When thinking about the word “art,” various images might come to mind: a child’s artwork pinned to the fridge, a favorite artist’s inspiring pieces, or abstract art that’s hard to grasp. These examples suggest that art is something other people do, such as children or those with talent. However, art is intrinsic to human evolution and history, much like sports or workouts exercise the body, creating art exercises the imagination and is essential for mental and physical well-being.

Art is intrinsic to human evolution and history. Creating art exercises the imagination and is essential for both mental and physical well-being, much like sports or workouts exercise the body.

As a professor of art therapy, studies have shown how creative self-expression affects physical and emotional health. Clinical research has found that any form of creative self-expression – including drawing, painting, fiber arts, woodworking, or photography – can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase self-confidence.

Personal experience as a sickly child who often stayed home from school revealed that making art helped in coping. Today, creating art serves as a sanctuary, a way to better understand oneself, recharge, and learn from life’s challenges.

Creativity: A Unique Human Attribute

While everyone has their own concept of art, one universal truth is that creativity is a defining feature of the human species. Human brains are not merely data processors; they are biological prediction machines that use memories and senses to imagine plausible future scenarios. These predictive and imaginative capacities are crucial for survival and thriving, as self-expression helps cope with uncertainty. Art helps practice this imaginative muscle in a beneficial way.

A study examining brain activity while using virtual reality tools to create 3-D digital artwork demonstrated that creative expression is a natural state. The brain uses fewer cognitive resources for creative tasks compared to rote tasks requiring conscious effort.

Everyday activities can tap into natural creativity and imagination: cooking meals from leftovers, finding alternate routes to work, dancing to a song, or gardening. Studies have consistently found that even a single session of genuine self-expression can boost self-confidence and reduce stress, anxiety, and burnout. This is partly because creativity activates reward pathways in the brain, with dopamine associated with feelings of hope, accomplishment, or reward.

Art Therapy: Its Benefits and Its Role

Art therapy helps people manage transitions, adversity, and trauma, such as puberty, the death of a loved one, or serious illness. A global study indicates that 1 in 2 people will experience a mental health challenge in their lifetime. Art therapy, a regulated mental health profession, involves clinical psychotherapists offering psychotherapy to patients with diagnosed mental health needs.

The origins of art therapy date back to treating soldiers with post-traumatic stress during the 20th century’s world wars. Today, there is evidence that traumatic experiences are stored as sounds, images, and physical sensations in the brain. When words fail to process these experiences, art therapy provides an indirect way to express and externalize feelings and memories.

Art therapy’s strength lies in its nonverbal communication, processing, and management of PTSD symptoms. Recent studies show that a personal history of trauma affects reactions to evocative images, suggesting that life stories make us more sensitive to others’ distress. Creative self-expression offers a way to regain a sense of agency and control, especially in coping with trauma.

Bringing Creativity into Daily Life

Engaging in creative activities begins with letting go of unrealistic expectations. Creativity isn’t about becoming a famous artist or even a mediocre one; it’s about flexing the creative muscle and enjoying the sensory and emotional aspects of imagining. Reflect on activities that brought joy as a child – singing, playing outdoors, dancing, making up stories. Indulge in these pursuits to feel relaxed and joyful.

Consider cultural traditions, tinkering with electronics, making gifts, or appreciating everyday beauty as creative activities. Like any muscle, the more it’s exercised, the stronger it becomes, leading to increased confidence and adventurousness in creative practices. 

Make time for creative pursuits each week, viewing them as another form of sustenance. Creativity is as vital to human health as nutritious meals, exercise, and rest. So, as the Latin saying goes, “Plene vivere.” Live fully.