Creativity as a Wellness Practice
There are many activities we can do in the name of wellness. Along with good food, enjoyable movement and deep rest, I have found creative living to be an impactful addition.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that I’ve learned more about myself through my relationship with creativity than any other life experience. Creativity has been a lifeline. It’s what kept me feeling alive and optimistic while I navigated years of professional obligation and expectation. It was always there as a reminder of what felt true for me.
Creativity has been defined as “the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others and entertainment.” I love this definition because it exudes imaginative problem-solving.
Incorporating creative expression into your life is a vital part of a holistic, healthy lifestyle. There have been numerous studies conducted that show many benefits of creative expression, including, reduced stress, elevated mood, decreased anxiety, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of chronic illness and strengthened immune system.
Having creative outlets allows us to express what we’re feeling and connect with the forgotten parts of ourselves, that is, who we are at our deepest levels. Even if the activities are done in private with no one seeing the output, a creative practice can lead to more enjoyment, greater meaning and life purpose. The very act of expressing can function as a release valve and the resulting optimism it brings can increase our ability to problem solve and see challenges as opportunities, as research linking optimism and enhanced well-being has shown.
That reframe is important as you find ways to prioritize creative activities – to see creative living as a way to recharge and refuel, a way to connect with yourself and others, a way to discover new possibilities. It’s been my experience that when I trust my creative capabilities, I’m more likely to step out of my comfort zone because I know that “mistakes” are opportunities for learning and I will feel rejuvenated as a result.
Creativity is a way of filtering experience. It isn’t something you need to do; it’s how you bring your life experience into your days.
Here are three ways to encourage a creative mindset and spirit:
Be Curious – Curiosity has been called the key to creativity because it’s like starting with a clean slate or, as the Zen monks would call it, beginner’s mind. It’s the willingness to suspend your beliefs, opinions and assumptions. It’s coming from a place of questioning instead of one of knowing.
To encourage this mindset, create a space in the day where you don’t have to be productive, even if it’s for a few minutes at time. Learning to access and spend time in that liminal space will pay dividends as your creative practices deepen.
Stay Open – Since creativity is born out of new connections, cast a wide net when gathering and exploring new ideas. What’s attracting your attention? Music, lyrics, poems, books, documentaries, photos, art, podcasts, scientific journals, blogs, nature, food, relationships, current events – it’s all fodder for creative play.
As you explore, be on the lookout for new ideas, interesting concepts, unusual experiences and diversions. Anything that invites new learning can lead to new insights, as can observing a situation or using questions to learn more. Open-ended questions that invite dialogue are useful, such as: How else can we do this? Is there a different angle? What’s the backstory? What are the differing points of view? Or simply, What if?
Make Connections – Once you have a practice of gathering ideas that intrigue you, the fun part comes in putting these ideas to good use by combining them to make new connections.
No matter your profession or passion, I highly recommend keeping an idea notebook. Your notebook can be a repository, a travel companion or a portable workshop - a safe space to muse and explore. It’s a place to collect pieces of your world, make meaning and create new worlds.
Creative living is a curious process, like unraveling a mystery through collected words, images and ideas. I hope you’ll consider making creativity part of your wellness plan so you can be well by filling your creative well.
Journal Reflections: What are some creative activities you’d like to explore? When might you include brief periods of inactivity into your day? How might you make creativity part of your ongoing wellness routine?