Releasing Control
Three Ways Somatic Drawing Helps You Release Control
The desire for control can be a double-edged sword, especially when it comes to creativity. On the one hand, having a clear vision and a sense of direction can be empowering. On the other hand, when control turns into perfectionism, it stifles spontaneity, limits exploration, and inhibits creative freedom. Many of us struggle with the need to control outcomes, striving for perfect results while fearing mistakes or uncertainty. This need for control often constricts our creative potential and blocks the joy of expression.
Somatic drawing, a practice that connects body awareness with creative expression, offers a powerful antidote to perfectionism. Through its focus on process over product, somatic drawing encourages you to let go of the need for control and embrace spontaneity. This practice not only helps you release perfectionist tendencies but also opens the door to a deeper sense of creative flow and exploration. Here are three ways that somatic drawing can help you release control and rediscover the freedom in your creative expression.
1. Letting Go of Perfectionism: Free-Form Expression in Somatic Drawing
Perfectionism is one of the most common barriers to creative freedom. When we are focused on achieving perfect results, we become overly critical of our work, hesitant to take risks, and afraid to make mistakes. This mindset stifles creativity, turning the creative process into a rigid, restrictive experience. Somatic drawing offers a way to break free from the grip of perfectionism by encouraging free-form, unstructured expression.
Releasing the Pressure to Be Perfect
One of the most liberating aspects of somatic drawing is that there are no rules or expectations. You’re not required to produce a finished, polished piece of art. Instead, the focus is on the act of drawing itself—the movement of your hand, the flow of lines, the sensation of creating without a set goal in mind. This emphasis on process over product allows you to release the pressure to be perfect and to enjoy the freedom of making marks without judgment.
As you engage in somatic drawing, you may find that your lines are messy, your shapes are irregular, and your forms are abstract. This is not only acceptable but encouraged. By letting go of the need for perfect results, you create space for experimentation and discovery. The process becomes playful, and each mark you make on the page is an expression of the moment rather than a step toward a predetermined outcome.
Embracing Mistakes as Part of the Process
In the world of perfectionism, mistakes are often seen as failures. But in somatic drawing, mistakes are simply part of the creative process. Whether your lines are wobbly or your colors don’t blend as expected, these “imperfections” are what make your work unique. By accepting mistakes as opportunities for exploration, you begin to see them not as setbacks but as an integral part of your creative journey.
Through regular practice, somatic drawing helps shift your mindset from one of perfectionism to one of acceptance. You learn to embrace the imperfections in your work and in yourself, realizing that creativity is not about flawless execution but about authentic expression. This shift in perspective allows you to experience greater freedom and joy in your creative practice.
2. Embracing Uncertainty: Learning to Accept the Unknown in Creativity
Uncertainty is often uncomfortable, especially for those who feel the need to control outcomes. When we don’t know how something will turn out, it can trigger anxiety or hesitation, leading us to avoid risks and stick to what feels safe. However, creativity thrives in the unknown, and embracing uncertainty is key to unlocking new ideas and possibilities. Somatic drawing provides a safe space for exploring uncertainty, teaching you to let go of the need for predictability and to welcome creative surprises.
Drawing Without a Plan
In somatic drawing, you’re encouraged to start without a plan or preconceived idea of what the final piece will look like. This can be challenging at first, especially for those used to having a clear vision before they begin creating. But by letting go of the need for a defined outcome, you open yourself up to the creative possibilities that arise in the moment.
As you draw spontaneously, you may notice that unexpected patterns, shapes, or images emerge. These creative surprises are the result of allowing the unconscious mind to play a more active role in the process. Instead of trying to control the outcome, you let the drawing unfold naturally, responding to what emerges with curiosity rather than judgment. This practice helps you become more comfortable with uncertainty, both in your creative work and in life.
Welcoming the Unexpected
One of the gifts of somatic drawing is that it encourages you to embrace the unexpected. When you allow yourself to draw without a plan, you’re more likely to encounter creative breakthroughs and discoveries that you might not have found through a more controlled approach. The lines you draw may lead you in a direction you hadn’t anticipated, or the colors you choose may evoke emotions you didn’t expect.
By embracing uncertainty and welcoming the unexpected, you cultivate a sense of openness and flexibility in your creative process. This mindset not only helps you release control but also allows you to see creativity as an ever-evolving journey, where each step brings new insights and possibilities.
3. Allowing Creative Flow: Opening the Door to Deeper Exploration
When we try to control every aspect of the creative process, we often block the natural flow of ideas and inspiration. Creativity is not something that can be forced—it thrives when we allow it to unfold naturally, without constraints. Somatic drawing helps you tap into this creative flow by encouraging a relaxed, intuitive approach to drawing, where the outcome is less important than the experience of creating.
Tuning Into the Body’s Rhythms
Somatic drawing is a practice that connects you with your body’s rhythms and impulses. Instead of forcing your hand to move in a specific way, you allow your body to guide the drawing process. This might mean following the natural movements of your hand, responding to the feel of the pen or pencil on the paper, or letting your breath influence the pace and direction of your marks.
By tuning into your body’s rhythms, you create a sense of flow in your drawing practice. This flow is not something you control—it emerges naturally when you allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. As you let go of the need to control the outcome, you find that creativity flows more easily, leading to deeper exploration and more authentic expression.
Creating Space for Exploration
When you release control over the outcome, you create space for deeper exploration. Instead of trying to fit your work into a predefined structure or standard, you’re free to experiment with new ideas, techniques, and approaches. This sense of freedom allows you to take creative risks, explore unfamiliar territory, and push the boundaries of your artistic expression.
Somatic drawing is particularly effective at fostering this sense of exploration because it emphasizes process over product. There’s no pressure to produce a finished piece of art or to meet certain expectations. Instead, the focus is on the journey of creation—the exploration of line, form, movement, and emotion. This openness to exploration helps you discover new facets of your creativity and allows for more spontaneous, authentic expression.
Experiencing the Joy of Flow
One of the most rewarding aspects of releasing control is the experience of creative flow. When you’re fully immersed in the act of drawing, without worrying about the outcome, you enter a state of flow where time seems to disappear, and you become completely absorbed in the creative process. This state of flow is often described as one of the most joyful and fulfilling aspects of creativity.
Somatic drawing helps facilitate this flow state by encouraging a relaxed, intuitive approach to creation. As you draw, you may find that your hand moves effortlessly across the page, guided by your body’s impulses rather than your conscious mind. This experience of flow not only enhances your creativity but also provides a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
If you’ve ever felt constrained by perfectionism or the need to control every aspect of your creative work, somatic drawing offers a powerful way to release these limitations and rediscover the freedom in your creative expression. By letting go of perfectionism, embracing uncertainty, and allowing creative flow, somatic drawing helps you break free from the need for control and opens the door to deeper exploration and joy in the creative process.
Through regular practice, you’ll find that somatic drawing not only enhances your artistic abilities but also transforms the way you approach creativity in all areas of your life. You’ll learn to trust the process, welcome the unexpected, and experience the joy of creative flow without the constraints of perfectionism or control. So, pick up a pencil, let your body guide you, and embrace the freedom that comes with releasing control.
