Why Corporate Workers Lose Their Creativity (And How to Get It Back)

Few of us realise how much of ourselves we leave behind in the pursuit of stability. Careers grow, responsibilities increase, and somewhere along the way, creativity - once natural and instinctive - quietly fades into the background. In this episode of Ella Podcasts, we explore what happens when we disconnect from our creative selves, why so many people abandon artistic passions as they enter the workforce, and what it really means to reconnect with that lost part of who we are. 

This is a deeply reflective and human conversation about identity, self-expression, and the tension between security and authenticity. Because creativity is not just about art - it is about connection to self. And when that connection is lost, it can impact confidence, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and even our sense of purpose.

In this episode, we discuss why creativity is often seen as impractical or indulgent in a performance-driven world, and how many people feel they have to hide this part of themselves in professional environments. We explore the psychological effects of rediscovering creativity later in life, the fear of judgment, and the internal conflict between stability and fulfilment.

At the same time, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: creativity is not a talent reserved for a few - it is a fundamental part of being human. And reconnecting with it can bring joy, healing, perspective, and a deeper sense of meaning.

Joining me, Ella, are:
 🔹 Dr. Jonathan Marshall – Clinical psychologist and former professor (Stanford & Harvard graduate)
 🔹 Kristina Pakhomova – Actress, producer, and executive presence coach
 🔹 Svetlana Fedotova – Former finance professional turned registered art psychotherapist

Together, we explore the emotional, psychological, and practical sides of creativity - from corporate burnout and identity loss to healing, expression, and rediscovery.

Who Is This Video For?

If you feel disconnected from your passions, stuck in routine, or curious about reconnecting with your creative side, this episode offers insight, reassurance, and practical perspective. It’s for professionals, creatives, and anyone navigating identity, purpose, or self-expression in a fast-paced, performance-driven world.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• why so many people abandon creativity when they enter the workforce
 • the link between creativity, identity, and emotional wellbeing
 • how corporate culture can suppress self-expression
 • the psychological impact of rediscovering creativity later in life
 • why creativity is often misunderstood as “non-productive”
 • the role of creativity in processing emotions and reconnecting with self
 • how fear of judgment stops people from exploring creative outlets
 • simple ways to bring creativity back into everyday life
 • why creativity benefits mental health, confidence, and resilience
 • the difference between performance-driven success and authentic fulfilment

Key Takeaways:

• Creativity is not a talent - it is a natural part of being human
 • Disconnecting from creativity can impact identity, joy, and wellbeing
 • Reconnecting with creativity can feel uncomfortable, but also deeply rewarding
 • The process matters more than the outcome — expression over perfection
 • Small, consistent creative acts can significantly improve mental health
 • Fear of judgment often prevents people from exploring their true interests
 • Creativity can enhance problem-solving, communication, and self-awareness
 • You do not need permission to reconnect with what makes you feel alive

Conclusion:

Losing touch with your creative self doesn’t happen overnight - and reconnecting with it doesn’t require a dramatic life change. Sometimes it starts with something small: curiosity, play, or simply giving yourself permission to explore again.

Because creativity isn’t about producing something perfect - it’s about feeling human, connected, and alive.

If this episode reminds you of a part of yourself you’ve been missing, it’s already doing its job.

Keywords:

creativity, reconnecting with creativity, creative burnout, corporate burnout, self expression, identity and purpose, art therapy, mental health, emotional wellbeing, creative hobbies, executive presence, personal growth, confidence, authenticity, workplace culture

Hashtags:

#Creativity #MentalHealth #SelfExpression #PersonalGrowth #Authenticity #ArtTherapy #CareerIdentity #Wellbeing #CreativeLife #EllaPodcasts

