Creativity – Our Super-power For Mental Health

How do you help yourself when feelings of depression, loneliness, or sorrow occupy your mind? During this time of Covid-19, it is imperative that we address these thoughts to maintain our healthy lifestyle.

For me, I have found that being creative has helped ward off these feelings.  I have used paint-by-number, adult coloring books, sewing, photography, and writing.  The list is endless in ways you can become creative.  Each person has his/her own gifts and talents that can be explored.

Ways to be creative:

1. Painting
2. Drawing
3. Writing
4. Wood-working
5. Knitting
6. Crocheting
7. Playing musical instruments 
8. Singing
9. Dancing
10. Photography
11. Embroidery
12. Gardening

Imagination is more important than knowledge. 

Albert Einstein

Creativity allows us to disconnect from the stresses in our lives, express our inner thoughts in a safe manner, and enter into a meditative state if we desire and allow it.  

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that meditation can help ease psychological stresses like anxiety, depression, and pain. As you create art, allow yourself to experience your stressful/unpleasant thoughts and recognize them as just thoughts and not as something that defines you.  This practice will be beneficial to your overall health – physically and mentally. 

Being creative helps us enter into a state called “flow.”  This is the state when we are so completely absorbed in something that we don’t even recognize the passing of time.  This state reduces anxiety, elevates our mood, and even slows our heart rate.  Being in “flow” will help our brain create dopamine, which is a chemical that will help you to feel pleasure and satisfaction.

Benefits of creativity:

• Can help ward off dementia
• Improves our happiness
• Increases intelligence
• Boosts our immune system
• Improves mental health
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces anxiety

It is not often that something we love doing can benefit us in so many ways.  So, pick up a paintbrush and paint, go out and get your hands dirty in the garden, or turn on some music and get dancing.  Whatever you do, you will be reducing your stress and improving your overall quality of life.

Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics.

Victor Pinchuk