First and foremost, I believe we are all children of God, and as such, the desire—perhaps even yearning—to be creative is stamped on the DNA of our very souls. You could even say that the ability to create is our spiritual birthright. Because of this, I believe that creativity is a divine attribute that has the power to heal, inspire, uplift, cross communication barriers, and draw us closer to the most creative Being in the universe in a very personal way.
Creativity has been around . . . well, forever. Professionals have been using it as art therapy since the 1940s. Studies have shown that the use of this creative therapy has improved in the lives of those who face cancer, disaster, PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and much more. Countless health professionals and patients alike have testified to the benefits of being creative during their difficult journeys toward health and healing.
I happen to be one of those patients. I was raised by a very talented mother so creativity has always been a part of my life. But after seven years of battling an almost unheard of illness and being diagnosed with extreme depression and anxiety, that creativity became a lifeline. In a very large part, I am still here today because of the healing power of creativity.
Our world is moving faster and faster because of technological advancements, the internet, and ever accessible entertainment. People of all ages are spending more and more time consuming other people’s creativity and less and less time utilizing their Divine birthright to produce their own creativity. Because of this we are constantly uploading, but never downloading or purging through our own creativity.
I believe that this is leading to an overload of sorts that might just be responsible for the increase in anxiety, depression, and suicide among teenagers.
Because of what I learned about creativity during my own struggle with depression and anxiety, I want to inspire others to make creativity a more important and regular part of their lives. It is my hope that a more consistent cultivation of creativity—even a small but constant effort—will help increase positivity, enhance self-worth, and allow for a positive and healing expression of difficult feelings in a very complicated world.
Whether you are seeking relief or not, I hope you will join me in discovering the healing power of creativity in your own life.
Lots of love,
Hannie