Get Creative and Find Your Happy Place
Get creative and find your happy place. Creativity is underrated, yet it has many benefits and supports mental health in many ways. Creativity enhances cognitive, mental, physical and social functioning and balances the emotions. There is a definite link between creativity and mental health. Engaging in any of the creative pursuits such as the visual arts, music, writing, and knitting all have incredible benefits improving one’s sense of well-being and mental health. There is healing power in engaging in many of the creative arts. This includes the many positive effects of dancing as well. Creativity has long been recognized as a potent way to promote psychological well-being and is highly therapeutic.
Engaging in the creative art therapies is a powerful way to regulate emotions, providing a means to finding expression of sometimes difficult emotions lessening some of the stressors experienced with overwhelming sometimes complicated emotions. Creativity allows for more flexible thinking and less rigidity, and greater problem-solving abilities. Cognitive flexibility blooms through participating in various forms of creative expression, leading to better problem-solving skills. (For more in depth knowledge on problem solving please refer to my article here, Overstressed; Your Problem Solving Skills Are At Risk). It can sometimes allow for different perspectives on a problem by looking at it through another angle. Creativity leads to higher adaptability, increased coping mechanisms, and a more resilient nature. There is also an increased likelihood of feeling socially more connected as often engaging in creative activities involves other people in a collaborative spirit either in a musical group or choir, during a leisurely art or dance class in the community. This enhances a feeling of belonging and mutual support. It also allows for a smooth social integration and a sense of satisfaction all while strengthening community ties and developing interpersonal skills and enhancing psychosocial functioning.
Engaging in various creative activities such as painting, writing, and playing a musical instrument allows for the expression and externalization of both positive and negative emotions. This can be highly therapeutic and healing to individuals or cathartic, as described by Aristotle as a cleansing of the emotions that leads to a sense of renewal. These different art mediums are highly effective in providing much needed relief from stress, providing these different emotions with an outlet. The act of creating also leads to heightened self-awareness and reflection. When in creation mode individuals can reach what Csikszentmihalyi referred to as a flow state. This is often experienced by individuals as being so immersed in the creative process that the creation seems to be taking place on its own as in a state of timelessness and deep concentration. This leads to feelings of accomplishment and an overall sense of well-being and positivity. The Chinese refer to this as attaining a state of song in the art of Tai Chi, where the body is so relaxed that it just naturally appears to be moving on its own in a state of peaceful song. This experience can be very healing for those who have experienced traumatic events or need to learn to slow down from things such as workaholism that can lead to chronic stress. Communicating complex feelings through different creative means allows for transforming negative traumatic emotions into something positive. This builds resilience and provides a buffer against many stressors. Participating in any of the creative art therapies leads to higher self-esteem, enhanced self-expression, and an overall stronger sense of identity enriching one’s life. As a bonus, problem solving skills also improve.
Singing also has many health benefits. Singing also helps to reduce stress and promotes relaxation. Cortisol levels are lower in the body and lung functioning also improves. The act of singing also stimulates the vagus nerve, which is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for better digestion, more balanced breathing, and a more regulated heartbeat. An improved vagus nerve also enhances a quicker return to calm following stress. Singing also strengthens the immune system helping to build more antibodies in addition to improving blood pressure. For those of you that don’t want to get out for a brisk walk, try to replace it with singing; it has similar benefits. Singing in groups or choirs also promotes psychological well-being, more so than singing alone. Group singing reduces solitude, strengthens the immune system, and lightens the mood, giving you a boost of positivity. Singing helps the body release happy hormones, such as dopamine and endorphins leading to a natural high. This could be due to the endocannabinoids present in the body that have similar effects to cannabis, and their levels increase significantly through the act of singing. Singing also helps alleviate the effects of chronic pain, and when done in a group, the body releases oxytocin, helping you to feel more socially bonded.
Writing can help individuals find their own voice again and heal from traumatic events. Music lessons provide intellectual stimulation, a means of self-expression, and social connectedness if playing with an ensemble or joining a choir. Music effectively improves mood, reduces anxiety, and develops communication skills. It provides an opportunity to bond with others who share similar interests and encourages a state of presence. Knitting or any type of craft leads to feelings of achievement and improves overall levels of satisfaction as compared to watching t.v which can actually increase feelings of gloom and doom such as depression or a generalized sense of malaise. Sometimes small lifestyle changes and habits are in order. Once you get the hang of it, knitting is also possible while watching t.v if you really don’t want to get away from the television. If you prefer, you can engage in crochet, some people find it easier, and it also leads to higher levels of happiness, reduced stress, and promotes feelings of calm. Community gardening and spending time in nature also promotes wellness and reduces feelings of solitude.
Adding a dose of creativity will enhance your life and complement your healing journey improving your overall state of mental health. Go ahead and pull out the guitar that’s hiding under the bed or if you prefer, sign up for that choir class you’ve been meaning to take. Your physical and mental health will thank you for it.
Music lessons provide intellectual stimulation, a means of self-expression, and social connectedness
