Creative Endeavors

There are so many ways to express yourself through creativity.

Creative expression is one of the most effective ways to share your energy through positive and inspiring adventures.

What is creative expression through the arts?

Creative expression is how a person learns to express themselves outwardly. It is the ability to focus on what is happening in our minds and use our imagination by creating something that perhaps represents who we are. Creative expression might also be referred to as artistic expression or creative self-expression.

A creative act such as crafting can help focus the mind, and has even been compared to meditation due to its calming effects on the brain and body. Even just gardening or sewing releases dopamine, a natural anti-depressant. Creativity reduces anxiety, depression, and stress… And it can also help you process trauma.

The Science of Creativity

The arts are transformational and engage our hearts, our minds, and our souls. They have universal appeal and elevate empathy, compassion, and connection on an individual level. From a societal perspective, art can be a unifying force to decreasing social barriers and strengthening interpersonal connections.

Creative expression also has the power to improve well-being by helping us understand ourselves and shifting perspectives that reinforce positive behaviors. Physiologically, making art has powerful effects on our bodies: reducing blood pressure, bolstering our immune system, improving brain cognition, and fighting inflammation.

The arts contribute to “core determinants of health; playing a critical role in health promotion; helping to prevent the onset of mental illness and age-related physical decline; supporting the treatment or management of mental illness, noncommunicable diseases and neurological disorders; and assisting in acute and end-of-life care (World Health Organization 2019). Let's break this down:

Art is uniquely positioned to produce short-term and long-term benefits for people due to three distinct properties.

How do you find your creative expression?

All it takes is recognizing that creative expression is your art and your form of expression; So let's
discover your creative outlet through answering a few questions that may help guide you. You may even have several forms of creative expression so do not limit yourself to just one. Go with what you feel at the time.

What gives me meaning?
What brings me joy?
What environments or situations am I naturally drawn to?
What makes me unique?
What do my friends love about me?
What do I daydream about?

BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWERS

SELF-CARE

Creating art provides a simple, tangible opportunity for a person to accomplish a task and demonstrates the benefits to self-efficacy.

CONNECTS YOU TO A MOMENT, YOURSELF, AND OTHERS

Art can be a path towards self-reflection, mindfulness, as well as interpersonal engagement and connection.

PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR EXPRESSION

Creative expression can sometimes articulate what words can’t, helping to bring complex or difficult thoughts and feelings into view.

Inspire

Creativity motivates us towards achieving higher, more ambitious goals.

Empower

Participating in creative expression activates a sense of confidence and intentionality.

Connect

Creative arts help people develop a shared sense of belonging and togetherness to form stronger bonds with others and with themselves

There are so many adventures you can journey into. Here are a few paths you can take. I suggest you try as many as you feel calling to you:

Ceramics

Coloring

Cooking and Baking

Crafting

Dance

Digital Art

Drama

Drawing-Sketching

Gardening

Music

Painting

Photography

Poetry

Sculpting

Writing

Visual Creativity