Transcript

0:07

Hello, I'm Ella, and this is Ella Podcast. Many people let go of artistic childhood hobbies on entering the workforce. They stop painting, stop playing instruments and making music, stop acting, singing, dancing, and writing, and become fully immersed in corporate culture. That creative side of us is often abandoned for job security, stability, status, and success. What happens when you lose your creative self? Why does rediscovering creativity feel like something you have to hide from your employer and colleagues? How to reconnect with your passions after neglecting them for so long. Here to discuss this topic are Dr. Jonathan Marshall. He's a Stanford and Harvard University graduate and a leading clinical psychologist and a former professor. We also have Christina Patkomova, and she's an actress and producer. She's also a coach for professionals, improving their executive presence and communicating with confidence. And we have Svetlana Fedotova, and she worked in finance before making a career transition to become a registered art psychotherapist. She conducts art therapy for adolescents and adults. So, first question for Jonathan as always: why do so many people leave behind their creativity once they enter the workforce? I think as children, there's a sense of exploration. And then in your teens, it's like, where am I in the pecking order socially? And who's attracted to me and how do I become more attractive to someone else? And before you have kids, you're like, oh my gosh, I need the money. And so I think, but somewhere between teens and kids, there's this sense of I need to perform. And I think schools are all about pushing us to perform. Workplaces care about do we bring, you know, do we do we make it profitable? And the number one, I think, most viewed TED Talk with over a hundred million views. I just looked on it just today, uh, is our schools killing creativity? There's a sense in which keep it being creative is really kind of counterculture. Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. And and Lana, you know firsthand, because you've transitioned from a corporate career to a creative career. How did you rediscover art and art therapy? The transition was challenging, um, a bit painful, but extremely fulfilling. And I started my career 20 years ago in fixed income sales working for global investment banks in London. And if you think of Gordon Gecko and the wolf of Wall Street, that environment is very high-pressured and uh achievement-oriented and male-dominated. Um, eventually uh we moved to Canada, and um, I was on the buy side in portfolio management where the culture was more conducive to um a better work-life balance. So I had some time to finally um reconnect with um my hobbies, but also this is where the pandemic found me. Um and I unwittingly by chance uh rediscovered my passion for art. I was looking for online classes for my daughter, actually, and um really connected well with the teacher. And I would come out sometimes of the room, and my husband would ask, Have you just had your art class? Yeah, why do you ask? Oh, you're smiling. And I can only describe this feeling of being in the flow during art making as my brain chewing mint gum. I would literally feel tingling at the back of my head. And apart from usual sources of joy like um food and wine and the quarantine 15, that was my main source of joy. So when uh my husband's job um took us abroad, um I decided to take the plunge and um change my career and really pursue my passions, which was scary but um rewarding. And um I completed a two-year master's program in art therapy and then opened my own um company because I I have discovered the healing power of art for myself. I have seen it working for my clients because some things are just um too hard to put into words. And art therapy, not many people know what art therapy is, but it is um evidence-based practice to explore emotions and our inner world rooted in psychology. Um, and when I say evidence-based, I mean randomized controlled trials and studies by teaching universities and um mental health institutions to help us uh express ourselves really and reconnect with ourselves. And it's chalk and cheese compared to the world of finance where it's all money, money, money. You know, everyone's there to make money, make the company money. It's there's nothing really other than money at stake and then to make such a big transition. Do you ever miss the buzz? Um, I had to go through this grieving process of letting my professional identity go and um building my new artistic professional identity. And but I think when we have this highly structured environment which is performance-based, um, and we are stuck on screens in the corporate world. Of course, it's so easy to disengage from creativity. But I really believe that we're all inherently creative. We are born with that, and it's a human condition. It's not talent, you know, let's define what is creativity. It's not producing a masterpiece, it's not just uh for talented um painters, and we usually somehow think of art as painting and and drawing. It is um for everyone who has imagination. And I think we all we all do, don't we? Yeah, it's having fun with your craft, isn't it? So, Christina, how does creative expression help people process emotions? To answer this question, we really need to understand what creativity, right? And I do agree with you, creativity is not a perf about perfectionism, it's not a hobby either, it's not a time pass outside of the workplace. Creativity is the deep connection to oneself, to your most