The Createfully Divergent Philosophy

Createful isn’t a “real” word. Like all words, it’s made up. A combination of creative and grateful, to be createful is to embrace creativity in all aspects of life, not just the arts and crafty bits.

Neurodivergent is a term we’re hearing a lot these days. Most people think that the divergent part means different, but there is another definition that better speaks to the our experience. Divergent is the opposite of convergent. Convergent lines, for instance, move towards a single point, while Divergent lines radiate outwards from a single point. The neurodivergent brain is uniquely expansive.

We experience more sensory input than our neurotypical counterparts, and we hold on to more of that input too. It’s no wonder we’re so often overwhelmed. All that extra sensory perception needs to be processed. That’s where creativity comes in.

Without direction, though, our natural creativity can disrupt our lives. Rumination, rejection sensitivity and catastrophic thinking are all examples of how our creative abilities can leave us feeling exhausted, ashamed and hopeless. We’re often told that we’re too much, we’re not, but we are more and our lives need to reflect that.

Creativity needs to be fostered like a child: given boundaries, guidance, and a safe place to play. It also needs love and acceptance. Yet, so often we’re told that our creative pursuits are nothing more than hobbies: frivolous side quests to fit in around the important parts of life. This is simply not true, especially for neurodivergents.

A creative practice, of any kind, is an outlet for all our thoughts and feelings, and the thoughts and feelings we have about our thoughts and feelings. Its a way for us to explore all the strange and extraordinary parts of ourselves. and most importantly, its a entry point for learning how to live happily outside the lines.