Healing Through Art: How Creativity Helped Me Cope with Uncertainty & Find Hope
Have you ever felt like you had to fix every single problem in your life before you could enjoy it?
I used to believe that, too. Back when I was stuck in a job I hated, tangled up in a complicated immigration process, and navigating a life-changing health diagnosis… joy felt completely out of reach.
But here’s what I learned: you don’t have to wait for your life to be perfect before you can feel joy. In fact, sometimes joy is exactly what gets you through the hardest seasons.
This is the story of how art became my anchor during one of the most stressful and challenging seasons of my life.
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Life Before Art as Healing
Imagine this, it’s 2018 and I’m working a soul-sucking job and living a double life, admin by day and artist by night.
At this time, I’m also navigating a complicated immigration adjustment process that requires a bunch of paperwork that feels tedious and endless.
At the same time, I’m also obsessively chasing career milestones, and buying into hustle culture’s promise that “if you work harder than everyone else, you’ll get the life you dream of.”
Life got exhausting and dull very quickly because there was no fun or joy in sight.
And yet, art was always in the background, even when I didn't know it was helping me to heal and I just did it for fun.
A Heart-to-Heart With Myself
Eventually, I had to face the truth: my problems weren’t going to disappear overnight. I had to learn to accept my reality (as uncomfortable and annoying as it was). I could either keep pushing myself towards burnout or I could start living my life imperfectly now.
This was no easy task for a young ambitious, impatient, perfectionistic, and overachieving person.
So, I decided that I was no longer gonna wait until everything was “resolved” before I could have fun. I needed to find something to look forward to that wasn't work, something that made my life feel meaningful.
I began making art during my lunch breaks, in the evenings, and on weekends. I rewarded myself with one hour of dreaded paperwork, then painting or collaging.
Those small changes made my days feel lighter, and it opened the door to something bigger.
Art as Connection and Self-Discovery
This was how I ended up attending a creative workshop in LA hosted by one of my favorite artists, Ana Victoria Calderon, a watercolor artist. During the workshop I was encouraged to start a personal project.
As a lifelong punk rock music fan, I decided to create a hand-lettering series inspired by my favorite lyrics. I started sharing this project on Instagram, along with personal reflections about why these songs meant so much to me.
To my surprise, people connected with it. They saw me as a whole person, not just as an artist. I realized art could truly be a tool for self-discovery, sharing my story, and finding community. For the first time in my life, I felt truly seen as my authentic self.
I began to let go of feeling guilty for enjoying myself and the things that made me happy, even when things felt chaotic.
The Shift That Changed Everything
By prioritizing joy through art my problems didn’t completely vanish but they stopped consuming me. My immigration case no longer took up all my mental space. And, I felt less like a victim of my circumstances and more curious about my own life.
Most importantly, I stopped disassociating and instead of ignoring or bypassing my feelings, I started to pay attention. I actually listened to myself, to my feelings and emotions. By doing this, I felt more supported, more self-compassionate, and understanding of my struggles. This was the beginning of self-love.
Building Joy Into Everyday Life
Fast forward to today: art making has become a regular practice, where there’s room for self-expression, processing difficult emotions, and having fun.
I also started to create with more intention, which has meant checking-in with myself before making anything. I’ll ask myself, What do I need today? What would feel good?
This practice allows me to meet myself where I am, responding to my immediate needs, and reminding me to be gentle with myself.
And, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that joy is not something you save for the perfect moment. Not an expensive retreat, not a fancy art studio, not a big trip, it’s something you build daily in small but meaningful ways.
If you want to get started, try:
Getting a small sketchbook and doodling during your lunch break
Writing in a journal to process what you’re going through
Creating space to try something new (even if it feels selfish or weird), it can be learning to dance, scrapbooking, pottery, whatever floats your boat…
Key Takeaway
You will always have problems. That’s life. But you also deserve to enjoy your life while you’re solving them. Art can be your anchor, whether it’s for fun, for processing, or both.
You don’t need perfect conditions to start. So, start today!
Renata is a creativity coach empowering neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color, to use creativity as a tool for self-discovery and healing, so they can let go of feeling inadequate and insecure and start experiencing more confidence and self-acceptance. She’s currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art making workbook when you sign up for her email list. Sign up here to get your free copy.
