The Art of Expression

More Than Words, More Than Art

This morning, I randomly opened Sarah Prout’s Dear Universe —and it read: Expressive. It hit me right in the heart.

I’ve spent years talking about creativity and self-expression. Whenever I speak to a crowd, I ask, “How many of you consider yourselves creative?” And inevitably, only a few tentative hands go up. The usual response follows: “I’m not that artistic. I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler.”

But here’s the thing:
Creativity is not about perfection. It’s not confined to paintbrushes or poetry.
It’s how you dress. How you decorate your home. The way you cook a favorite meal, parent with intention, lead your team, or show up for your community. It’s the way you solve problems, plan a celebration, or design a healing space for someone hurting. It’s in how you listen.

Before COVID, I used to wear big, bold jewelry all the time—my signature sparkle. Lately, I made a conscious decision to bring that part of myself back. I declared: “Dazzling Diva Rae is back!” One of my core values is to offer beauty and a little glitter into the world. That, too, is a form of expression.

So, how do you express yourself?

I think about the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman:

• Words of Affirmation

• Quality Time

• Acts of Service

• Physical Touch

• Receiving Gifts

Each one is a creative expression of love. And whether in our relationships, our work, or our daily routines—we make choices every day about how we express ourselves.

Are you Negative Nancy, stuck in “we’ve always done it that way”?
Or are you Curious Cathy, asking, “What else is possible here?”

Are you the one who says, “Why is this broken?” or the one who asks, “How can I help fix it—and who’s missing from the table?”

Learning to express ourselves is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity for healing, for connection, for change.

Sometimes, yelling at your spouse or slamming a door isn’t really about anger—it’s about feeling unheard. And sometimes, engaging with the raging hormones of a teenager means choosing to walk away first and speak later. Expression is also knowing when silence is the most powerful language.

Not everything needs to be spoken. It might be scribbles in your journal, dancing alone in your kitchen, writing a heartfelt note, or offering a warm smile to the smoothie guy with the radiant grin.

There is a language only you know—and you are the only one who can give it voice.

So today, I invite you:
💫 Wear the glitter.
💫 Speak the words.
💫 Write the poem.
💫 Cook the meal with extra love.
💫 Start the conversation no one else will.
💫 Draw the scribble only you understand.
💫 Let your light speak.

The world needs more expressive, creative, truth-telling souls. It needs you.