Silence of Morn Pastel over Watercolor
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do, are in harmony." Mahatma Gandhi
This is a strange moment in history…time feels so unmoored. Once again, we are starting a new year with a health crisis looming, people are tired of it all, and there is a great deal of unrest. So, it might in fact be an ideal opportunity to reconsider what and how we do things. Re-consider our priorities and experiment with a new agenda.
New challenges lay before us and with each year of our lives certain truths grow more clearly apparent. For each of us they are going to be a little different. They will not only be dependent on our family situation, age, health, and fortitude, but also on the changes taking place in our society and the issues that need to be addressed.
The start of a New Year always comes with the idea that we should make resolutions, but as most of us know, they are seldom kept. So, I am suggesting that this year we dig a little deeper to find what it is that will truly add to our lives in this “new world” we are living in.
Navigating life during a pandemic which is one day nearing its end and the next heading into full bloom; challenges us in a way that good times don't. Facing challenges and finding our way through them builds resilience. Knowing that we can overcome obstacles helps us succeed as we navigate through life.
For us to do this however we need to build a positive attitude. We need to approach our whole life with a positive outlook. It does not necessarily mean avoiding or ignoring the bad things; instead, it involves making the most of the potentially bad situations that come our way. We need to try and view ourselves and our abilities in a positive light. We need to focus on what we can do instead of what we can't
When we view our lives from a positive standpoint there is a vitality that comes into our lives despite everything. Being creative helps us with this in many ways. It helps us from getting old, not in years but in mind. It takes us out of the minutiae of the everyday chaos.
The ability to create helps us stay young, healthy, and cope. Research has proven that creativity is a great stress reliever and lowers our anxiety. It helps with our cognitive function, develops new problem-solving skills, makes us more self-aware, and gives us a healthy way to express ourselves, thereby improving our mood. And learning new things stimulates brain function.
As we assess our agenda for the New Year we might want to explore new creative avenues. I read an interesting article this past week about priorities: perfectionism verses meaning and fulfillment. I think if we look at a more creative life, we must take that thought with us. It’s not a question of ability or excelling at our undertaking, it’s about the health benefits, the joy and fulfillment it will give us. It’s all in the journey…being positive, enjoying the process, and living in the moment.
Happy New Year! May each of you have a healthy and creative New Year. Thank you for reading and being part of the “Creative Spirit Blog family”. Carolyn