As artists, emotions play a pivotal role in our creative process, guiding us and shaping our work.
But what if we could harness those emotions not just for artistic expression, but also for personal growth and emotional balance? Possessing “emotional intelligence” is a beautiful approach to navigating feelings as they come up—and one that resonates deeply with the creative journey.
Recently, I read a quote from Joshua Freedman, an expert in emotional intelligence, who defines it as the “capacity to blend thinking and feeling to make optimal decisions.” Imagine the impact of applying this not only to your relationships and everyday life, but also how you approach art and creativity.
Knowing and embracing which Enneagram personality I am most closely associated with— a blog post for another day! —has proven incredibly helpful. I’ve grown leaps and bounds, understanding how I relate to the world, including my creative practice. As an Enneagram 4W5, aka “The Bohemian,” it explains why I operate equally in the analytical and creative/intuitive in my practice (and makes me laugh, as people have actually described me as Bohemian 😂). Enneagram Fours are typically sensitive, in tune with the feelings within themselves and others, and are emotionally honest.
For most of my adult life, I didn’t know the term “emotional intelligence,” although I naturally operated in it without much thought. I just knew that I was comfortable accessing my inner world, lived a life rich with deep feelings (that some days felt like a curse), and tended to be drawn to friends who also lived in that space with ease. With healing and growth, it’s been a gift to navigate emotions in a much healthier way than when a child and young adult.
However, not all of us have awareness or are comfortable with their inside world and emotions. If that’s you, I want to encourage you with two things. First of all - it’s okay! It really is. You might have stayed reading this so far because you’re aware it might be a good thing to explore and gain some tools.
Second, as I work with artists globally in my business, including SOUL Collective and creative coaching offerings, I see a lot of things that they go through on the daily. You are not alone! Creatives of all kinds (including writers, dancers, bakers, and more) find themselves struggling at one point or another in their creative expression, becoming stuck, frustrated, or even shut down completely. It’s my sincere prayer today to help, if that’s you!
Navigating Emotions: Turning “Adversary” into “Ally”
As artists, we often feel emotions intensely. As you are likely aware, that can be both a blessing and a challenge. It is incredibly helpful to acknowledge, evaluate, accept and release these emotions, allowing us to use them as a resource rather than something to battle against.
For instance, let’s say you’re working on a piece but feeling blocked or frustrated. Instead of seeing that frustration as a barrier, what if you paused to ask “What is this emotion trying to tell me?” This simple shift can turn frustration into a guide, offering insight into what’s truly going on inside. It could be anything, such as: fear of failure, a deeper desire to push your work further, perfectionism, control, time-crunch, imposter syndrome, comparison, anxiety, or performance-orientation. Possessing and exercising some new tools means that the emotion and associated thought process suddenly becomes an ally, helping you grow both as an artist and as a person.
The Art of Cultivating Emotional Intelligence
I’ve discovered there is an art to cultivating emotional intelligence, so here are a few tips that I’ve shared with my artist friends in SOUL Collective that you can use on your journey to becoming a more emotionally intelligent creative. They are easy to remember, simple, and very effective.
1 - ACKNOWLEDGE: This first step is about naming and recognizing what you feel. Write it down! In your journal, this might look like writing down how you’re feeling before you begin to create - stream of consciousness writing as taught by Julia Cameron in The Artist Way is a fabulous exercise to try in your journal or on loose-leaf sheets or scraps of paper. In art journaling, it might mean scribbling across a gessoed or collaged page, knowing you can always cover it with more gesso or collage! You could use “Post-It” notes on the wall - whatever floats your boat, lol.
The point is - acknowledge what you’re feeling (use an emotions/feelings wheel!). Naming an emotion, whether it's joy, sadness, or frustration, can bring clarity and give you insight into how it might shape your work. If you need help in assessing which emotions are arising, you can do a Google search for an emotions wheel or feelings wheel to help you find the words most closely matching what you’re experiencing.
Let me add this: if your overriding emotion has to do with grief (i.e., the loss of a loved one, divorce, wayward children, difficult move) and it’s particularly fresh, stop here and spend time grieving the loss. There’s immense wisdom in allowing grief to take its natural course, and not fight it. Often we have no earthly idea why it’s hitting hard on a particular day, so have lots of grace with yourself. Come back to your creative practice later if you need to. Again, it’s okay. Be courageous to go experience the emotions, and be courageous to return.
