Cultivating Creativity: Letting Go of Comparison and Embracing Possibility

As coaches, we know that growth often happens in the space between certainty and curiosity. Yet, when it comes to creativity, many of us hesitate. We tell ourselves we’re not the “creative type” or that creativity is a luxury rather than a necessity. We compare ourselves to others who seem to embody creativity effortlessly and conclude that we’re simply not wired that way.

But here’s the truth: there’s no such thing as creative people and non-creative people. There are only people who use their creativity and people who don’t. Brené Brown, whose work has deeply shaped my own coaching journey, puts it plainly:

“Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgment, sorrow, shame.”

If we don’t make space for creativity, we don’t just miss out on joy—we risk disconnecting from ourselves. And for us as coaches, cultivating our creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential. It helps us break free from the grip of comparison, perfectionism, and rigid thinking, and allows us to show up more fully—both for our clients and ourselves.

Creativity as an Antidote to Comparison

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And yet, so many of us spend our time measuring ourselves against others, feeling like we don’t quite measure up.

Comparison is particularly insidious in the coaching world. We look at other coaches and wonder if we’re doing it “right.” Are we coaching the way we’re supposed to? Are we using the best models? Are we as impactful, as knowledgeable, as credible?

I remember when I first started my coaching business, I spent hours reading other people’s content, looking at how they structured their work, their branding, their social media. Instead of feeling inspired, I felt paralysed. It wasn’t until I started focusing on my own creative practice—writing, experimenting, speaking in my own voice—that I felt more grounded. I wasn’t coaching to fit in; I was coaching to express something uniquely mine.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic, describes creativity as the antidote to fear:

“Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome. And fear hates uncertain outcome.”

When we focus on our own creative path, we stop worrying about whether we’re measuring up. We start asking instead: What do I want to create? What do I want to express? What’s alive in me right now?

Letting Go of Perfectionism and Rule-Following

Perfectionism is a creativity killer. It tells us that unless we can do something perfectly, we shouldn’t do it at all. It keeps us stuck in endless preparation, afraid to take risks in case we get it wrong.

I felt this keenly when I first started sharing my writing publicly. I’d agonise over every sentence, tweaking and refining until it was “just right.” The result? I barely shared anything. I spent so long trying to craft the perfect post that I never got around to actually expressing anything meaningful.

Creativity has taught me that imperfection is where the magic happens. Coaching, like creativity, isn’t about getting it right—it’s about being fully present and allowing something new to emerge.

As coaches, we don’t coach from a script. We coach from a place of curiosity, intuition, and trust in our ability to navigate the unknown. When we cultivate creativity, we practice that same trust—not just in our coaching, but in ourselves.

Creativity as a Path to Meaning and Self-Discovery

At its core, creativity is about more than just making things—it’s about making meaning.

I learned this through gardening. It started as a simple way to unwind, but it quickly became something more. At first, I stuck rigidly to the “rules”—following guides on when and how to plant things, worrying about whether I was doing it ‘properly.’ But as I spent more time with my hands in the soil, I realised that nature doesn’t follow a rulebook. It thrives in unexpected places. Seeds sprout when they’re ready. Plants adapt. And the joy isn’t in controlling the outcome—it’s in being part of the process.

Gardening taught me that creativity isn’t about getting things right; it’s about trusting in what wants to grow. It mirrored my coaching practice—where things don’t always go according to plan, but when I let go of control, something organic and meaningful emerges.

As Nietzsche put it:

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.”

Creativity invites us to embrace the chaos rather than trying to control it. It allows us to lean into uncertainty with curiosity rather than fear.

Making Creativity a Priority

One of the biggest myths about creativity is that it’s something we can only indulge in when we have “spare time.” But if creativity is about meaning, self-discovery, and freedom from comparison, then it’s not an indulgence—it’s a necessity.

Here are some ways to make creativity a regular part of your life:

• Morning Pages – Julia Cameron’s practice of writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness each morning clears mental clutter and unlocks creative thinking.

• Doodling or Painting – Not for an end product, but just for the act of making marks on a page. The less you try to make it “good,” the more liberating it becomes.

• Gardening as Creativity – Experiment with planting things in new ways, let nature surprise you, and embrace the process of growth rather than focusing on perfection.

• Storytelling – Write short stories, even if no one reads them. Let your imagination run wild and see where it takes you.

• Improvisation – Whether it’s improv theatre, spontaneous poetry, or playing with different ways of speaking, improv helps us let go of control and step into flow.

• Creative Constraints – Try setting odd challenges for yourself, like writing a poem with only one-syllable words or cooking a meal with just five ingredients. Creativity often flourishes within constraints.

How Creativity Supports Us as Coaches and Humans

When we cultivate creativity, we deepen our capacity to be present, to think in new ways, and to trust ourselves. We become more comfortable with uncertainty, more open to possibility, and more attuned to our own inner wisdom.

Beyond coaching, creativity reconnects us with joy, playfulness, and self-expression. It reminds us that we are not just professionals—we are humans, with dreams, ideas, and a need to explore. And when we embrace our own creativity, we give our clients permission to do the same.

So, let’s stop waiting for creativity to find us and instead make the deliberate choice to cultivate it. Not just for our work, but for ourselves. Because creativity isn’t something we do in our spare time—it’s something that makes us more fully alive.

About the Author

Melissa is a Leadership Coach and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator based in Dorset, with a particular interest in supporting leaders and coaches to be more courageous in their work and lives.

Find out more about The Courageous Coach, Dare to Lead for Leaders or One to One and team coaching.