The Science of Creativity (and Why Vampires Were the Plot Twist I Needed)
How a little creative play, and a lot of fictional witches and vampires, reminded me that creativity is essential to wellness.
Creativity as Medicine
When I hit publish on my first blog post for Coacha Vida Wellness, I thought my heart might actually beat out of my chest. It wasn’t just the words — it was the fact that I was putting a piece of myself out into the universe, vulnerable and unfiltered.
No announcement. No launch. No “look at me.” Just… live.
And in that moment — somewhere between terror and exhilaration — I realized something. The act of creating, for no other reason than to express what was on my heart, was giving me energy in a way nothing else did.
Why Creativity Heals
We tend to think of creativity as a personality trait — some people have it, others don’t. But creativity isn’t just about writing poetry or painting landscapes. It’s a physiological experience.
Dopamine release. Research shows creative activity sparks the brain’s reward system. That little hit of satisfaction you feel when you finish a drawing, write a clever sentence, or even nail the seasoning on roasted veggies? That’s dopamine, fueling motivation, joy, and energy.
Flow state. The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term for the state where time disappears and we become fully immersed. Neurologically, flow quiets the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for self-criticism and fear — giving your nervous system a rare chance to reset.
Stress regulation. Studies have found that just 45 minutes of creative activity (like coloring or free writing) significantly lowers cortisol levels. In other words, creativity literally calms the stress storm on a cellular level.
So when people say creativity is “good for you,” it’s not fluff. It’s neuroscience.
When I Forgot This
Not long ago, I hit a wall. I was stretched between my business, my day job, and the invisible weight of needing to figure out my “next step.” Stress became my baseline.
And then advice I’d once dismissed came back to me: read fiction.
So I did. And wow. Once I dove into a book with witches, vampires, science, and a love story (because obviously), I was hooked. A book that transported me so far from my to-do list that I could finally exhale.
The result? My brain lit back up. Ideas started flowing again. Not because I forced productivity, but because I allowed myself to step into wonder.
The Paradox of Creation
Here’s the truth: creativity multiplies. The more time you spend in it, the more expansive it becomes. But it also asks for humility.
Creating often means no one is watching, no one is clapping, no one is validating. That’s why it feels both terrifying and liberating. You can write a blog no one reads, paint a canvas no one sees, dance in your kitchen with no audience.
And still, it matters. Because when we create, we remind ourselves that life is not just about output. It’s about expression. The act itself is the medicine.
Your Invitation
So I’ll leave you with this: where in your life are you silencing your creativity because it doesn’t feel useful, productive, or profitable?
And what might happen if you gave yourself permission to create — not for applause, not for progress, but for the energy and aliveness it stirs in you?
Wellness isn’t only about sleep, nutrition, or exercise. It’s about remembering that you are a creator. And in that remembering, you begin to feel whole again.
Because creativity isn’t separate from wellness. It is wellness.