The Importance of Art to Your Mental Health :: by Shona Cole

:: The Good Coach ::
Beginning to Create
by Shona Cole

You want your life to be filled with real relationships, new ideas, stimulating conversation, small beautiful creative moments, large times of calm sureness, a sense that you are on the right path.

True?

Well, in order to get there you need to learn:

1) to embrace the broken and messy as well as the beautiful
2) to slow down and see the details that so many people miss
3) to be daring and bold
4) to shout out what you want regardless of fashion or popularity

It is a crazy coincidence, but the very things you need to live a full life are also what makes up the nature of creativity.

The creative person is a rule breaker, they consider the details of all things and makes tough decisions, they work hard to emerge. The creative person takes steps forward and embraces their own vision. Often their art work tells a story of who they are. Just think of the works of some famous artists - Michelangeloʼs The Sistine Chapel; Edvard Munchʼs The Scream; Philip Johnsonʼs The Glass House; Sylvia Plathʼs The Bell Jar - their art works are expressions of the boldness and vision of their creatorʼs life.

While you may never produce a masterpiece that is beloved by millions, you can, no you must, find your own creative path in your life.

Pursuing a creative vision will keep you young, open and alive. The discipline of seeing the beauty in all areas of your life and world, the act of finding ways to reflect on and represent nuances of living and taking the time to put mind, body and soul to work week after week on your art will enthuse you and fill you up with good thoughts and feelings.

When you take the time to make something, one of the best by-products is self confidence. Who doesnʼt want to see their vision become a reality? With that sense of confidence in yourself you will not longer be living a derivative life, a pale copy of someone elseʼs. You will be living true to who you are.

You owe it to your spouse, friends and children to be the best version of yourself. The people around you need you to be happy and balanced. Your life is worth living, right now, right here. You need to invest in your creative self in order to be truly mentally healthy. To be truly fulfilled.

Believe me, I know how much fuller and richer my life is when I have a creative project in front of me. My days look brighter, my conversations more positive. Art makes me a better person. It can bring you up and out of that place of darkness and confusion into a world of possibilities and friendships.

Take care of your own mental health - do some art!

Shona Cole is an artist, author, mother, wife. Visit www.shonastudio.blogspot.com.

Comments

[Ellen]

Thank you Shona for this gracious reminder!
After surviving a home improvement project, I am drained.
Off to set my soul free, with some paint! :D

[Kathleen]

Thank you for sharing this inspiring post!

[LIOR]

HELLO SHONA !
I loved what you wrote "When you take the time to make something, one of the best by-products is self confidence".
There is no doubt that when the artist makes works of art and is pleased with his creation, he receives satisfaction and self-confidence he gets his work following the.

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