⚡️ Introduction
Emotions can be overwhelming, but can they actually inspire and improve our creative projects? The answer is yes, as long as you stay true to yourself and go about it in a healthy way.
In this article, I will talk about a few steps you can take to successfully channel your emotion into your creative projects, and give you some insights from creators around campus.
Ideally, the process works best when you are open to getting vulnerable. If not, you might find it stressful or even scary, so make sure that you are in a good headspace before you buckle down.
🧠 Identify your Emotions
Start by picking a quiet place. You’ll need a space with no distractions, a place where no one will interrupt your ~brainstorming~ sesh. After the turmoil of 2020, you might be dealing with a lot of pent up frustration. At this moment you’ll really need to tune into yourself and identify what emotion(s) you’re dealing with.
I know it’s often easier to simply sit down and start a project without giving it much thought. As always, spontaneity is a really important value in creative work. But in order to dig down and uncover the deepest version of your emotions, I would recommend really taking some time to understand and identify what you’re feeling. Right now, you should be in a “quality over quantity” type of mindset.
I recently spoke with Nahbuma Gana, a UX designer in Information Science, about how she integrates emotion into her design and art process. “Usually the things I feel start off in this chaotic mess and every stroke and composition of the piece allows me to craft an intention with my feelings,” she explained.
Design of Lara Harvey by Nahbuma Gana
Nahbuma also brought up another point that I found important to recognize: the beauty of ambiguity. “Identifying” your emotions can also just mean recognizing that you are feeling a certain type of way, and letting that feeling drive your creative process. As Nahbuma put it, “Allowing myself to express my feelings in a very raw way has translated into this weird syntax of visual material and the emotions I can - and sometimes can’t define. But the ambiguity is probably the best part of the creative process.”
Here are some different ways to successfully identify your emotions (non-exhaustive list):
Journaling! Start by grabbing a notebook or opening a document on your computer and just write whatever you’re thinking, stream-of-consciousness style.
Talk it out! This isn’t always applicable, but if you feel comfortable enough, talk to someone about why you might be feeling the way you feel. Maybe they can offer you some clarification or just act as a sounding board.
Clear your mind! Do whatever it takes to rid yourself of your daily stressors in order to really hone in on your true emotions. Some ideas: doing yoga, going on a run, or even listening to some music.
✨ Channel those Emotions
Graphic by Ryun, CC Graphic Designer
It is not enough just to identify your emotions, because you’re going to need to really embrace these emotions in order to portray them well in your work.
This is a place in which you might want to do a quick mental health check in. How are you feeling? Are your emotions setting you back a bit? Maybe take a break and come back to it in a new headspace later on.
I talked to Jessica Lecorchick, a poet who recently showcased her poetry book at the Cornell Creatives Kickoff Event, and she explained the benefits of truly, fully channeling your emotions - and how ultimately, it gives you a better perspective about yourself:
“When we’re in high emotional states, releasing high output into creative pursuits can become easier, and even relieving. Once that emotion dies down, you can see that output from a separate and reflective perspective... This ultimately should leave your work with a more multifaceted representation of yourself.”
Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions you’ve identified, and if that means going a bit out of your comfort zone, so be it! Be vulnerable. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed of what you’re feeling, instead, let it take you down a new creative path.
📝 Decide on a Plan of Action, and Get Started!
Now is the time to take all of those emotional experiences and really hone in on what you want to do with them.
I can’t tell you exactly what to do, but I can give you some ideas:
Choose a genre of music you’ve never explored before, and try incorporating that emotion into it.
Create a piece of art using only the colors that represent that specific emotion to you.
Make a short film using absolutely no words, yet still conveying this emotion.
Code your emotions away - pick a social cause you’ve been moved by and set out to fix it using the power of your code.
What’s stopping you from using these emotions to their fullest potential? Remember, there are no consequences for experimentation, so what’s there to lose? See how far you can take it, but remain kind to yourself, and your emotions, in the process.
For some inspiration, check out the Cornell Creatives Community page!
Julia
CC Writer
Julia is a sophomore in Arts and Sciences majoring in Information Science. She is a content writer for CC, but she also loves playing the guitar and writing music!
Did this blog post supercharge your creativity? ⚡
We hope so. And we can’t wait to see what magic you make next. ✨
Take this email as the reason you’ve been searching for to dive into your next creative endeavor, and know that you’ve got a creative community backing you at every step of the way. 🙌