From the outside, creative work can appear expressive, self-directed, and deeply meaningful. Beneath them sat a broader psychological question: What does resilience mean when your work, income, and sense of self are so closely connected? Creative Work Makes the Self Part of the ProductIn many jobs, criticism is directed at a task. In creative work, it can feel directed at the person. Creative work often expresses how people see the world, what they value and who they understand themselves to be.