Art for wellbeing is a wonderful thing. Creativity can be an excuse to just be in the moment and relax. To doodle or scribble can be a simple joy. Painting can transcends reality into a moment of pleasure, focus or freedom. The above work of art is called “Calm in You”. Available art for sale

Art to express emotions and for wellbeing

We can all use art or creativity to express our emotions. This can be in paint, dance, sculpting, any kind of craft, spoken word or written poetry. For me picking up a brush has been a way to escape reality. I used it as a way to talk when I could not find anyone to hear me or when what I wanted to say was too challenging for others to bear. Sometimes within relationships we do not speak our truth as that would hurt others. Being still or playful with paint gave me a voice and then the art became my voice. I then became seen and known which was ironic considering where the desire to paint came from.

From Mental Health to Glory

In 2000 I suffered an emotional breakdown. I lost my Nan and also my Father in Law in the same year. It brought back the pain of the loss of my mother from when I was a 14. I was forced to take a break from what had been a very successful career. I was chasing money to feel safe and for practical reasons to pay for a home, but i needed to learn emotional freedom. My anxiety had increased and I was shaken or overwhelmed by the smallest things. My sensitivity came to the surface and I decided to go to hospital for a month.

It was here I took up boxing to get out my frustrations. That hurt my hands so I turned to splashing paint for a gentler comfort. This evolved into using pastels and blending sky scenes, which was less messy. Finally, holding a brush and palette knife to create gentle blends as well as exuberant swoops and swirls.

My art career and wellbeing

My art career was born out of mental crisis. I learned to play again, Many people at my friend’s church prayed for me and I recovered well enough to return to my former career in project management. However, the urge to paint remained. Eventually, I became a full time artist in 2005 after a few years of being employed and setting up my art business. I attended art shows and events at weekends and took on commissioned art projects. My recovery was due to both prayer and paint. God found a way to speak to me when I was still enough to listen, yet occupied in creativity. If you review the titles of my art you can see the messages of my soul speaking.

Wellbeing, nature and art

Here are a few techniques I learned on my journey to recovery.
Look up at the sky, cloud watch or feel the expanse of peace. it is a calm space without people. Whatever the weather from grey to brilliant blue it can give you something. Nature has a way of listening and skies have always been my thing as the sky makes me feel free wherever I am. Even on the underground I know there is a sky above me and just imagine or reflect on one when I need to feel calm and free. Most of my paintings start with an expansive sky. Trees have a way of making me feel safe. Walking in woodland seeing the colours of the leaves especially at autumn and walking in wellies joyfully kicking leaves is still a pleasure of mine. Beautiful landscape makes me feel peaceful.

Tips and Tools for Calm

Breathe in for 7 and out for 11. This will break the anxiety fight or flight mode and restore calm.

Splash your face with cold water, it stops overthinking and brings you to the present moment. I cold shower too, after a hot shower as again it stimulates the circulation (check first with a doctor)

Dance at home, put the music up or headphones on and move. This releases endorphins and brings you to the moment. I joined a few classes and my favourite is one is zumba. I have also learned salsa and there are many more types of dance to try. This gave me an instant social life outside of work.

Run, walk or jog, it also releases endorphins. I don’t always want to, but I always feel better for doing it. Listen to your body. One step at a time.

Mindfulness or reset from where you are now, not where you were. I called them Sara steps…Create new goals, take action or stop achieving and just be depending on where you are in your mentality.

Take professional advice. I took counselling and also went for prayer.

Diet: managing blood sugar levels can be very useful to help control mood. Negativity is harder to fight if we are tired or hungry. There are many social media platforms or books to help with this. Eating greens, protein and then carbs in this order is simple and effective.

Pet an animal with the owners permission. The painting above is about my faith and was also inspired by stroking my neighbours cat, The act of being kind to an animal nourished and calmed me.

Can I manage my thoughts by creativity?

Manage your thoughts or don’t react to them emotionally without reflection. Creativity can be a way for your subconscious to process a situation or circumstance. The bible says take very thought captive 2 corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. I have been taught we have 3 places of thought: from ourselves, good and evil. We therefore have the power to choose how to react or what we listen to internally.

Feed your mind with positive books, speech and surround yourself with people who have a can do approach to life. What we listen to feeds our subconscious. Proverbs gives biblical advice.

Go to bed early, good sleep is medicine.

How do I become creative?

To become creative, just begin. Pick up a pencil, paintbrush or anything that feels right to you. I have a friend who was ill and wrote it all down on paper screwed up the paper and discovered he could sculpt. How wonderfully positive. He recovered and is now a full time sculptor. This is definately an example of art for wellbeing.

When it comes to choosing to be creative don’t think and just do. Let go of the outcome and enjoy the process. You don’t have to keep every work of art. Perhaps start with a doodle and stop, or perhaps carry on and colour it in, and let your creative journey begin.