Creativity Demands a Choice: Let It Flow or Let It Fester

Creativity is an energy present all around us and within us, whether we acknowledge it or not. Whether we are aware of it or not, creativity constantly asks us to choose between courage or conformity and using its power to help or harm.

Like a river seeking its course, creativity demands to flow. It wants to move and to have us move with it. It wishes to enliven unique expression and begs us to show up as our true selves. It seeks to challenge the status quo and similarly asks us to challenge ourselves. It brings change and so calls us to be open to changing ourselves, to continually explore and evolve. However, we all know that none of these things are comfortable. Stability, consistency and conformity are the security blankets that seem much safer than following along with the creative flow. And so it is that we often find ourselves at a creative crossroads. Do we allow ourselves to bend with the breeze and see what we can become, or do we stifle the whispers of what could be and believe we know better.

We are all agents of our own destinies and can choose either path. This manifests as a fundamental first choice when it comes to creativity:

1. Flow with it—allow the energy to move and be expressed in action.

2. Fetter it—deny it exists or seek to constrain its progression.

However, life is never as simple as such binary options, and every decision has consequences that demand further choices. So, within these two primary pathways, two more choices can be made that further shape our life outcomes. Let’s explore the four possible trajectories of our creative choices.

The Choice to Flow with It

All energy moves. It is in its nature to travel, transport, connect and transform. From the pull of the tides to the flicker of a flame, energy does not remain static—it alters everything it touches. Creativity, as a form of energy, shares this fundamental trait. It is not passive. It seeks expression, and when we choose to flow with it, we surrender to its will to move, make something new, and show the world our extraordinary selves.

But movement alone is not enough. Within the choice to let creativity flow, we must also decide where to direct it. Creativity does not come with any inbuilt moral compass. Just as the ocean can create or destroy ecosystems, or electricity can light our houses or burn a human body, creative energy can be channelled into actions and inventions that are helpful or harmful. The path of creation and the path of destruction both stem from the same source—it is our intention and direction that defines the outcome.

So, while we may choose to flow with the creative energy, the next choice becomes whether we will seek out the new and invest in innovation to:

1. Project ourselves and others to our highest potential

2. Find ways to instil fear and deliver destruction.

Creativity to sustain and inspire

Those who choose to channel creativity into growth, connection, and positive transformation can do so at many different levels, with each adding great value to themselves and those around them. For example, a person may do landscape painting or photography on the weekend, get great joy from their garden, organise community projects to fuel their passions or find creative ways to engage and support the less fortunate. All of these activities send ripples of compassion and change.

On a bigger scale, we have seen Marie Curie’s relentless curiosity channelled into the discovery of radioactivity, Tesla harness creative energy to enable global electrification, Steve Jobs deliver accessible digital tools, Maya Angelou inspires generations to embrace self-expression, and Bjarke Ingels shape sustainable living environments.

All these people have chosen to work with the creativity energy to bring kindness, joy and positive social change.

Creativity to fuel conflict and crush

There is always another side of the coin, though; some people can choose to use creative energy to cause destruction and division, either within themselves, their relationships, or their communities. For example, people can find novel ways to manipulate others emotionally, getting great and finding new ways to gaslight their partners; they can create drama amongst friends and family for their own entertainment, produce social media content or art that spreads fear or hate, or use creativity’s resourcefulness to support escapism or addictions.

On a grander scale, some of history’s greatest inventions have come from a place of malicious intent. For example, Joseph Goebbels was famous for crafting propaganda that fuelled oppression and war, cyber hackers are incredibly creative in spreading disinformation and destabilising governments, the creation of chemical weapons has brought new ways to destroy lives, and people like Bernie Maddoff harness creative deception to build vast financial scams. Of course, there are also the owners of social media platforms who develop ingenious algorithms to hook people and even encourage addiction.

The Choice to Fetter It

Not everyone chooses to let creativity flow. Some resist it, suppress it, or deny its presence altogether. Creativity does not always announce itself in grand, sweeping moments of inspiration. More often, it whispers—a faint murmur of curiosity, a nudge to try something different, an impulse to explore or experiment. And yet, in these moments, we have a choice: to listen or to shut it down.

Many people choose to foster their creativity because change is uncomfortable. Creativity disrupts routine, challenges assumptions, and demands something new. It asks us to step outside what is familiar and take risks. The easiest response is often to silence it—to dismiss the urge to paint, suppress the desire to write or reject the instinct to solve a problem in a new way.

We tell ourselves:

• “I don’t have time for this.”

• “I’m not good enough.”

• “It’s impractical.”

• “What if I fail?”

• “What will people think?”

By denying creativity, we avoid vulnerability. We stay in the safety of the known, never risking failure or embarrassment. But in doing so, we also deny growth, joy, the possibility of transformation, and the pursuit of our truth. Creativity is persistent—it does not simply disappear. When we block it, it does not dissolve; it festers, making us feel like failures. And that is where the next choice emerges.

Within the choice to fetter creativity, there are two distinct pathways:

1. We allow it to fester until we die, ending our days in bitterness and regret.

2. We block it until the pressure causes us to burst.

The outcome of this choice depends on what comes first – the toxicity causes an emotional eruption that forces change, or we face our death (the ultimate transformation), with the latter leaving us dealing with many distressing regrets.

Let’s explore these two consequences of stifled creativity.

Block Creativity and Let It Fester

When we suppress our creative instincts, they do not vanish—they turn inward, settling into regret and dissatisfaction. The longer we resist creative urges, the more we feel the weight of what could have been. Over time, this unexpressed creativity becomes a source of bitterness, frustration, and longing.

