Art as a Lifeline – Why Creativity Matters

Art as a Lifeline – Why Creativity Matters

Let your feelings go and your creativity take over!

I find myself doodling in the margins of a notebook during stressful moments. Sometimes they are hearts, sometimes flowers, and sometimes just circles around and round and round. Maybe you remember the feeling of calm while coloring as a child? These small creative acts may seem like distractions but they are powerful ways our minds and bodies process emotions. Art has the ability to serve as a lifeline. Creativity offers comfort, clarity, and a sense of control when life feels overwhelming.

Creative expression has been an essential tool in my healing journey. Whether through painting, journaling, or mixed media, engaging in art allows us to release emotions that words often fail to capture. 

The Connection Between Art & Emotions

Scientific research has shown that engaging in creative activities has profound effects on mental health. Studies indicate that art can:

• Lower stress levels by reducing cortisol, the hormone associated with anxiety.

• Increase dopamine production, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation.

• Activate the brain’s reward center, creating a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Creating art allows for emotional release in a nonverbal way. Using color, texture, and paper, I have been able to express my complex feelings that were too difficult to put into words. A deep red stroke on a canvas might symbolize anger (or love), while soft blues could represent calm or introspection.The process of creation itself becomes a form of self-care and emotional regulation. I do not judge the process or what comes out onto the canvas. I let whatever needs to come out, come out. 

Art as a Nonverbal Form of Communication

Sometimes it can be challenging for those experiencing grief, trauma, or anxiety to speak about emotions. Art provides an alternative language, offering a safe space to process feelings without the need for spoken words.

When I experienced my loss I was seeing a therapist, but sometimes I didn’t have words to express how I was feeling that day so I would paint my grief. I might paint swirling shades of grey and blue, visually representing the storm of emotions inside my heart.  The act of creation allows me to acknowledge my feelings without the pressure of verbal expression.

Small Ways to Incorporate Art into Your Life

I have a daily practice of journaling for 10 minutes first thing every morning. I take more time if I am particularly stressed about something or working through something difficult. And then I paint over the words so that nobody can read them.

You don’t have to be a professional artist to experience the benefits of creative expression. Here are a few simple ways to invite art into your daily routine:

• Doodle Freely – Let your pen wander on a page without any expectations. Don’t worry about spelling or punctuation

• Color Mindfully – Use coloring books as a meditative tool to calm your mind….soooo relaxing 

• Paint Over Words – Write down your thoughts in a journal, then paint over them to release emotions

• Create a Collage – Cut out images and words from magazines that resonate with your feelings and arrange them into a meaningful composition

The goal isn’t to create a masterpiece but to engage in the process of self-expression. Each brushstroke, pencil line, or torn paper piece contributes to a greater sense of well-being.

What steps do you think might help you? 

There are many paths to deal with our emotions and we all choose one or many, some destructive.  If you are currently working through something, try drawing, painting, or making a craft.  Just sit back take a deep breath and see if this will help you. Here’s how you can start… Try a quick five-minute creative exercise today—doodle, scribble, paint, or collage—then reflect on how it made you feel.

Sometimes we just need another tool in our tool belt to process grief, trauma and stress. I hope these ideas may help you too. Finally, if your emotions are too much for you to handle alone, reach out to someone, PLEASE.  Remember, YOU MATTER!

To me, art is more than something to admire; it is a means to process, release, and heal! Come discover the transformative power of art through one of my workshops.

Drop a line if you have any questions of comments.

xoxo

Heidi