Unlocking creativity through images

For years, I’ve observed that our deepest creativity doesn’t begin with words—it begins with images. Images carry a potency that words often struggle to match. They bypass the logical mind and tap directly into the heart, soul, and body, opening up pathways to inspiration and meaning.

Many of us, whether we consider ourselves writers, creators, or simply humans navigating life, start with the question, “What should I say?” But the truth is, before we can say anything meaningful, we need to see. Images speak a language that connects us to a wellspring of insight and creativity. They don’t just inspire us; they show us what lies beneath the surface, waiting to be brought into form.

Albert Einstein famously remarked that his thoughts were not primarily in words but in images. He credited these visual impressions with helping him grasp concepts that eventually changed the world. Words, for him, came later, as a translation of those initial images. This process isn’t unique to scientists or artists—it’s universal. It’s how the creative mind works.

Think about the moments in your life when clarity or insight struck you. Was it a string of eloquent words that came first? Or was it a fleeting image, a mental picture, or even a sensation that you couldn’t quite articulate at first? Perhaps it was a vision of a place, a color, a scene, or a symbolic form that seemed to resonate deeply, even if you didn’t immediately know why.

Images are doorways. They lead us into places of richness and depth that the thinking mind can’t reach on its own. When we dwell in an image, we’re not trying to “figure it out”; we’re allowing it to guide us, to nurture us, and to show us what’s next.

The process doesn’t need to be complicated. All it takes is a willingness to notice the images that arise. These images might come from dreams, metaphors, or even something that catches your attention during your day—a reflection in a puddle, the curve of a tree branch, or the way sunlight filters through a window.

Ask yourself:

• What is the image that sparks my imagination?
• What image feels like it’s calling me forward?
• What image brings me peace, joy, or healing?

The answers to these questions are your guideposts. Let the image lead, and the words, insights, and actions will follow naturally. Creativity isn’t about forcing ideas into existence—it’s about listening, seeing, and allowing the image to take shape in its own time.

So the next time you feel stuck or uninspired, don’t ask, “What should I write?” or “What should I do?” Instead, pause and ask, “What do I see?” The image will always know the way.