Self-expression is often underrated. Most people have an innate need to express their interests, hobbies, and creativity, but many choose to keep it to themselves because they don’t want to be judged. However, self-expression helps maintain a healthy psychological state.
If you’re worried about other people’s judgments, you don’t have to be controversial. There are plenty of other ways to get the satisfaction of being self-expressed.
- Personalize your car
You probably spend more time in your vehicle than you realize, so why not personalize your car as much as possible? Granted, covering it in bumper stickers will make it look junky, but you can get one or two stickers that represent your interests.
Another cool way to add a personal touch to your car is to get a personalized license plate and frame. Make a frame with a phrase you find funny or that represents one of your hobbies, or just use one that’s already been created. If you’re into art, get some custom plates made to display on the wall in your home. This is actually a common (and really cool) form of décor for bars and pubs.
- Spice up your wardrobe
Clothing is an excellent way to express yourself, but it’s much more than simply wearing a burst of creativity. The clothes you wear can affect your behavior and confidence. That’s why it’s important to wear what makes you feel good. You don’t need to dress like a rockstar to feel good and be self-expressed. All you need to do is wear clothing that positively impacts your mood.
If you’ve always wanted to get a little more creative with what you wear, but you’ve been holding back, now is a great time to let go and explore your options.
Maybe you want to add more color or certain patterns, textures, or try out a specific style you’ve never worn before. You can try corduroy, silk, button-down shirts, accessories like scarves and hats, or anything else that you find interesting.
When it comes to clothes, your options are pretty endless.
- Get a tattoo
Tattoos are the ultimate form of self-expression, mostly because they have the potential to be absolutely stunning and they are quite permanent. People get tattoos as a form of expressing their interests, but also as a form of wearable art.
If you’ve never gotten a tattoo before, you might be concerned about pain. Tattoos are actually not that painful in some areas. It’s more of an annoying feeling, but it’s not so bad unless you opt for super sensitive areas like your thighs or sides.
When you don’t know what kind of tattoo you want, it helps to look at other people’s tattoos, art magazines, and see if anything strikes you. The best way to design a tattoo, however, is to work with an artist personally to make the design fully embody everything you find meaningful.
You might wonder if you’ll get tired of seeing the same designs on your skin, but that isn’t always the case. For the most part, when someone gets a tattoo, it’s because the image is meaningful and is already part of their life.
At first, you’ll constantly notice your tattoo, but after a while, your tattooed body part will feel like any other – just a little more decorated.
- Start drawing or painting
How long has it been since you’ve used paint, crayons, or colored pencils? Try picking some up and start doodling. You don’t have to be an amazing artist to enjoy creating pieces of art.
Sometimes self-expression is to show the world what you love, but other times, it’s about getting something out of your system. When it comes to drawing and painting, most artists agree that they do it solely to express what’s inside of them. For most artists, being able to sell their art is a benefit, but not the main purpose.
Once they’re done with a piece, the artist feels satisfied and a sense of relief. That’s when other people become interested in the aesthetics and interpretations of their art and want to buy prints or originals. This is the reason many artists struggle to earn a living through their craft – they can’t gather and express themselves on a whim. Inspiration is often fleeting, and art is a form of self-expression rather than a means of supporting oneself.
Make self-expression a priority
No matter how you choose to express yourself, make it your priority. When you do, you’ll feel better about yourself, especially if you enjoy the process.
