Art and healing are synonymous in my world. I make art because it helps me to make meaning from my life, and it supports my physical and emotional wellbeing.
At times we become caught up in doing what we perceive that we should do, and we lose touch with what we want and need. We may wonder, “Is this all that there is?” We may feel lost in response to our unlived lives, and we long for a sense of meaning and purpose.
Art and healing, engaging in creative expression, provides opportunity for creating some of the meaning that we crave, and it sometimes leads to inner knowing and clarity. It provides a counterbalance to the doing in our external worlds and gives us an opportunity to simply be and to reconnect with our own heart and soul.
Creativity activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which supports our healing. Making art brings our awareness to the present moment, and we activate a state of creative flow. What art will you make this week?
Jen Johnson is a mindfulness and creativity coach and therapist teaching meditation for healing and creativity. Learn more about working with Jen.