Bronnie Ware’s research on the regrets of the dying[1] revealed that those living their last days had the following two wishes that related to creativity:

1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

2. “I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

These regrets often stem from unlived creative potential—dreams set aside, ideas left unexplored, passions ignored. Many people suppress creativity because they fear judgment, failure, or stepping outside societal expectations. They choose safety over self-expression and practicality over possibility.

But creativity does not forget or simply fly away when it does not get the attention it desires. Over time, those buried impulses resurface as wistful nostalgia, quiet resentment, or a persistent feeling of incompleteness. The thought of "What if?" lingers. What if they had written that book? Started that business? Pursued that artistic passion? What if they had embraced the fullness of who they were meant to be?

As Ware's findings suggest, happiness itself is a choice—one that is often tied to creativity. People who suppress their creativity often regret not having allowed themselves joy. Creativity is an expression of aliveness, and when it is blocked, life can feel dull, uninspired, and unfulfilled.

The tragedy of this pathway is that it is a slow erosion rather than a sudden collapse. It happens gradually, in missed opportunities and quiet compromises, until one day, the realisation dawns that time has run out.

"In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take." ~ Lewis Carroll

Block Creativity Until It Bursts

Energy cannot be contained indefinitely. When pressure builds without an outlet, it eventually erupts. We see this in nature all the time—

• Volcanoes—Pressure beneath the earth’s surface builds for years before an explosive eruption reshapes the landscape.

• Storms—A buildup of heat and moisture culminates in violent downpours, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

• Dams Breaking—Water pressure accumulates behind barriers until the force is too great, leading to a catastrophic release.

• Electrical Energy Surges—When energy builds up in a circuit with nowhere to go, it can cause short circuits, sparks, or destructive explosions.

Blocked creativity functions in the same way. When creative energy is suppressed for too long, it does not disappear—it accumulates until it bursts forth in unpredictable ways. People may experience:

• Burnout and breakdowns—A person who has suppressed their creative instincts for years may suddenly find themselves overwhelmed, exhausted, or unable to continue their usual routine. The energy required to suppress their creativity simply becomes unsustainable.

• Radical life shifts—Quitting a stable job on impulse, leaving long-term relationships, or suddenly dramatically changing identity or lifestyle. Sometimes, a full reset is the only way to get back into flow.

• Explosive emotional outbursts—Bottled-up frustration may manifest as anger, lashing out at others, or unexpected emotional breakdowns. Finally, the internal conflict cannot be contained, and it spills out to their companions and colleagues.

• Creative obsession—An individual who has ignored creativity may suddenly become consumed by it, working obsessively and erratically to compensate for lost time. Perhaps this is driven by the need to prevent death-bed regrets.

• Destructive behaviours—From reckless spending to substance abuse, some people turn to unhealthy outlets to numb the pain of the creative conflict. People know that something is very wrong, but if they don't understand the source of their internal turmoil, then they can self-medicate and choose harmful treatments.

In these moments, it becomes clear that creativity cannot be ignored without consequence. Suppression eventually leads to eruption—whether in the form of destruction or transformation. The choice is ours to make before the pressure becomes too great to control or we feel forced into actions driven by fear.

"Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways."~ Sigmund Freud

Summary of the Four Pathways

Creativity is an energy that demands movement. We each face the choice of whether to flow with it or fetter it—and within that choice, we determine whether its effects will be constructive or destructive. The four pathways illustrate this spectrum:

1. Let Creativity Flow in Healthy Ways. This is the only positive pathway. This choice allows creativity to be expressed in ways that enrich our lives and those of others, fostering innovation, connection, and self-fulfillment.

2. Let Creativity Flow in Destructive Ways. Allowing creative energy to manifest in manipulation, conflict, or self-sabotaging behaviours, leading to harm rather than growth.

3. Block Creativity and Let It Fester – Suppressing creative instincts until they become a source of death-bed regrets.

4. Block Creativity Until It Explodes – Stifling creative energy to the point that it erupts in burnout, breakdowns, or radical life adjustments.

These pathways are not fixed—we can shift from one to another through conscious awareness and action. We can realise that we are not being true to ourselves and switch streams from fetter to flow before we burst or die bitter. We can gain insight into our behaviour and identify where we use creativity's power to assert ourselves in harmful ways. We can begin to choose productive actions that help us and others achieve their full potential.

The key is recognising that creativity will always seek expression. The question is how we will respond to its call.

Ultimately, there is only one pathway to fulfilment and growth—the first. When we join in the flow of creativity and use its power for good, we allow it to enhance not just our own lives but the world around us.

The Awareness of Choice

Many people move through life unaware that they are constantly making choices about their relationship with creativity. They dismiss their creative urges as fleeting thoughts, ignore their desire for expression, or believe creativity is only for artists and innovators. Or they gravitate towards destructive channels because this is just what they know, or they are oblivious to the consequences. But creativity is present in all of us, shaping our thoughts, decisions, and actions, and it calls us to be intentional about our relationship with it.

Creativity is there, waiting for you to work with it. If you are not actively engaging with it, then you are likely working against it—consciously or unconsciously resisting its pull. And if you are not using its energy to create ideas, art, innovations, environments, or connections that help people achieve their fullest potential, then your work may be, at best, a waste of time and, at worst, unconsciously malicious.

Now that you are aware of the call of creativity, you can no longer claim ignorance. You know that creativity is an energy seeking movement, and you know that you hold the power to flow with it and direct it to productive ends. And with awareness comes responsibility.

So, what creative pathway will you choose?

[1] Ware, B. (2011). The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A life transformed by the Dearly Departing. https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB14887605