CreARTivity...Your Way to Wellness
Article in the Autumn 2012 publication of Living Well Naturally
CreARTivity...Your Way to Wellness
Article in the Autumn 2012 publication of Living Well Naturally
Creative thinking put into action is a powerful tool for transforming your quality of life. Best of all, it is a natural resource found innately, if we only recognize and nurture it. Tapping into this life force offers an effective healing agent for our mind, body and soul. It stimulates our senses and alters our mood by providing many qualities such as satisfaction, self-repair and a sense of peace.
Creative activity is the perfect antidote in coping with the stressors of modern life when we are more often "plugged-in" rather than being "tuned-in" to ourselves. If there was ever a time to engage ourselves creatively, that time is now. For all ages, it is essential to learn the importance of honouring our creative inner-being with the time not only to think creatively, but to act creatively. The key step is taking action. If that action is painting, sketching, sculpting, journal writing, scrapbooking, playing the guitar or gardening, it is the act of creating which brings ideas beyond imagination and makes them tangible. This fluid process, when one is engaged in an activity and so immersed that time seems to disappear, it is a magical reprieve that restores us. In the end, one has created something and more importantly, has allowed for a sense of "follow-through" or flow to occur. This serves as a powerful example that we are the designers of our own weel-being when we activate creatively. We are aware, living fully, and reaching our potential.
Empowering our younger generation in understanding and embracing this concept is significant. It would serve as a necessary life skill in learning to cope with our future, as well as find refuge and balance within it. Establishing and maintaining an engaged creative connection with themselves is one of the healthiest things a parent can secure for their children. We are all creative beings; with a tremendous capacity to think and act creatively, but have a tendency to lose this ability or allow it to weaken over time. As Pablo Picasso stated, "every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist once you grow up." Remaining actively creative is also a heightened formed of intelligence and the two co-exist. Consider creative involvement like a language one learns at a young age. For it to be retained, ample opportunities for it to be spoken and exercised are required. During this time of returning to school and the rigors of getting back into routine upon us, let us be mindful of incorporating and keeping that creative element alive and well.
Creative activity is also a definite path to wellness where you can live and create your life as an original masterpiece!