Creating in Chaos: How Art & Poetry Help Me Cope

Life doesn’t always slow down when we need it to. Chaos has a way of showing up uninvited — through heartbreak, uncertainty, loss, or even just the weight of everyday stress. And when the world around me feels heavy, I don’t always have the right words to explain what I’m feeling. That’s where art and poetry come in. They help me breathe when everything else feels suffocating.

Art Is My Way Out — And My Way Through

When I paint, I don’t need to have it all figured out. I can pick up a brush, and suddenly the noise around me starts to quiet down. I might not even know what I’m painting until halfway through — and that’s okay. The process itself becomes a kind of meditation, a way to release the emotions I don’t always know how to name.

Every color, every stroke is a reflection of what’s going on inside. Even if the world is spinning, I can find a center in the act of creating.

Poetry Lets Me Speak Without Censoring Myself

There are things I’ve written in poems that I haven’t said out loud. Some feelings are too raw, too complex, or too sacred to explain in a conversation. But when I sit down and write, the truth finds its way out of me.

Sometimes it’s angry. Sometimes it’s quiet and reflective. Sometimes it surprises me. But it’s always real.

My poetry doesn’t always follow rules — because chaos doesn’t either. And in that freedom, I find healing.

I Create So I Don’t Break

Some people run. Some people shut down. I pick up a pen, a brush, or a blank canvas and try to turn my pain into something with purpose.

Art and poetry have kept me going through some of the darkest moments in my life. They’ve helped me process trauma, release anger, and hold space for joy when it felt out of reach.

Even when I’m unsure of everything else, I know this: creating keeps me alive. Creating reminds me that I’m still here, still feeling, still me.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re reading this and you’re in the middle of your own storm, I want you to know — you’re not alone. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t even have to be okay. But if you can find something that brings you peace — even just for a few minutes — lean into it.

Whether it’s art, writing, music, dancing, or just sitting still — healing comes in many forms. And your voice, your expression, your truth — they matter.

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Thank you for letting me share a piece of my truth. This post isn’t just about me — it’s for anyone who’s ever turned to creativity to survive. Chaos may be loud, but your story, your art, your voice can still rise above it.

— Jasmodee