Most adults don’t realize that the absence of play in their lives is a trauma response. We’ve been taught that creativity is supposed to be productive, polished, and perfect—but the truth is, creative energy lives in the realm of play, not performance. In this post, I unpack why your nervous system might be blocking your flow, how anxiety hijacks the creative process, and why reclaiming your right to have fun might just be the key to unlocking your voice. Spoiler: your inner child already knows the way.