Part 2: Creativity is Medicine
Inviting creativity into your everyday life.
Last week I shared about the revelatory message in Martha Beck’s new book “Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose.” How amazing to learn that creativity has the power to shift our nervous system from doom and gloom to creation and elation.
It occurs to me that not everyone keeps a running menu in their heads of creative pursuits like I do. And that’s not because I’m more creative than others. It’s largely because we overcomplicate creativity. We think we need special skills, or tools, or a particular degree from an artsy place. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Creativity is not something you do, it’s something you imbue.
Now that you know creativity is good for your mental health, how might you lean into a creative posture in everyday ways?
Write a ditty in your head. I do this constantly while walking my dog. I sing her little theme songs with nonsensical lyrics like “Trixie is the cutest pup, all the rest are runners-up.” I remember doing this on stroller walks with my boys when they were babies.
Become a beauty hunter. For five years now, I have posted a weekly roundup of photos on Instagram with the same one-line caption: “This Week’s Eye Candy.” I started doing this as a noticing practice during my daily walks when the Pandemic first hit. California was already in spring bloom while much of the country was blanketed under snow. Many friends told me those spring images helped them during a time of so much uncertainty. Nature therapy is real and it’s easily captured on your iphone for repeat performances to calm your soul. E.E. Cummings said it best: “The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.”
Answer a writing prompt. This website will generate a new writing prompt for you every day. Today’s was “Write a story in a world where time flows backwards.” Give yourself 10 minutes and the reassurance that no one will read it but you. Use the voice memo on your phone to record your answer if you want to “write” on the go.
But wait, there’s more.
If you want even more inspiration, this Reddit thread — titled “What are some lesser known creative hobbies?” — has 452 comments to get you thinking. Origami, decoupage, home beer brewing, juggling, palm reading, etc. The more outlets you find for your creativity, the more you’ll use it and the easier it will be to shift out of anxiety into creativity.
Next week I’ll offer the third part of this “Creativity is Medicine” series — a look at how unlocking creativity will fix our broken world. No exaggeration.
Until next time, remember that creativity knows no bounds.