common wound, especially for women. But healing reveals that creating from the heart is more meaningful than "perfect" technique. Q: What are signs that you're finding your authentic self? A: You start shedding roles, saying no with love, and creating from a place of joy and deep truth. Your energy shifts, and people and opportunities aligned with your new vibration begin to appear. Q: Why do we fear our own creative power? A: Because it's connected to our vulnerability and truth. When we access that power, it asks us to be fully seen. That can be both liberating and terrifying—but it’s always worth it. Final Thoughts This journey is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: when we heal, we remember who we are. And when we remember, we create not to impress, but to express. And in doing so, we light the path for others to do the same.

Mixed Media Art By Jane Rivers