June 11 2018
Sunday, June 10, 2018
As we continue with our theme of The Artistry of Grief, below are some reasons why creative expression is healing:
- Creative expression is engaging
Positive Psychologist Martin Seligman suggests that one of the five core elements of psychological well-being is engagement. Engagement refers to participating in activities that you enjoy and which challenge and excite you. You may find that when you engage in these activities you feel fully present, immersed, and that time seems to fly by.
We love this concept, because it gives you a reason to do the things you love. Of course the activities you find engaging depend entirely upon your unique preferences, but many people find creative outlets (both new and old) very engaging.
- Creativity can lead to creative problem solving
When faced with problems and hardship, people often find themselves boxed in by perceived limitations and barriers. In these instances creative thinking can be useful because it helps a person to think outside the box, make new connections, identify coping skills, search for new solutions, and make meaning out of their experiences.
- Creativity fosters communication and connection
Creative expression can give a voice to people who struggle to put words to their experiences. Photography, for example, allows a person to reach across the void and say, “Here, let me show you.” In this way, without even talking, two people can still connect through art and/or shared experiences. Also, even though creating art is usually a solo endeavor, people can connect over their shared artistic interests through clubs, projects, communities and classes (or eCourses!)
Previous Posts
September 18 2023
Author Terry Patten wrote, “In truth, the heart must crack open if the soul is to become free. And you simply cannot think your way into that.” Loss cracks our hearts open and grieving is how we he...
September 11 2023
It’s impossible for me to see today’s date and not think about the horrific events that happened on this day in 2001. My family and I were living in Yardley, Pennsylvania, at the time and my husban...
September 4 2023
This month our theme is “Surrender Your Soul.” The word soul can be very intimidating. What is it? Where is it? And how do I connect with it? There are no definitive answers to those questions, but...
August 28 2023
– I’ll share this poem as we close out our discussion of “Death Is the Memory of the Living.”
At least from my perspective,
our lives are so full of dead people
that any sane way of li...
August 21 2023
One of the quotes that I think of in reference to this month’s theme of “Death Is the Memory of the Living” is Thomas Campbell’s quote, “To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die.” A few wee...
August 14 2023
Thinking about our theme of “Death Is the Memory of the Living,” I’m so grateful for Continuing Bonds Theory. This theory recognizes that a death does not end a relationship. It’s healthy and even ...
August 7 2023
Our theme this month is “Death Is the Memory of the Living.” What this means to me is the living carry the memories of both the life and death of their loved ones. Sometimes these memories are comf...
July 31 2023
To close out this month’s theme of “Yield to Your Grief Journey,” I invite you to let the words of this poem by Padraig Ó Tuama wash over you:
To greet sorrow today does not mean
that sorrow will ...
July 24 2023
As we’ve been talking about our theme “Yield to Your Grief Journey,” I’ve been encouraging movement toward grief. Please know that sometimes it’s okay to take a break from grief. In fact, the Dual ...
July 17 2023
As we continue with our theme of “Yield to Your Grief Journey,” I want to talk about the word yield. The etymology of the word yield is Old English: "to pay, pay for; reward, render; worship, serve...
Comments