The past year has been difficult for many in terms of loss. Not only have loved ones been take from us by the COVID virus, but many have lost businesses, jobs, and income, resulting in the loss of homes, food, and even means of self-preservation. In this New Year, we are beginning our path to healing. The scientists say the pandemic will be waning toward the end of the year, there are now vaccines coming available. If we continue to mask and social distance for another six or more months, we will get through this. But what about right now? How do we deal with the grief of losing so much in the past months? Creativity can help with the grieving process. In my book, The Shades of Creativity, I talk about new opportunities and how to use creativity to take advantage of them. Anytime that you decide to take advantage of a new opportunity, you are going to find that you are filled with energy and excitement about that activity. You are going to find more and more each day that you can apply yourself without reservation to the focus of that activity. You now have the ability to be focused and stay focused on all of your goals and dreams. Being focused comes naturally to you, and staying laser focused is one of the highest attributes that you have available to you right now. (Pullman, 2017) That focus on your goals and dreams will help you move past the grief of past loss. Ways to stay focused include activities like music, dance, and art. For example, you can use drawing as a way to help express your fears, wish fulfillments, and fantasies. Creative drawings can build your confidence and self-esteem. Goals are revealed that reflect the subconscious thoughts of negativity and facing one’s fear in life. Music is an excellent way to help you move through the grieving process toward healthy, positive decision making and actions. Just listening to your favorite music releases the “good hormones” in the brain. Brain scans show that listening to music engages a sweep of different areas within this beautiful organ. In addition, if just listening to tunes does that, playing those same tunes on an instrument is like sending your brain to boot camp. Playing music exercises the parts of the brain that perceive and analyze sound, sight, and touch. It drills the parts of the brain that control movement, behavior, decision-making and expression, as well as memory, emotion, and reward. (Pullman, 2017) Dancing is the key to brain fitness, and staying youthful. There have been numerous studies and research on how dancing reduces the risk of dementia. Scientists have also found that people who dance on a regular basis have increased cognitive reserves and an increased complexity of neuronal synapses, which is a good thing. (Pullman, 2017) Use whichever creative means you are comfortable with to help you move on to a rich and rewarding 2021! References Pullman, D. A. (2017). The Shades of Creativity. Annadale, Virginia: Independently Published. Image above: Sculpture by Hungarian Sculpter János Andrássy Kurta, Titled GRIEF
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While reflecting on the past year, I have concluded that we have before us an opportunity to find our creative selves through Imagination and Vision. In my book, The Shades of Creativity, I recognize that this is your time, early in the New Year, to relax into your Creative Self. Imagination is the power to be what you want to be; see what you want to see; and feel what you want to feel. A flow of ideas and thoughts creating a story through mental imagery. Finding opportunity is always about where you look, where you are willing to look, and feeling confident that there are always opportunities no matter how bad things seem to be. (Pullman, 2017) This New Year will bring something with it that we may not be able to deal with: uncertainty. Anything new will do this, a new job, a new home, a new sense of fear of the unknown. Our thoughts can create a sense of fear or of peace, depending on how we allow those feels to manifest themselves. Sometimes it is helpful to ask for the advice and/or opinions of others who are going through the same things.
One method you can use to navigate through these troubled times is the art of Visualization. Vision is a higher level of imagery than meditation and imagination because you have a clearer picture of what you want. (Pullman, 2017) Find an image or picture that you like looking at, relax and think about the image. Make a note of what you are seeing, how does it make you feel? Think about the following items as you view the image:
References Pullman, D. A. (2017). The Shades of Creativity. Annadale, Virginia: Independently Published. |
AuthorI am a Performance Enhancement Specialist with a background in Emergency Psychiatric Medicine and Community Addiction. Archives
December 2023
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