Last week’s Monday Wellness Tip looked at how to have a balanced diet and eat well. This week we’ll give you some food for thought on how creativity can restore mental and emotional balance and boost your wellbeing.
Many people think that creativity is something just for children or those grownups with ‘real talent’. In reality, engaging in creative play is essential for human happiness and wellness. Here are some ways that being creative can contribute to your wellbeing.
Creativity improves cognitive flexibility and problem-solving abilities: Set aside those brain-training games and open up your sketchpad or dust off your guitar. Creating something is a great work-out for your brain.
Creativity helps you get into the Flow: Taoists recommend doing activities that engage you fully; you can easily lose yourself doing something creative that you love. Knitting, making a pie, blogging – anything that gets you in the zone of single-minded concentration. Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi says that time spent in flow makes us happier and more successful in life.
Creativity increases spirituality: Creativity expert Julia Cameron says that being creative is a spiritual practice that puts us more in touch with ourselves and our connection to the universe. “The creative process is a process of surrender, not control,” she says. When we let go of the need to make ‘good’ art, we can just make art and enjoy the full benefits of creativity.
Creativity helps process negative emotions: Did you ever write angsty teenage poetry? You might cringe now, but engaging in something creative when you’re upset is a wonderful form of stress relief. If you’re sad, get out some colourful pens and brighten your day. If you’re anxious, shake off the excess energy by dancing to your favourite tunes. Got some baggage from your past? Paint it, sing it, sculpt it – transform it physically and feel it shift emotionally.
Creativity helps our minds expand: Creativity means working with possibilities – ‘What can I create?’, ‘How can I make this?’ – it’s a mind-expanding process that helps us move beyond perceived limitations. Creating something that has never existed before helps to restore your faith in what is possible, leading you to make more creative, life-affirming choices in all areas of life. The more we nurture our creativity, the more life opens to us.
We hope you enjoyed our Monday Wellness Tip!
Be sure to register for The Wellness Show, which will be held 1 – 3 April 2016 at the Hordern Pavilion & Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney. It’s free!
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