With varying social pressures, work stress, digital overload, and overall life fatigue, mental health has become an incredibly important point of conversation. Mental health has always had a confusing connotation to it. In the past, mental health was viewed with a negative stigma; a misguided belief that mental health issues meant you were simply crazy. As time has progressed, there has been a wave of normalization of mental health disorders.
The World Health Organization reports that roughly 280 million people in the world are living with depression. This shared reality has aided in removing stigmas and negative connotations from mental health. By expelling these cynicisms, the world is opening itself up to finding ways to cope with mental health difficulties. We are agreeing to heal together.
Art has a power that is undeniable. The way our bodies move to the beats of music in perfect harmony, our eyes process the vibrance of color in the beauty of paintings; the way our heart skips a beat and our tears fall as we read an emotional sonnet. Art is all around us. It is a medium of expression – an opportunity for an individual to articulate their creativity and indulge in the freedom of subjectivity. You see, your creativity is not something that is right or wrong. Your creativity is a personal and unique mindset that cannot be contained by social constructs many of us fall victim to today.
Whether it’s music, painting, sculpting, or crafting, art provides you with the outlet to talk about those feelings you just cannot put into words. The Journal of Positive Psychology states that being creative can increase positive emotions, reduce depression and anxiety, and even improve your immune system.
One of the primary ways being creative can improve your mental health is its ability to immerse you within it. Art has a sort of flow to it that cannot be mimicked elsewhere. Think about it: When you’re painting, you don’t stop every few seconds to do something else. You have to go with the flow of your creativity and complete your artistic activity without interruption.
This psychological state of flow is how you can lose track of time and concern as you plunge into the beauty of your creativity. Your creativity can offer you a temporary escape from reality without consequence.
“Being creative is all about being in tune with yourself and your surroundings. If you are stuck in a rut make sure to change up your space. Sometimes I go outside for some fresh air or complete a different task to take my mind off of the fact that I do not know what to make. This helps you change up your perspective and see things in a new way. You can also draw inspiration from your own feelings. You do not necessarily have to have a vision all the time of what you want your project to look like. Just allow yourself to feel something and channel that into something great,” explains Corey Pearson, VP of Customer Success at Linda’s Electric Quilters.
The power behind creating something is immeasurable. An emotional resilience blossoms wonderfully when you recognize that: Regardless of your mental health state, regardless of the stress and worry, you were able to create something with your own thoughts. It allows you to approach situations with an open mind and a willingness to adapt.
Creativity is more than just a hobby – it is more than making something for the sake of it. It is a powerful tool to stabilize life’s worries and improve your mental health. By engaging in creative outlets, you can reduce your stress and build an emotional shield that is unbreakable. In a world that constantly feels like it is trying to hold us back, being creative is an opportunity to break those shackles and come out on top.