Creative Expression

And 20 Ideas to Get You Star ted

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By Erin Dozois

It ’s getting easier and easier to lose yourself in this demanding, fast-paced world Time is a precious commodit y, and it ’s oftentimes monopolized by making money, keeping commitments and stagnating from fatigue and the pressures of life But we burn out when we spread ourselves too thin We become less produc tive, less efficient, so it takes much more time and effor t to accomplish anything at all.

If your energy and morale always seem to run low, you should invest some valuable time into your soul Creative expression is one of the best methods of self-discover y, granting the ar tist the freedom to explore her identity, beliefs and ideas Through creation, she can examine problems, work through pain and immor talize dear memories. Creative expression gives meaning to the ever yday mundane and the confidence to take life head on. Plus, it ’s just a lot of fun

Take photos of beautiful things. Print, frame and hang them to remind you when you’re down how beautiful the world really is

Draw or paint your emotions. Some people are more comfor table expressing their feelings visually rather than talk ing or writing them.

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Draw something that scares you.

Allowing yourself to study and recreate your fears can give you more power over and a better understanding of the things that bother you

Put together a journal.

Draw from life. Sketching different body types can give you an appreciation of others’ unique shapes in addition to your own.

Make a motivational collage.

Inspire yourself to achieve your dreams Hang your finished piece in a place you will see ever y day to remind you to pursue your dreams.

Design a fragments box.

Fill it with trinkets that represent who you are, where you’ve been and what you want from life

Writing about the events in your life and how you feel about them can help you work through complicated emotions and ser ve as a point of reference on difficult days

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Make something for someone else. What could be a more meaningful and satisfying gift than a piece of you?

Show people you care by tak ing the time and effor t to create something special just for them.

Work collaboratively. Ar tistic par tners appreciate and validate your points of view and can offer up advice and new ideas to help you grow

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Create a diorama. Capture a pivotal moment in your life by creating a tac tile, 3-dimensional representation.

Make a meditative painting.

Paint for the sake of painting Don’t get hung up on what the finished produc t will look like The goal of this projec t is to quiet the mind and relax the soul

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Paint to music. Music is a power ful medium. I t can instantly transpor t us back to impor tant events from our past and unleash our deepest emotions Put it all on canvas

Document an experience where you did something you didn’t think you could do.

Struggling with self-doubt? Inspire confidence by recreating a moment in your life when you overcame fear and uncer tainty.

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Write a song or poem about a painful moment in your past. Be inspired by your dark times. Rec ycle them into a beautiful lesson that others can relate to

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Write an autobiography.

I t ’s easier to move for ward when you’ve understood and accepted where you came from

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Write a letter you’ll never send.

Are you still angr y or upset with someone in your life? Get it off your chest and out on paper. O wn your pain then set it free

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Write fic tion. Write your dreams into realities. Create and control your own world

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Draw a comic strip about a funny moment in your life.

Laughter is, after all, the best medicine

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Make a family tree. Draw strength from your origins, and remind yourself you’re not alone. a