Letting Go to Let Creativity Flow
I recently came across a story about an artist struggling with a creative block. She visited a well-known teacher for help, and the teacher handed her 10 small sheets of glass, about 8” x 10” in size, telling her she had one hour to complete a painting on each sheet. At the end of the hour, the teacher asked her to smash the paintings. The idea of destroying something she had just created seemed unfathomable, but it was exactly this exercise that unlocked her creativity.
This concept of destruction as part of the creative process really struck me because it reminded me of a moment when I was struggling with my own creativity. I couldn’t seem to find inspiration and wasn’t content with what I was making. Frustrated and stuck, I expressed this to my husband, who suggested something that felt completely radical to me at the time: "Why don’t you try letting go of your attachment to what you're making?"
The thought of destroying something I had worked on—whether it was by erasing it, painting over it, or simply stepping away from it—felt almost impossible. But in the same way that the artist in the story let go of her glass paintings to create something new, I realized that letting go could be the key to breaking free from my block.
The beautiful thing about this experience is that it wasn't about destroying something "valuable" to make room for something else. It was about letting go of the expectation that what you create must be perfect or final. It’s about the freedom to explore and enjoy the process rather than focus solely on the end result.
That’s the heart of creativity—finding peace in the process. When we get too attached to the outcome, we forget that creating isn’t just about the final product. It’s about the joy of discovering, the peace that comes from simply making, and the freedom that comes with letting go. I realized that if I could step away from the pressure of “perfecting” something, I’d create more freely, and my creative blocks would dissolve naturally.
In my own practice, I think of the first idea I have for a piece as an "egg." It’s just the beginning, a seed. As I work through the piece, there inevitably comes a time when I feel resistance or frustration. This is the moment when I know it’s time to “crack the egg”—to let go of the initial concept and give myself permission to go in a completely new direction. Whether it’s painting over parts of the canvas, covering up sections, or even completely changing the composition, this act of letting go turns the process into a journey rather than a fixed path.
By loosening my grip on what I thought I wanted to create, I give myself the space to experience the pure joy of creation. This is when I’m most inspired—not when I’m pushing for a specific result, but when I’m fully immersed in the act of making. Creativity flows freely when we stop controlling it and just allow it to unfold.
In a blog post I wrote recently, I shared how inspiration isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you actively pursue by creating space for it. The process is where inspiration lives—it’s in the little details, the changes you make, the steps you take, and the moments when you let go and embrace the unexpected.
Letting go is priceless. It’s formative. It’s where we grow as creators. The more we practice this, the more we open ourselves up to the joy of creation itself—not for the sake of the final product, but for the peace we find in simply being present in the moment.
So, the next time you feel stuck or uninspired, try letting go of the pressure to make something perfect. Break your "egg," paint over a section, or step away and return with fresh eyes. The process of creating is where the magic happens, and in those moments of surrender, you’ll find peace and inspiration waiting for you.
How do you approach the creative process? Do you ever find it hard to let go of your initial ideas? Let’s chat in the comments!
