5 Reasons to Start a Creative Practice
Your life is probably super busy and hectic right? I imagine your initial response to this blog title was, “I don’t have time for a creative practice!” But something tells me that if you are here reading this right now, you probably already know, whether you realize it or not, that creativity is something well worth making time for.
I recovered my creative practice a few years ago (link here if you want to read how I found my way back to creativity) and I haven’t looked back since. It truly feels like I went from observing my own life to being an active participant in it. And trust me, I didn’t think I had time for something so seemingly frivolous either, but what I have gained from my practice is more than any other form of self-care could have ever provided to me. Let me share with you some of the best reasons why you should make time for a creative practice right now.
1. Increased Self-Awareness
When I paint, it is a meditative practice. It brings me to the present moment, and allows me to focus on what is right in front of me. It is a break from the worries and stressors of day to day life. Being in the present moment allows you to see what is going on inside of you, and it grants us access to our intuition, our inner knowing. It is from this place of inner knowing that we get to know and better understand ourselves and the world.
2. Reduced Negative Emotions and Improved Mental Health
Did you know that recent studies show that a mindfulness practice can be just as effective as some anti-anxiety medications in reducing anxiety? A creative practice is very much a mindfulness practice, especially if you pair it with a meditation and intention ahead of time. In my own experience, I noticed a significant decrease in anxiety and depression.
3. Increased Patience and Tolerance
Starting and maintaining a creative practice has taught me a lot about trusting the process, letting go of expectations, and releasing perfectionism. It is amazing how what you learn in a creative practice will translate into all areas of your life. I have definitely found that having to let go of these things on the canvas has allowed me to let go of them in day to day life as well.
4. Improvement in Problem Solving and Decision Making
Tapping into my intuition through the creative process has definitely helped me to become a better decision maker. When I face a new problem or have a choice to make, I now know how to access my inner knowing to ensure that I am making a wise decision that is aligned with what I truly want and desire in my life.
5. Feelings of Aliveness
Unexpected things happen when you start creating regularly, regardless of what you are creating. If you start painting, you may create a new colour palette, or you may finish a painting and think to yourself, “Wow, I did that!” If you are a musician, you may write a new song that expresses exactly the feeling you are experiencing. If you are a writer, you may read what you just wrote and be amazed that those words came out of your head. It is truly exhilarating and can cause you to feel more open to trying new things and adventures in your creative practice, and your life!