When Self Improvement Isn’t Enough
Amy shared openly about her early journey through anxiety, depression, and years immersed in personal development. Like so many women, she did everything she was told would help. She read the books, took the courses, meditated, practised yoga, and worked diligently on herself.
And it did help… to a point.
But eventually she reached a plateau. The learning was no longer creating real change. Something was missing.
That missing piece was embodiment.
Expression.
Aliveness.
This is something I see so often in my own work as well. We can spend years consuming wisdom, but transformation truly begins when we start creating, expressing, and living what we have learned.
Creativity and play are often the bridge.
Why Play Matters More Than We Realise
Many of us associate play with childhood. It can feel unproductive, indulgent, or even uncomfortable to consider making space for it as adults.
But play is not about being childish.
It is about being present.
Play is any activity where you lose track of time, where you are absorbed, curious, and fully engaged. It might look like dancing, painting, walking in nature, rearranging flowers, journalling, singing, or simply sitting quietly creating something with your hands.
Play is not one specific activity. It is a state of being.
And when we allow ourselves to enter that state, something shifts in the nervous system. The body softens. The mind opens. Creativity begins to flow again.
This is often where new ideas, clarity, and emotional healing naturally emerge.
The Real Reason So Many Women Struggle to Play
One of the most honest parts of this conversation was exploring why play feels so difficult for adults.
For many women, the barrier is not lack of time. It is fear.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of looking silly.
Fear of not being good enough.
Fear of wasting time.
And beneath all of that, there is often a deeper longing to belong.
Play asks us to be visible. To be expressive. To be imperfect. And that can feel vulnerable, especially if we have spent years learning to stay safe, capable, and composed.
But something powerful happens when we gently begin to step beyond that edge.
We rediscover parts of ourselves that never disappeared… they were simply waiting for permission to return.
The Connection Between Play and Creativity
Creativity does not thrive in pressure and rigidity. It thrives in curiosity, spaciousness, and experimentation.
Play refuels the creative spirit.
When we allow ourselves to play, we shift from creating out of obligation or expectation into creating from truth and expression. The work becomes energising rather than draining. Ideas flow more easily. The process feels nourishing rather than exhausting.
This is the kind of creativity that heals.
The kind that reconnects us to our inner voice.
The kind that reminds us who we are.
The Courage to Choose Joy
Choosing joy is not always easy. It sometimes requires risk.
It may mean letting go of identities, habits, or patterns that no longer feel aligned. It may mean trying something new. It may mean allowing yourself to be seen in a different way.
But on the other side of those small risks is growth. Expansion. A deeper sense of self trust.
And often, a quieter, steadier form of happiness that does not depend on circumstances but arises from living in alignment with your truth.
Joy becomes not a destination, but a compass.
A Gentle Invitation
If this conversation stirred something in you, begin gently.
You do not need to change your life overnight.
You do not need to find a grand passion or purpose.
Simply ask yourself:
What is one small thing that feels playful, curious, or creatively nourishing right now?
It might be five minutes of drawing.
A walk without your phone.
Listening to music and moving your body.
Writing a few honest lines in a journal.
Small moments of joy have a way of opening large doors.
Reflection
Who would you become if you chose your joy more often… and what small step could you take toward that today?
