Creativity and Self-Expression

                                            

                                                    What are the benefits?...

Art and other creative hobbies are very beneficial for one's mental health. It is a wonderful form of self-expression! It can also help you to make sense of your feelings and put your thoughts into perspective (similar to journaling in that way). It can be meditative or used as a form of mindfulness (only focusing on the task at hand without judgment) and helps keep any negative thoughts at bay.

I found that when I began to learn acrylic painting, it gave me a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and meaning. I was able to express my unique style. I like to make paintings of ballerinas and fashion figures, using bold, bright colors and adding sparkles to it. That's just me!

There are endless opportunities to learn an art form, get crafty, or take a dance class or learn how to play a musical instrument (etc.). There are free art classes that some local libraries offer. You can even watch free art tutorials on YouTube! Check out a watercolor painting technique book at the library. Get creative!

It's also the perfect opportunity to become social and find people with similar interests. You could end up making a life-long friend! However, don't get discouraged if it doesn't work out at first. See it as a learning opportunity. Don't judge yourself, either, on your artistic ability; art doesn't have to be done on a professional level. Just keep practicing or try a different medium and see if you like that better.

Art is a great form of self-care, by taking time for yourself to unwind and focus on something you enjoy. It's perfect to do either by yourself for some quiet time or as a group activity or class. Both are very enjoyable and therapeutic for me. It's a great stress-reliever.

A very simple form of art therapy that a lot of people enjoy is using adult coloring books. These have become extremely popular over the years! You can find very inexpensive ones from The Dollar Tree. I've enjoyed using these in the past. They are easy and fun to use and helped me to focus and decompress.

So what are you waiting for? Get creative, experiment and have fun!