The Cost of Ignoring Your Creativity: What I Learned from Brené Brown and My Own Life

There’s a powerful moment in Brené Brown’s conversation with Oprah where she says something that stopped me in my tracks:

“Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgment, sorrow, shame.”

That hit me.

We often think of creativity as something extra. A luxury. Something to do after we’ve finished our work, taken care of the house, and crossed off every item on our to-do list. But creativity isn’t a hobby—it’s a human need. It’s a form of expression that, when ignored, doesn’t just disappear. It festers.

In Get Grounded, I dive into this exact idea in Chapter 7: Paint Your Life Canvas. This chapter is about more than just picking up a paintbrush or writing in a journal—it’s about giving yourself permission to dream again, to create without needing a reason, and to make space for the parts of you that long to be expressed.

When we silence our creativity, we disconnect from our joy. We start to live in black and white when we were meant to live in color.

Over the years, I’ve seen what happens when I put my creativity on the back burner. I become more reactive. Less inspired. More tired, even if I’m physically doing less. But when I allow myself to create—whether that’s through writing, designing a beautiful space, dancing in my kitchen, or even dreaming up a new project—I feel more grounded. More me.

Creating is one of the most powerful ways we reconnect with our soul.

So if you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or heavy lately, ask yourself: When was the last time I let myself create just for the sake of it?

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be seen. But it does have to be expressed.

Your creativity isn’t just a side hobby—it’s a lifeline. And when you honor it, you’ll find yourself returning home to your most grounded, joyful, and alive self.

If you’re ready to reconnect with that part of you, Chapter 7 of Get Grounded is the perfect place to start. Let it be an invitation to color outside the lines and remember the magic of being fully expressed.