Creativity Heals
Creativity healed me. Every since I was young, I was creative. Growing up I loved the idea of “artist” as an identity.
Now I realize how instrumental it has been in my healing journey.
Why does creativity heal?
Creativity is a process that can provide evidence of your brain's functioning, which is to think. Humans need to think to made sense of anything, including themselves. We are the only known animal in evolution to have the capacity to reflect on its existence. How do we know this? Through creativity, through art, ingenuity, we have the power to derive meaning.
Yes, even meaning through our suffering. Through the meta process of your thoughts, expressions, symbolism, you can make sense and thrive in the face of your problems.
On both conscious and subconscious levels, creativity allows you to engage every level and layer of yourself so that you can grow.
Why is it important to heal with creativity?
Creativity is innately human. It brings you back in-touch with the parts of you that go unseen. In society, there is a temptation to cast out legitimate parts of ourselves that don’t fit the molds of hyper-productivity and unsustainable perfectionism. This act can be deemed a trauma response that values belonging for survival, but at the expense of your authenticity and voice.
When you can uncover meaning that you, yourself, have arrived at; it can reinforce both mission and identity.
Mission and identity are the foundation to significant behavioral changes.
And when you have reached a point where consistent behavior compounds, it generates outcomes that lead to your desires aligning you with your authentic self. The process then becomes full circle.
Mission + Identity —> Behavior —> Reinforces Identity
A key point to remember is that creativity helps you to be flexible which is vital to the growth process. There is so much to you and that can feel like an infinite process, but what can be built up is the grounded confidence in your self-value.
So, I’m sure you are wondering how to get started.
Here are a few ways to begin the process:
Start writing - practice writing down your thoughts at time of day you can be consistent. It can be one sentence, or 3 points of gratitude. A good exercise is what Julia Cameron calls “Morning Pages” in her book The Artist Way, which is a practice of writing 3 pages or a fixed amount of time whatever thoughts come to mind as part of your morning routine.
Focus on a hobby, craft, or activity you have an interest in and begin to notice how it makes you feel and document it.
Jot down negative statements or beliefs that hold you back the moment you try to express yourself creatively. You can go as far as naming and creating a character representing your inner critic.
Find a friend, community, and or a therapist that can help keep you accountable to your creative inner work.
Experiment with different tools and artistic mediums to start exploring where you feel most connected. Painting, sketching, music, dance, poetry, sculpture
Know that the journey is not linear and you can always begin again. Remember, healing is one of the toughest things you can do, and creativity can just be a tool to help support the process. Peace.
Diana
