Creativity as a Path to Self Understanding
Kristan shared that creativity has been a thread woven through her life in many forms.
From studying fine art and experimenting with printmaking to landscape design and eventually coaching and writing, each creative chapter revealed something new about who she was becoming. Creativity was never just about the medium. It was about the insights and awareness that emerged through the process.
Over time she began to see creativity as a way of learning about herself.
Many of us think creativity must look like painting, writing or making something tangible. But creativity is much broader than that. It is a mindset. A way of approaching life with openness, experimentation and curiosity.
When we allow ourselves to explore creatively, we open the door to new perspectives and deeper understanding.
Curiosity as a Tool for Personal Growth
One of the most powerful themes in our conversation was curiosity.
Kristan described curiosity as a gentle way of approaching our experiences without harsh self judgement. Instead of immediately labelling our thoughts or actions as right or wrong, curiosity allows us to observe what is happening with openness.
This shift can be incredibly powerful.
When we move from judgement into curiosity, we create space to explore our patterns, beliefs and emotions with more compassion. Rather than shutting down uncomfortable insights, curiosity invites us to learn from them.
It becomes a doorway to self awareness and personal transformation.
The Story Behind “Spaghetti on the Wall”
Kristan also shared the playful story behind the name of her journaling practice, Spaghetti on the Wall.
The name comes from a childhood memory of learning how to cook pasta. The test to see if the spaghetti was ready was to throw a noodle against the wall and see if it stuck.
This simple idea became a metaphor for exploration.
Life often unfolds through experimentation. We try things, observe what happens, and learn from the experience. Not every attempt will stick, but each one offers valuable information.
Her journaling practice invites people to approach their thoughts and experiences with the same spirit of curiosity and experimentation.
Rather than trying to get everything right, the goal is simply to explore.
When Words Are Not Enough
While writing is a powerful reflective tool, Kristan also discovered that sometimes words alone cannot fully express what we are feeling.
On one particularly restless morning she felt overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. Writing felt insufficient, so she picked up a pen and began drawing a continuous line across the page without lifting it.
This simple act created a powerful release.
The swirls, loops and movement of the drawing mirrored the busyness of her mind and allowed that energy to move out of her body and onto the page.
This experience inspired her concept of Heart Mapping, a visual creative practice that allows emotions and insights to emerge through drawing rather than language.
It is a beautiful reminder that creative expression can take many forms, and each form offers a different pathway to understanding ourselves.
Creativity and Spiritual Growth
Another powerful theme that emerged during our conversation was the connection between creativity and spirituality.
Kristan shared that while she had always felt a spiritual connection to something larger than herself, it was through her creative exploration that this relationship deepened and matured.
Creative practices often bring us into a state of presence.
When we are fully immersed in observing, making or reflecting, we naturally become more aware of the subtleties within ourselves and the world around us. Creativity can become a bridge between our inner world and the greater mystery of life.
For many people, creativity becomes a deeply spiritual practice.
A Question to Reflect On
At the end of our conversation, Kristan offered a beautiful invitation.
She encouraged listeners to recognise that everyone has creative gifts, even if they do not think of themselves as creative in a traditional artistic sense.
Creativity might show up in how you solve problems, nurture relationships, design spaces, cook meals or tell stories.
The invitation is simply to pause and ask yourself:
What is the creative gift that moves through me?
And perhaps even more importantly…
Am I allowing myself to explore it with curiosity?
When we begin to approach our lives with that spirit of curiosity and creative exploration, we often discover that the answers we have been seeking were already within us.
