I recently came across an article that highlighted art therapy programs developed at Georgetown University Medical Center and New York University Medical Center. These programs focus on helping patients reduce fatigue, depression, anxiety, pain and stress and boost their immune systems. Basically helping them to heal and survive while they are in the medical centers. The positive results of these art programs have placed value and importance on the arts in health care. I'm not surprised at these results as the Arts themselves are full body sensory activities and so put us in touch with our bodies. And when we are in touch with our bodies we are in touch with our minds and souls as well, helping us to feel 'alive' again. So of course when we begin to integrate the arts into our lives we feel rejuvenated, and when we neglect to have them in our lives we feel the loss – even if we can't identify it....
So if the arts can reduce these physical symptoms in patients it would stand to reason that the arts can play the same vital role in healthy individuals; reducing fatigue, depression, anxiety, pain and stress and boosting immune systems; aiding in a happier, healthier, more successful life, helping us feel 'alive' again..
So - Let's get clear about the effects on our bodies, minds and souls when we don't have a creative outlet – or when we have become expressionless.
In the Body; lack of expression may result in low energy, feeling tired all the time, trouble sleeping, carrying too much body weight, head aches, or any unexplained aches and pains.
In the Mind; lack of expression may result in depression, anxiousness, irritability, lack of focus, feeling overwhelmed, reacting to events and people instead of enjoying them, being dreamy or withdrawn, or lack of emotions.
In the Soul; lack of expression may result in feelings of isolation, not feeling connected with others or with “God” (or a higher power), feeling confused, lacking a sense of direction or purpose, or in general feeling discontent.
So - how do we get the arts back? How do we get back in balance? How do we infuse creativity in our lives?
Making any kind of changes in our lives always require a commitment and also a direction. It will mean letting go of old ways of thinking and patterns that don't support you're new creative lifestyle.
So first let's take a look at what a balanced creative life might look like;
Being creative takes courage, time and commitment
Infusing creativity means finding the time for a focused conversation
It means Acting instead of Reacting
Drawing instead of Withdrawing
Feeling and Revealing instead of moving on without regard
Infusing creativity means living a life filled with intention
Being open to options and opportunities
Being creative means that everyday situations, places, people and ideas begin to reveal a meaning never seen before.
So the first step towards infusing creativity into your life is to Stop, Look, Listen.
Stop being busy for busy-ness sake, slow down, take moments in your day to stop thinking. Purchase a watch that has an hourly alarm to remind you to stop and take 3 deep breathes each hour. Stop.
Let's take a moment right now to stop, close your eyes and take in a slow deep breath, follow your breathe as it moves in through your body. Feel it move down to your toes, feel it rush through your limbs. As you exhale push your breath out, follow it as it leaves your body. Take another deep breath in, release your thoughts, watch them come in and go out with each breath. Take another deep breath in, sink into your chair, still your mind, relax and breath out, and another breath in ...Sit in the silence.....stopping for 1 minute....
Look really see your world. Try this experiment and create a poem. Look around you and pick an object to focus on. With little thought just start to jot down what first comes to mind about your object. Write down any emotions it invokes, phrases that come to mind, or words to describe it. When it feels complete - read it aloud and give it a title. Notice that when you were focusing on the object for your poem you weren't thinking of the laundry or getting the car fixed or...and ....
Listen really listen to your world. This one is like the looking part except with your ears. So I want to invite you to do another experiment. Close yours eyes and listen; report out loud what you hear. Notice as much as possible in your environment. Do you feel a breeze across your face?........ What do you smell? ..... Now move from listening to our outer world to listening to your inner world. Start by doing a body scan, beginning at your toes notice if you are feeling any sensations in your body? .... Where? .......What does it feel like?..... Is it pleasant or unpleasant? ..... Does it have a color?.......Does it have a shape? ...... Now Open your eyes. If you have paper and markers or colored pencils handy, whip them out and capture the sensations you 'heard' in either your inner or outer worlds. It doesn't have to look like any thing in particular. Because you're trying to capture something abstract – a sensation, a feeling or a sound so it will look however it needs to look....
When you Stop, Look and Listen you become aware of your body. When you are aware of your body it helps you to feel more deeply and quiet your mind. When your mind is quiet you become more creative, when you are more creative you feel a release of emotions. When you release emotions and quiet your mind you are then able to move out of your body, out of your mind and Know yourself in another way. When you know yourself in another way you are able to see the world in another way, your perspective changes. You see alternatives where once there were none, you see love and connections where once there was pain and isolation.
Creativity rejuvenates our lives by solving are problems.
So the next time you cross a street – you will probably automatically stop, look and listen. The next time you stop, look and listen consider the path you are taking, take a deep breath, look at your world in a new way and listen from your heart. You will have just taken the first step toward infusing creativity into your life.
