By: Jenn Todling
When you were a child, what creative outlets lit you up? Were you a painter, singer, pillow fort architect, or LEGO master? And more importantly, how many of those creative outlets have followed you into adulthood? Anyone?
For me, writing and dance have always been the purest expressions of my heart and soul. Yet, I spent the entirety of my 20s pushing them aside. I was climbing the corporate ladder, collecting accolades, but something was missing. I didn’t feel fully alive.
Why? In my pursuit of professionalism, I lost sight of the value and importance of creativity. I forgot how vital it is to bring our full selves—not just our to-do lists—into the workplace. A turning point came during the pandemic. I reconnected with my favorite hip-hop teacher in NYC (thank you, virtual classes!)—right in the middle of busy season. To my surprise, this creative outlet didn’t just keep me balanced; it sharpened my mind and made me better at my job.
We often think of creative passions or exercise as “extras”—nice to have if we have the time, which we usually don’t. But what if we reframed them as essential components of balanced leadership? Our brains operate on two key networks: the task-positive network (TPN), perfect for getting things done, and the default mode network (DMN), which is where innovation and insight live.
As a former accountant, I was a master of the TPN. I could tackle to-do lists, solve audit challenges, and outwork anyone around me. But allowing myself time to “chill”—to paint, sing, dance, or simply daydream? That was harder for me to wrap my head around. Yet, the more I learned about neuroscience and leadership, the more I realized that without tapping into both networks, I was only using half of my superpower.
Now, I start each morning with a reflective walk in nature, letting my mind wander and giving space for my DMN to wake up. Every day, I come home with a new creative insight to kickstart my day. I’ve also joined a weekly choir to train my brain in new ways, and I’ve returned to teaching ballroom dance. Moving my body and expressing myself has brought more of me to my work and leadership—not less.
What about you? How will you express yourself this week? For the world needs who you were made to be.
When you were a child, what creative outlets lit you up? Were you a painter, singer, pillow fort architect, or LEGO master? And more importantly, how many of those creative outlets have followed you into adulthood? Anyone?
For me, writing and dance have always been the purest expressions of my heart and soul. Yet, I spent the entirety of my 20s pushing them aside. I was climbing the corporate ladder, collecting accolades, but something was missing. I didn’t feel fully alive.
Why? In my pursuit of professionalism, I lost sight of the value and importance of creativity. I forgot how vital it is to bring our full selves—not just our to-do lists—into the workplace. A turning point came during the pandemic. I reconnected with my favorite hip-hop teacher in NYC (thank you, virtual classes!)—right in the middle of busy season. To my surprise, this creative outlet didn’t just keep me balanced; it sharpened my mind and made me better at my job.
We often think of creative passions or exercise as “extras”—nice to have if we have the time, which we usually don’t. But what if we reframed them as essential components of balanced leadership? Our brains operate on two key networks: the task-positive network (TPN), perfect for getting things done, and the default mode network (DMN), which is where innovation and insight live.
As a former accountant, I was a master of the TPN. I could tackle to-do lists, solve audit challenges, and outwork anyone around me. But allowing myself time to “chill”—to paint, sing, dance, or simply daydream? That was harder for me to wrap my head around. Yet, the more I learned about neuroscience and leadership, the more I realized that without tapping into both networks, I was only using half of my superpower.
Now, I start each morning with a reflective walk in nature, letting my mind wander and giving space for my DMN to wake up. Every day, I come home with a new creative insight to kickstart my day. I’ve also joined a weekly choir to train my brain in new ways, and I’ve returned to teaching ballroom dance. Moving my body and expressing myself has brought more of me to my work and leadership—not less.
What about you? How will you express yourself this week? For the world needs who you were made to be.
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