authentic self. And when you're disconnected with yourself, then you're disconnected from the emotions. But the thing is that the emotions is just one element of self-expression. I believe that there are five elements, and when I work with my clients, we work on five elements. So it's emotions, energy, body, breath, and voice. And all these five elements, they interconnected. You cannot isolate one from another. So you cannot just work on your voice, because if your body is blocked, it's gonna affect your emotions. If your emotions are suppressed, it's gonna affect your breathing. So you work on all five, and then it becomes core for your confident expression, communication, and connection to oneself. And when you're connected to oneself, then you just become a better human being, you know, you connect better to other human beings, to the world through connecting with yourself. So absolutely, creativity is a great way to connect to emotions, but not only emotions, to your deeper layers of who you really are. Yeah, that's that's a great explanation. And during the pandemic lockdowns, most people realized they'd lost touch with their creative side. Um, did it give people time to reconnect with their artistic hobbies, Jonathan? I know you reconnected with disconnected. I was going bananas and I rented a potter's wheel, and I made a commitment that I would make two things before sleeping every day. Wow. I was often awake till 4 a.m. I mean, learning pottery on your own sucks. Um, but but I always had this big vision of you and that scene from the movie goes. I'll be your demished. It's a very smooth move. It's a very smooth move, very smooth move. Um, I think lots of people during the pandemic particularly discovered a lot about creativity. It was one study showing a huge jump in interest in create creative pursuits in 2021 and 2022, um, during the pandemic. So I think uh a lot of people got very excited. Myself, I found uh in in starting a creative project, really, just I had to experience so much failure. Like I spent so much of my life trying to be good at what I do that to start something where I'm confronted every few minutes by my complete incompetence and failure was sort of a cool thing. It's like, and it doesn't matter, so another pot bites the dust. I mean, it hurts my ego a bit, but it was kind of cool to be back in that position of being a blundering fool. Yeah, and I felt like everyone had to find something to do because it was boring. You couldn't go out and hang out with your friends, you couldn't socialise. So you had to become creative and find ways to stay occupied but in a in a positive way. So I kind of reconnected with, I always enjoyed creative writing when I was at school and college. And you know, I I did well at it, but I never saw it as anything other than part of school, and then dropped it. And then during COVID, I started writing a lot because it was like a way to get out in your head. I know it sounds a bit strange, but you'd transport yourself to another world, and you like loved your characters, and I write a lot of comedy. So even though COVID was not a fun time, I was cracking up writing all my jokes. Yeah, and um, it's amazing to reconnect with that after decades of ignoring it. And I realized actually this is a big part of me, and I've forgot about it, and it's so nice to be reconnected. So, what happens psychologically when someone rediscovers their creativity if it's been dormant for a very long time? I think in some cases you come across all kinds of things in your ego, like like failure, but also excitement of like, gosh, this is cool, or can I do this? And that sense of breaking rules. Like we spend so much time trying to be perfect in society, but to then have a playground where there perhaps is no perfection, or if there is, you're gonna be a long way off from it, and to just accept that. So I think it can be very exciting as an adult as well as as a child. And it's almost like COVID gave people the chance to spend time doing this stuff without employers, you know, kind of looking down on, you know, what the hell have you got, you know, your paintbrush out for, you know, why are you dancing around your living room? It's it's almost like everyone needed an outlet. I think the COVID um created the space for people, or forced rather people to face themselves and face uncomfortable, suppressed emotions, you know, fear of isolation, anxiety, anger. And I think people were like, okay, I cannot deal with it only with my logic. I have to do something about it. So where are those places? Where are the outlets? So some people did pottery, some people did music, you know. I had to stop uh acting during uh COVID because all the theaters were closed. And I was like, okay, what do I do now? And I started teaching. And I initially I started teaching actors, beginners, but then so many non-actors, students started joining, like from all over, I mean, different backgrounds, you know, finance, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and they all had one goal in common. We they wanted to reconnect with themselves, you know, become free, open, more expressive. And what fascinating for me was that I was teaching them acting professional techniques. I thought like they're not gonna understand anything because they don't have any acting background, but they absolutely understood it because I mean, for me, I understood that acting is a universal language, and acting is the science of human behavior almost. So it's relatable for everybody. And they were so eager, they were really enjoying. And uh