Whether to capture reality or to express what is imagined, art is a necessity as old as human history. We find it even before the appearance of Homo sapiens. It is estimated that the Venus of Tan-Tan was created between 200,000 and 400,000 BC.
Millennia later, in our age of screens, from graffiti to messages on the wall of a bathroom or on the bark of trees that say “I was here», hide an impulse to leave our mark on earth.
Benefits of art for emotional health
Art allows us to interpret the world and our role in it. she is a powerful knowledge tool and . Much of our emotional and sensory processing does not reach the area of the brain responsible for cognitive processing and language. That is, we are not always able to put our feelings and emotions into words. So how can we express them?
- In artistic creation we we disconnect from the rational and we reconnect with body wisdom that informs us of what we feel, of how we feel, of what moves us, of what we lack…
- Is a pathway of expression vital to well-being: We cannot sit on our emotions and traumas like time bombs. Art, in addition to connecting us with our inner child, is a beautiful way to embrace our madness. As the German philosopher Freidrich Nietzsche said: “You must have chaos inside to give birth to a dancing star».
- Creating helps us to take a step back and contemplate life and what happens to us from another angle. it serves us for give voice to the stories we have lived and integrate them into our history. It is a process and it allows us connect with the most intimate part of our being. For this reason, creative expression in all its forms is highly beneficial, as demonstrated by the art therapy workshops.
- When we open the faucet of emotions, we often go into flow, we flow in a magical and transcendent act that allows us to forget about time and worldly concerns. In the words of psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, it is about “find a way to express what moves you».
Art therapy: find your means of expression
I invite you to write, draw, paint and dance. It is not essential to be a professional dancer to express yourself through dance. You don’t need to be a great writer to write a poem. You can embrace it all without shame.
- Any means of expression is a gift to the soul.: taking photos, creating an inspiring photo montage, cosplaying (dressing up), cooking wonderful cakes… And if you’re outdoors, you can pick up stones and stack them, like it’s done in Iceland. Or take them home to create your own landscape or paint them. There are artists who create installations in forests and riverbanks, using only what they find in nature itself and allowing their creations to be a harmonious part of the landscape.
- Creativity is a shortcut that allows connect with the essence of each one. Artistic expression is for forget about day to day problems and connect with this source of life that is the . Creation can take as many forms and appearances as we do, and each expression will remain both unique and part of the whole.
Incorporate creativity into our routine it releases healing energies and makes us feel better about ourselves. As Pablo Picasso said: «The art washes the soul the dust of everyday life».
How to activate creativity?
Take note of these proposals that can help you .
- Collect photos and short headlines from old magazines, and paste them however you like: create a collage of ideas and messages express your dreams
- Get a big enough paper, and paint on it with the different parts of your body. To get inspired or uninhibited, listen to the music you love the most.
- Create a space for that loved one who is no longer with you. Use your creativity to express your love through objects, words and small relics.
- Open a notebook and paint everything you want, without a previous idea. Experiment with colors and shapes. Sometimes the most interesting things are born from creating without thinking.