Lately I’ve been reading about Alfred Adler — a psychologist who believed that our wellbeing is rooted in connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Though his ideas are over a century old, they feel surprisingly relevant to creative practice and art therapy today.
Adler believed that happiness doesn’t come from success or status, but from feeling connected — to others, to ourselves, and to something larger than us. He called this social interest: the sense that we each have something to contribute, that we matter. When I think about it, this same quality often emerges in creative spaces. When we make art together — sharing materials, laughter, or quiet — we are connected and what we create matters. Creativity itself becomes a form of belonging.
He also spoke about purpose and striving for improvement — not in a competitive way, but as an ongoing journey of becoming.
In art, this is what keeps us curious, creative and painting! Each brushstroke, mistake, or new colour choice is part of that movement forward and part of our personal journey of getting to know ourselves that little bit better, of becoming. The process itself is the growth.
Adler’s belief in self-confidence also resonates deeply with creativity. In intuitive painting or art therapy, so much of the work is about building trust — in ourselves, in our instincts, in our ability to create something even when it doesn’t look “perfect.”
I also love Adler’s idea that happiness involves contributing to others. In my workshops, I see this in the simple ways people support each other — a smile, a shared colour, a word of encouragement. Art-making naturally invites connection and empathy; and when we express ourselves, we open space for others to do the same.
Adler’s principles remind me that creativity isn’t just about making art — it’s about being human. When we create, we connect. When we connect, we heal. And in those quiet moments of painting, weaving, or simply being present, we touch that balance between belonging, purpose, and joy.