2 - EVALUATE (DISCOVER): The second step is about recognizing that emotions contain valuable information. There are no “good” or “bad” emotions; each one offers extremely valuable intel on what’s going on in your heart. For example, when feeling frustrated during a project, try stepping back and saying aloud, “I’m feeling frustrated because …” Taking a moment to evaluate “the why” of what you’re feeling is core to releasing any power a particular emotion may have over you in the moment.
For those of us who have a relationship with the Lord, seeking Him can be especially key at this stage, especially if you’re struggling to get in touch with your feelings. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal the “why” of the emotion you’re experiencing. You might discover, for example, that you’re feeling frustrated because … “I care deeply about the outcome of this piece” or “I’m worried I’m not going to be able to finish it in time.” This acknowledgment creates space between you and the emotion, making it easier to use it as a source of creative energy rather than something that drains you.
3 - ACCEPT: This third step is where the magic begins to happen. Give yourself permission to accept that emotions are part of your creative process. And if needed, give yourself some major grace, especially if you’re someone whose day-to-day is very affected by your feelings.
It can be as simple as saying out loud, “I accept I’m having a sad day today, and it is impacting my ability to create. I am going to be kind to myself, accept this at face value, and keep moving forward.” You might feel silly saying this out loud to no one. That’s perfectly normal. It is also incredibly powerful in accepting where you are.
Be aware that this is a place where you could easily become “stuck” in the emotional turmoil of what’s happening in your life. Do be kind and loving to yourself so that you don’t. You have permission to keep moving forward through the next part: the practice of releasing.
4 - RELEASE: Once you have acknowledged, discovered the why, and accepted the foremost emotion you’re experiencing, it’s time to give it all to the Lord. Thank Him for being the Revealer and Comforter in your creative space and other areas of your life, and then allow Him to carry any burdens associated with your emotion.
If you're a worshipper like me, now would be a great time to spend a few minutes worshipping and praising God for what He's doing! Alternatively, a simple prayer using each of these steps is a peace-bringer, and who doesn’t need more of THAT?! It also gets you moving forward, and could go something like this:
“Thank you Father, for creating emotions so that I can live a full and adventurous life on this earth with You. Thank You for giving me tools to understand their role in my life so that I will not be overwhelmed by my feelings. Thank You for being with me in all of them, and as I take a journey of discovery into my own heart and soul.
Today, I am feeling ____________ and I believe it is because __________________. I acknowledge this emotion is part of the process You are using to draw me closer to You, and I accept that You are using it to help me, not to harm me. I release it to You, and let go of any ‘power’ it has held in the moments of my day. I know You’ve promised that Your yoke is easy and Your burden light, so I release it all to you, in Jesus’ Mighty Name! Amen.”
Benefits to Artists
By acknowledging your emotions, discovering any roots/causes, accepting them as part of your creative process, and releasing them to the Lord, emotions can become a powerful tool for deeper understanding of what’s happening in your heart, and in turn, for your personal and spiritual growth. What might seem like a hindrance —anxiety, anger, sadness—can actually propel you to new creative heights and discoveries.
Emotional Intelligence can be one of your superpowers as a creative in the Kingdom! It can help you discover more about your true self and become a more whole version of you. And when you work with emotions, instead of against them, you become free to create more consistently, authentically, and purposefully. I don’t know about you, but that sounds finer than a frog’s hair split four ways! 😂
As creative people, the need to cultivate these skills has never been more vital. Navigating emotions in healthy ways not only improves our mental well-being but enhances our creativity and enables us to make meaningful, impactful art. And the good news for Christian artists is also that we have such a great partner in Holy Spirit, who loves empowering us with emotional intelligence. He helps us to create a unique bridge between emotion and creativity, turning every feeling into a stepping stone for pressing into His Presence and for growth.
So, the next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed, remember: emotions are your allies. They are not just there to be felt—they are there to guide, inspire action, and help you flourish and thrive. Embrace your emotions, attend to your art, and see where the journey takes you!
I’d love to hear from you! Please comment below or join me on the creative journey here: