The Flow Effect: How to Unlock Creativity, Wonder and Presence
By Athena Mandis
So often, I hear people say, “I’m just not creative.” But the truth is, you are. We all are. Creativity isn’t reserved for artists or tied to income: it’s our natural state, the way we express who we are in the world. Somewhere along the way, we’ve confused creativity with commerce, believing that if what we make isn’t validated or profitable, it isn’t real or worthy. Yet creativity isn’t about proving value. It’s about tapping into your inner voice, your intuition, and letting it guide you toward joy and flow.
Creativity vs. Craft: Why We Get It Wrong
Creativity is often mistaken for talent or technical skill. We associate it with painting, sculpting, dancing, writing—the so-called “creative arts.” These are crafts—beautiful ways to channel creativity—but they’re not the whole story.
Craft requires discipline, practice, and refinement. Creativity, however, is universal. It’s an alignment with your inner wisdom, a willingness to listen and express what wants to come through you. It can be arranging flowers in a vase, preparing a meal with love, shaping a PowerPoint presentation that sings, or daring to dream a new path for your life.
When we stop judging creativity by external recognition or income, we unlock its true essence: a way of being, not a profession.
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. – Pablo Picasso
The fear that blocks flow
If creativity is our birthright, why do so many of us feel disconnected from it? The culprit is fear.
Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of not being “good enough.” These fears force us into overthinking and self-criticism. The egoic mind steps in, trying to protect us from imagined humiliation or disappointment, but in doing so, it cuts off possibility.
David Lynch once said, “Negativity is the enemy of creativity.”
Fear locks us in the past, replaying old stories of shame or doubt. Creativity, on the other hand, lives in the future, in the unknown. To enter flow, we must learn to silence the noise of fear and trust the quiet voice of intuition—our “in-tuition,” our inner wisdom guiding us forward.
The power of wonder
The gateway back to creativity is wonder. Wonder is playful, innocent, and expansive. It doesn’t demand perfection or validation. It simply asks, “What if…?”
When I write screenplays, I use this practice every time. I sit quietly, take three deep breaths, and let my mind soften. I ask:
I wonder if this story wants to be told?
I wonder what would make this scene sing?
I wonder what could happen next?
Lynch likens ideas to fish: “If you want to catch little fish, stay in shallow water. If you want big fish, you’ve got to go deeper.” Wonder takes us deeper. It invites new possibilities to swim toward us—ideas we could never force with logic or pressure.
Aligning with flow: A simple practice
If you’re ready to reconnect with your creativity, try this:
- Find a quiet, comfortable space.
- Take three long, grounding breaths.
- Ask yourself: “I wonder…?”
- Write down 20 things you wonder about—from the smallest desires to your biggest dreams.
- Then release them. Go about your day, staying open to what arises.
Einstein reminded us: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Creativity is your birthright. It doesn’t need permission, talent, or applause—it needs space, wonder, and your willingness to listen.
Your invitation
Today, choose curiosity over fear. Wonder over judgment—presence over perfection.
Because creativity isn’t something you have to earn, it isn’t about results or recognition. It’s about allowing your soul to express what only you can bring into the world. When you open that door, you don’t just create—you become.
Recommended reading
If you’re ready to deepen your journey into creativity and soulful living, these books are beautiful companions on the path:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert,
Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch,
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron,
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield,
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin.
Each offers unique insights into courage, intuition, and the wonder of creating a life aligned with your true self.
From Global Woman Magazine Archives:
- Creativity in a World of Technology: 4 Women’s Perspectives (Global Woman Magazine, April 2022) — featuring conversations on living creatively in an increasingly digital era.
- Balancing Creativity, Wellness, and Business: The Evolution of Dennis Clark (Global Woman Magazine, February 2025) — exploring creative reinvention and purposeful living.
