Creative Potential

by Matt Sherman

A teacher of mine once said, “Creativity is life itself.” Blocked creativity is life being blocked. One could assume that the physical constraints of bars or poverty are what block many of us, but even in those circumstances we can have our creativity, in many cases even moreso, if we remember. Many of the participants in our programs are some of the most creative people I’ve met. Many of them led very creative lives through a variety of circumstances like incarceration, addiction or homelessness, creative energy that could be used for liberation is silenced or forgotten. Or worse, that same energy of creation is turned in a destructive direction.

One of the ways I came to understand this concept was how it was explained by Stephen Diamond in his book Anger, Madness, and the Daimonic. He explores the concept of the “daimonic,” which he describes as the darker, often uncontrollable aspects of our psyche that can manifest as both creative impulses and destructive behaviors. According to Diamond, “The daimonic is neither good nor evil; it is our relationship to it that determines whether it serves us or harms us.” This highlights the importance of channeling our creative impulses effectively. When we acknowledge and embrace our creative energies, they can lead to profound personal transformation and social impact.

We work to channel it well through our Free Food programs, Art of Soulmaking courses in and outside of prisons, and a forthcoming creation by Unconditional Freedom’s Art of Soulmaking project manager, Nancy Coleman titled, “Free the Artist.” With this passion project straight from Nancy’s heart, we will host an online gallery for incarcerated artists to let their creations shine in the world.

There are so many creative souls locked away. Some physically behind bars and others mentally because of the fear of standing out, being different, getting too much attention that might put them at risk of being seen. However, I get to see the transformation of the fear-based blocking of creativity melt away in guests and participants in our programs.

I’ve watched otherwise silent young men take objects from a bland classroom and turn it into a funky podcast studio on command and then yearn to hold the microphone in their hand and speak.

I’ve seen them walk into a kitchen and chop veggies with Michael Lesser at Free Food and then suddenly a participant admits that he’s an amazing cook and cooks a delicious curry chicken meal for everyone in the room, with grandma size portions for all who are hungry.

I’ve seen “hardened” men and women go from stoic and looking down at the floor, not making eye contact and barely sharing their feelings, or better yet not even knowing how they feel, to lighting up while creating love notes to themselves and vision boards that express their souls’ desire.

I’ve seen and felt the power of the creation of small sculptures from death row resident Charles Finney https://unconditionalfreedom.org/black-tara-took-on-a-life-of-her-own/. He shows resourcefulness in creating sculptures from paper, Q-tips, and other found objects and inspires with the love and attention he pours into his art, and the way it contributes to the people who get to experience it on the outside.

I watched as a guest at our Free Food dinner, one who often wears the fragrance of malt liquor and has some loud outbursts at times, sat and told me how wonderful it is to be at the meals and how he’s trying to think of ways to contribute. Without taking the obvious path of helping us with cleaning up or dishes, which others sometimes do, he instead decided to break out into a beautiful song in a bel canto operatic style that no one ever saw coming. Everyone left feeling nourished and blown away.

Through Unconditional Freedom, the transformative power of creativity is celebrated as a means of achieving personal freedom in any condition. Through creative endeavors, like writing, painting, or music, yoga, meditation, chopping, and cooking, people can connect with themselves and their communities, and experience increased resilience and flourishing in their lives. As Diamond notes, “By confronting and integrating the daimonic, we can learn to channel our creative energies in ways that promote well-being rather than despair.”

By recognizing the dual nature of creativity, we can learn to navigate its complexities and harness its power for positive change in the world, and on the most basic level, experience joy in our inner world.

Matt Sherman is an Unconditional Freedom program manager and class facilitator. With a background in arts, communications, and event management, he loves teaching, writing, and creating experiences that focus on connecting people to opportunities for discovering purpose, value, and flourishing.