Creative Expression is Healthy

Posted by admin on September 29, 2010 under Articles | Comments are off for this article

With so much going on in our lives, it can be hard to find time to express ourselves. In fact, some of us are so busy, so caught up in “getting the job done,” we don’t even realize we’re suppressing our deepest thoughts and emotions. We go through life mechanically, conscious every now and then that something is wrong, but never quite realizing what it is.

Creative expression allows us to dig into our thoughts and psyches, to tap into a part of ourselves we usually keep hidden away. Creativity gives us access to ourselves in a non-direct, non-invasive way. There are no forced conversations on painful subjects, no directions to do get into awkward situations and confront the problem. With creative expression, it’s just you and your thoughts.

Certainly, having guidance and direction can be helpful, and confronting reality is a necessity. The best and most honest of creative expression will lead to these things. But the creative process gives way to feeling and thoughts in a comforting, unburdened manner. After an hour or so of creative expression, which can involve hard work and deep concentration, you may emerge feeling exhausted and spent, but you’ll also feel surprisingly refreshed.

Creativity can take any number of forms. It’s worthwhile to explore different medium from time to time, because what worked at one point in your life may no longer be ideal in another. Creative expression can be as simple as taking out pen and paper and writing in a journal. It can be drawing, painting, or any other type of artistic endeavor. It can even be crafting and building, working with ribbons and lace, or power tools and electricity.

The important thing with creativity is to work with subjects, topics, items you love and feel passionate about; it’s not creative expression unless you do. So whether you consider yourself a “creative person” or not, make a little time in your routine for creative expression, explore new areas of creativity, and have fun doing it. Creative expression is not only an enjoyable process, but it’s healthy. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

We’d like to thank Mr Mark Paton on this great article.