I'm not sure if that's true, but it can free your mind and connect you with your subconscious.
Just write words on the page without judgment or expectation and allow whatever presents itself to come out.
By letting it come out completely unfettered, the words might form random thoughts as if by magic or work themselves into a picture.
I used to make visual artwork with thousands of tiny words I'd write on a page. I'd form them into massive symbolic images.
It was meticulous, but it helped me process my thoughts and feelings, and I found it highly satisfying.
Letting go of intention can be an excellent way to connect with what's really going on inside.
Music: Listening or Playing
Music has so many physiological and psychological benefits. We feel them instinctively when we listen to our favorite songs.
Sad songs help us process sadness, happy songs make us happier, songs about strength help us feel hopeful. Music is something most people can connect with emotionally.
Sitting with your feelings always seems easier when there's a soundtrack.
Music can help you remember the past and open the door to healing.
Singing or playing an instrument can deepen the connection even more.
Singing which is both calming and energizing, can actually change your brain.
This is why people love Karaoke.
And you don't even have to be a good singer to reap the rewards.
Dancing
Dancing is a primal part of the human experience, something that brings us together.
It's been a universal part of the human experience for millennia and is part of our collective DNA.
Our bodies and brains have evolved to dance in synchronized unison.
It's been proven to change the way we think and interact with one another.
If the music moves you, try doing some interpretive dancing, letting your body flow with the feelings it gets from the music.
If you feel inhibited, find a place where you can be alone and just move.
Dancing can be a sacred, personal activity you do only for yourself.
Finger Painting
Finger painting is so satisfying to toddlers because it stimulates a bunch of different brain centers.
But it's not just for children.
Finger painting has been found to have benefits for adults as well.
Visually pleasing colors combine with the tactile, satisfying feel of the paint to create the perfect storm of senses working together to unleash your subconscious.
These include releasing aggression, being a form of meditation, and creating a sense of community connection when done with a group.
This ancient art form has even been found to be effective for dealing with depression.
Giving yourself to the process and following your hands can be a great way to unplug your internal chatter and get some mental calm.
So if you decide you want to get creative, there are some ideas to help you get started.
If you do, you'll be in good company.
Many professional artists have used their artwork as a means to heal themselves emotionally.
These people aren't household names, but I encourage you to look into their stories for a deeper dive into the creative path towards healing.
They'll give you hope and inspiration:
Melissa Milton
Kasey Jones
Ya-Wen Yang
Linda O'Neill
Vincent Castaldi
Kim Thoman
Tara Moorman
If you're suffering from anger issues or existential dread (and who isn't these days, am I right?), here are some more high-profile artists known to have fuelled their art with angst:
Auguste Rodin
Frida Kahlo
Sophie Calle
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Francis Bacon
Lee Krasner
Beethoven
So if you're feeling angsty, an artful outlet might be just what you need.
Being creative can help you dig down and start healing or at least give you an outlet to blow off some steam.
Taking time out to soothe yourself with creativity can unplug you from your troubles and reconnect you to your calming inner creative source.
Bonus testimonial:
Daily writing has been my way to heal from the trauma bonding I developed as a child.
Solving other people's problems has always been a personal obsession of mine.
But fixating on other people's business isn't healthy for anyone, so one day, I decided that instead of forcing my opinions on people, I'd write them down.
Over the last year-and-a-half, every time I start ruminating about something, I write it down. Even if it's just a few words to stop the swirling mass culminating in my head.
And that one simple commitment has changed me.
By acknowledging my compulsive thoughts and giving them a healthy outlet, I've calmed right down.
Here is a shortlist of what daily writing has done for me:
I've stopped stewing and ruminating.
I've stopped bugging the people around me with unsolicited advice
I've stopped feeling like I have to save the world
I fall asleep easier
I don't wake up in the middle of the night with panic attacks anymore
I've written hundreds of articles and two books
I've started a lucrative side-hustle with my writing
So writing down my thoughts has been invaluable in many ways.
But you don't have to have a big picture in mind when you start a therapeutic artistic process.
I certainly didn't.
However, if you love doing something and it gives you relief, you might just end up getting good enough at it to roll it into a side hustle or even a full-time job.
Getting creative can up your happiness in so many ways.
From healing past wounds to expressing your inner child, getting back to those creative outlets, we took for granted as children can make us much happier adults.
As with any self-help suggestion, this isn't meant to replace professional help or treatment. You should always seek out a doctor or mental health professional for serious mental illness or severe emotional distress. If you are in crisis, please call a helpline.
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