yeah, like like yourself, I just opened up the company and I started teaching non-actors because they are like kids. They're like, we don't know anything about acting, like we're so hungry for this, and it was very enjoyable. So I think COVID was blessing disguise, really, right? I mean, it was a curse. I mean, it's very connected, they were forced. You cannot escape yourself, you know, there's no distraction, you're just there with yourself. That's true. I think it highlighted the need for emotional processing and regulation, um, but also hopefully created um this element of um play, right? When there's doom and despair all around you, how do we bring in more joy? Um, how do we also identify our needs and wants? And again, it doesn't have to be necessarily um when we think of um art. So, for example, National Um Institutes of Health and I think Arts Um Council England did some studies about engagement in home-based art activities, and they found that indeed they they increased during the pandemic, but um it can be something as simple as bread making, right? Or flower arranging, or you know, we all went through sourdough making and naming it Josephine Owen. Sourdough shares. I love sourdough, but it is an outlet for creativity and really, you know, journaling or even things like identifying, I don't know, shapes in the clouds, right? So being creative doesn't necessarily mean um that you need tons of hours and and art materials. It really can be small ways of finding those windows of bringing joy into your life. Personally, I think that that's already enough. But I think we people have had to legitimize it by doing research on what are the psychological benefits of it. So things like Mayo Clinic study found that for people over the age of 70, engaging in some kind of creative activity reduces cognitive impairment by 73%. So massive benefits to people by engaging in these things. But I think simply the joy of it should be enough. But I think many of us feel, oh no, it has to be productive. I must be productive in some way. Like I'm doing acting classes so that I can speak better in front of a CEO. Maybe surreptitiously, it's because you enjoy acting. And I think this is the downfall that we are so focused as a society on results and performance, right? That we don't really value the process. And in art therapy, this is where yes, of course, it's nice to look at something aesthetically pleasing and it gives you a sense of achievement. At the same time, the benefits mostly come from the engagement and the expression. And there's a wonderful book I'd like to recommend, um, called Your Brain on Art by Susan McSammon, where she highlights that just 20 minutes of any creative engagement in day really improves your mental health and well-being, just the same as we now recognize going to the gym is good for you. And employers don't argue with that, right? So it's a shame that leaders don't recognize the benefits of um creativity for the for the employees. And I think people keep it very separate. So they have their work self and it's all consuming, it's just work, you know. This is who I am, professional, this is my job. And you always have to kind of hide that creative part of yourself for fear of it being looked down on or to be seen as a distraction. Fear of judgment. Are you yeah, you spending time at home painting paintings instead of doing a work? It's that kind of fear of judgment that means I think a lot of people you don't even know what they're up to creativity-wise. So, what are some simple ways busy professionals can reconnect with their creativity? I think letting go of imperfection would be a good start, and also focusing on um curiosity rather than being uh performance-driven, right? I think not labeling things as good and bad, which are judgments, but just really letting yourself explore. And I think even taking a mindful photograph with intention can be a part of that. Um, integrating, you know, doodling in in meetings. Uh, there's uh nothing wrong with that. It doesn't have to be a class where you sit down with a canvas. Um, there are so many um ways to uh express yourself, uh, but I still do think that journaling is uh is is wonderful. And then Christina, why do people mock the poor struggling artist but applaud them if they suddenly achieve success and fame and fortune? Oh my god, that's such a good question. I personally told myself that I would never be a struggling actress, that I was. I don't know, I think creativity is associated with vulnerability, emotional risk, uncertainty, even financial or otherwise. And it's just not everybody's ready for it, understandably so. It's scary. And why people mock struggling artists? I don't know. I think it's just mocking a part of you that you secretly want something for yourself, and you don't accept, and then it's like your inner child there, and you're like, no, you're not allowed to have that. Go and work, go and make money, you have kids, you have all this responsibility. So, in in a way, you're projecting, right? And you are mocking yourself, which is very sad. And when we admire successful people, we don't necessarily admire for their success and money, we just admire their courage. Wow, it's so brave to pursue your dreams and go and do things that you love, uh, despite of judgment, fear of judgment. I think a lot of it starts with parents as well, who hammer at home that no, you need to have a sensible job, a sensible profession, you need to be paying your bills and you know, anything creative, it's just people play, isn't it? Yeah, people very often choose the success