Humans have been creating for roughly 40,000 years, with cave art dating back all the way to the Ice Age (Upper Paleolithic).
This incredible ability to contemplate, create, and inspire, is what sets us apart from other mammals.
AKA:
Creativity is the innate expression of our souls.
Therefore,getting back in tune with our creative nature has the power to transform your relationship with yourself and others.
Which is why this is week we’re diving into ( a few!) of the reasons to establish a daily creative practice.
Increases Life Span
A creative practice adds meaning and value to our life.
In fact, this sense of meaning and purpose has been linked to a longer lifespan, a 2014 UCL-led study shows.
Apart from a being apart of a thriving community, engaging in creativity gives us something to live for, that is only accessed from within ourselves.
This is unique in the sense that we aren’t looking for other’s to provide 100% of meaning to our life, and reclaiming our own sense of power instead.
Builds Self- Actualization
(Maslow, 1943).“[a] musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately happy”
Creativity makes us feel like we are reaching our potential( also known was self-actualization.)
According to the hierarchy of needs, self-actualization is the highest-order motivations, which drive us to achieve our ‘ideal self’.
This inner knowing that we’ve reached our highest self results more positive emotions like :
- Happiness
- Optimistic
- Determination
- Pride
- Relaxed
- Purposeful
3. Decreases Anxiety & Depression
Committing to a creativity routine has been show to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
How?
Activities such as dancing, art journaling, writing, designing, etc. are all positive outlets that allow us to:
- Engage in self expression
- Work out unresolved feelings / issues
- Challenge limitations
- Let go and de-stress!