Creativity - explore, play and grow
/The Value of Creativity
Tapping into a creative pursuit - whether something long forgotten/left behind or entirely new - is a great way to enhance our health and well-being. It can be good for the soul and mind. Science used to talk about the practical benefits of accessing the creative side of your brain. It has more recently acknowledged the overall benefits our mental, physical and emotional well-being from creativity, including reducing stress, providing a focus, a sense of purpose, promoting clarity of thinking, supporting problems solving and so on…
Beyond the science of neural pathways and receptors and the like, on a pure happiness index engaging in creative tasks can provide a highly positive stimulation for our senses and emotions. It also provides a means to slow things down, find space for yourself, and re-emphasises conscious thought and mindfulness.
Whether it is drawing, painting, writing poetry, stories, carpentry, music, gardening, photography or quilting - they all have the ability to tap into a sense of self and promote moments of clarity, focus and joy. They can each be highly meditative in nature - allowing for an immersive focus that is absolutely about the present moment and the task at hand.
Certainly, I find that with photography (at times) particularly when developing film and printing in the darkroom. There is a rhythm to the process that is at once truly relaxing from its familiarity and meaning but also precise and centred to focus on one action at a time - it brings you soundly into the present and really doesn't support distraction and rambling thinking - you can sometimes simply get lost in the activity.
Creativity is, just like mindfulness and slowing your life, a personal pursuit. It is about finding or making time for yourself to engage in a creative activity. In doing so, it supports self-awareness and self-expression.
Being Kind and Patient
Before we go much further, creativity - though directly relating to play and letting go - is not necessarily a bed of roses as we often can’t let go certain human instincts. Creativity can be frustrating, particularly when you can’t quite tap that creative gene on a given day or face the full force of negative or doubting emotions that can creep in (more on dealing with negative thoughts and emotions in another post). Anyone pursuing something creative and getting deep into it will deal with this inner critic or doubter from time to time - whether writers block, doubt about the merit of what you produce, unflattering comparison to others.
In such moments we need to be kind and patient with ourselves. We need to frame the internal voice and recognise it as a voice not a belief - it is there to distract from your purpose. At these moments we also need to recognise that sometimes the results don’t equal the effort, that no matter what our effort is or our striving for a particular outcome, it may not be attainable - at least at this moment. Let go the thoughts of what you will produce and envelope yourself in the practice itself - focus mindfully on what you are doing and recognise the slower and more deliberate exercise of mind and body and its benefits. Focus on your best practice in the circumstances rather than focus on the desire for a particular outcome.
Applying Mindfulness and Meditation
Even in times of artistic block or feelings of inadequacy - where your product doesn’t match your own or others’ goals - there remains the opportunity to apply mindful practice and meditation and balance negative feelings and doubts and tap into a more positive and calm state of mind - perhaps even stimulating the creative gene.
Our mindful practice (recognising the intent and purpose of our activity in focused and deliberate actions), tied with our practice of meditation (calming the mind and breathe) can, together, provide the space for your negativity or doubts to dissipate and bring a greater balance to your original intent, purposive actions and emotions.
So not only can a creative pursuit promote wellbeing, mindfulness and enacting a slower, more purposeful and intentional, life - event when it becomes challenging it provides opportunities to reinforce practices of mindfulness and meditation and the benefits they can generate for body, mind and soul.
Observing v Participating
Not minded to jump in, pick up a paintbrush or start writing that novel? The good news for stress and wellbeing is that creativity does not need to be personally directed. Wellbeing and stress relief can flow from simply observing another's creativity - whether listening to music or viewing art. This observation provides the opportunity for the mind to access a creative, exploratory, calming space with similar positive characteristics to the process of creativity.
Now you may not see yourself as a creative being. Lets face it few of us are Michelangelo or Shakespeare - my advice is to give it a go. You don’t need to be brilliant and producing publishable of exhibition quality creative projects. Just do it for you - for the fun and to see where it goes, where does it take you?
Picking up a paintbrush or a pencil is cheap and easy. What we produce may not be great art - I know mine certainly isn’t - but take breath and have a go, the simple capacity to gift yourself with the time to delve into this and play or explore is wonderful.
Re-cap - the Benefits of Creativity:
It relieves stress and decreasing stress can have a dramatic effect on your physical and mental well-being.
It increases and stimulates brain function
It can improve your sense of self and your mood
Some pursuits can create a new social outlet - joining a group or club that has the same interest
The frustrating days provide you with a ready-made opportunity to bring your learnings and practices of mindfulness and meditation to the fore!
Actions you can take:
Schedule a time - choose an activity and give it a go…whats the worst that can occur and what is the limit - boundless..in fact dare yourself to fail..
Explore and play - find something that resonates and explore your creative side
Perhaps start with a visit to a gallery, some music or a good book of short stories.
Most of all enjoy this valuable personal time - see the impact it has on your mindset and feeling of wellbeing.