and money, and they for some reason they think that the nine to five job will guarantee them that. But we know so many examples that there is no guarantees, there is no stability in in the world. So just choose what you love. And your creativity can be an office job, nine to five. It can be your creative outlet. Just be honest to yourself, don't betray yourself, don't betray your inner child. I think sometimes like uh we we we have contempt for those who threaten us. It's some sort of like a defense. And so if somebody is an artist, I'm like, well, should I be an artist? No, I shouldn't, because I'm a practical person. Well, they must be stupid for being an artist. So we so we kind of pour on them that own that from our anxiety becomes aggression. But if somebody becomes a famous artist, they're like, well, okay, I can't say that they're not practical, they're making money or they've they've got fame. Um but I think those who don't make that cut, we we kind of have this look can have an aggression towards them. Looking down on people, which is really sad. That's because we're afraid. Yeah. Yeah. It's all the fear, yeah, the enemy. Thanks to that, it reflects the values in our society, right? It's a capitalist society and um we value productivity and um somehow and the academics are prioritized, whereas um creative outlet is not really paid well. And what did you feel any judgment when you switched from a successful career in finance to going into art therapy? Oh yes, my friends would literally ask, you know, are you still doing that thing? And um and are you are you are you not coming back to banking? And um I'm so lucky to have a very supportive husband, but I think he occasionally would also, you know, worry that um, you know, I was supposed to be his retirement plan. But he said, Are you sure you don't want to go back to banking? But I also I also see examples of art therapists who make a good living for themselves. Um so I and I hope that a general population and the corporate sector will require these services more and more. This is one for Jonathan. Is society more accepting of miserable stability than uncertain happiness? I think we as a society we like stability and we like people who are doing things that affirm what we're doing. So if I'm quite comfortable doing my boring, miserable job and you're doing something similar, you don't threaten me. So I'm cool with that. You do something which perhaps I could do, well, that threatens me. And so yeah, I think we we we kind of are more comfortable with grayish dullness. I think there are societies which aren't that way, but I think generally speaking, but that's just one person's opinion. I think you're right. So for our final quick round, uh let's share some positive thoughts for people to get back in touch with their creative selves. Christina? Actually, listening to you, I think if you guys, I don't know which camera to look at, but if you think that you are dull, boring, not creative, it's an illusion. It's not true. Like Lana said, we're all born creative. It's our it's inherited, it's like a human state, natural. So you can reconnect with it. And if you don't know how, if you don't know where, there are people, there are places that can guide you back. Just don't put it out for too long. You know, life is short. So if you feel the urge, if you don't, just go with your life, it's fine. But if you've been putting it out for so long, don't wait for COVID, don't wait for, God forbid, any illnesses or any trauma that can happen in your life. Just go with it and give it a try, take a risk. Um, and people, you know, there's art therapy, there is writing, there is acting, there is pottery. So try something and uh that creativity inside of you, it's there. It's not something that you need to perform. Oh, how what should I do to be the most creative person in the office? You're already creative, you're already authentic, just reconnect with that authentic self. Thanks, Christina. Great words and Lana? For the leaders and employers, um, I hope that they recognize that uh creativity makes um employees more flexible, uh, better at innovation, and um encourages perspective taking. So it does help with problem solving as well. Both your right and left side of the brain are involved during creative processes. And um I hope we can bring more of um creative skills um training into workspaces. Um and I hope all of us can um give ourselves permission to be open-minded, to explore um and um play a little bit. Yeah, fantastic. And last words from Jonathan. In my one-on-one work, I'm surprised by the number of people who, when we do a creative visualization or something like that, go, wow, why did I come up with that? Like they they're so surprised by their own creativity. So just to kind of echo your point that give it a try, maybe find someone who can give you a hand, uh, and and we can find cool things inside that are genuinely interesting. Well, thank you for joining us today on Ella Podcasts. Disconnection from your creative self is a loss of happiness. Enjoy creative pursuits, they make you feel alive and in tune with your passion. It's a crucial form of self-expression. Don't leave it too late to re rediscover your creative side. It's amazing for your mental health and making you feel human again after the gray confines of the corporate workforce. Bring back the color into your life. If you want to suggest a topic for our next episode, please join our Facebook group at Ella Podcasts and message us. Please subscribe, rate, and share this podcast, sending you all a big creative hug.