Why Art is Good for Your Health…
Everywhere you look online & off, the media, research scientists & spiritual leaders are exploring the secrets to a healthy heart, ridding diseases, & living a healthy long life. So, how does art fit in?
With buzz words like ‘psychological resilience’ & ‘functional connectivity’; global awareness campaigns are all about us learning to be responsible for our own mental & physical health.
Let’s face it, if we’re living longer, (which is a fact), don’t you want to live healthier? I don’t want to go through the horrible diseases, long, painful illnesses, the tons of medicines, or the mountains of bills my parents suffered through.
Why is embracing our artistic creative natures becoming an increasing go-to practice when it comes to battling illness?
A fascinating discovery the scientific world has stumbled upon is that man’s natural abilities of creating art actually battles illnesses, sadness & heals ourselves.
Even cavemen did it
Let’s face it, even cavemen had stress & needed an outlet to vent their emotions. (Wouldn’t you if you have a T-Rex chasing you?) You can find their evidence of the need to create in cave drawings dating back 65,000 years.
So questioning minds wondered why do humans have the need to create art? What’s in it for us?
The quick answer is captured in these brains scans of a sad, ill brain that is deteriorating (on left) & a healthy, creatively active, happy brain (on right) that’s thriving & growing.
(C) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
What’s happening when you view art?
Basically your brain enters a ‘creative state’ where it escapes from life’s stresses & renews itself. Creativity is your brain’s way of taking a mini vacation it’s been craving to regenerate itself.
As you view any type of art in your surroundings, like paintings of landscapes or flowers, you are actually recharging & restoring those feel-good feelings in you! (Know that happy thrill you get when you wear something beautiful? Well, you’re actually calming negative emotional circuits in your brain & healing yourself.) So pat yourself on your back for loving beautiful things!
Scientists believe that by contemplating artwork, you enter a semi-mediative state that stimulates feelings of well-being and calms negative emotional brain circuits in your brain.
Give it a try with the above painting. Try staring at the painting. Explore the richness of the sandy color. Are your toes feeling the warmth of the sunny day? Do you feel the wind that’s making those billowing clouds quickly float across the sky? Is the deep azure blues of the ocean covering you with salty air? How does the textures of the grasses flowing down the sand dune & luscious red, wild flowers meandering among the coarse grasses feel? Can you feel yourself relax and start to wonder what’s just over the sand dunes? Have you escaped to this beach & left your worries behind?
Want to go a step farther?
MAKING art will turbocharge your healing process! Why? Cause by physically being creative, you are increasing electrical connections in your brain. Being creative can actually alleviate diseases & (get this), delay or even stop age-related decline in your mind & body. WOW!
And we’re not talking master pieces! We’re talking creative playtime! No judgment here!
As little as 30 minutes of art creativity can significantly reduce the stress hormone (cortisol) in your body, gifting you with prolong health benefits.
Having a consistent artistic creative outlet allows you to vent negative, life-depleting toxins from your mind & body! You’ll just feel happier!
So, no more guilt about art in your life, like beautiful jewelry to wear, paintings in your environment, or training that sparks your creative outlet. Consider it maintenance for your body & mind & insurance that you stay healthy longer!
Patsy
P. S.
Need more inspiration? You might enjoy reading my ‘Painting Bio’ where I talk about the healing in my art.
Also, if you want to read in-depth details about this topic, Laura Blundell’s post is a fascinating read.
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Great piece here, so glad that science is backing up what us artists already knew ????
Thank you for the inspiration.
Hi Diane,
Great to hear your thoughts!
It’s been a world for the left brainers my whole life. I’ve always struggled about my self worth. Even my father was against me going into art. I’m so thankful things are truly changing. Nice to have science in our corner!
Patsy :)