creatively and mental health
For you what does it mean to be creative? Good at arts, crafts, painting, composing original scores? Luckily this is an incomplete definition. If you are good at creating codes, designing table covers, solving jigsaws, knitting, sewing or merely crocheting or painting adult color books, you are creative according to modern definitions. Even if you find yourself doodling during meetings, you should not doubt your creative streak.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CREATIVITY AND MENTAL HEALTH
The good part about creativity is that it has a deep found connection to mental health matters. Scientists are coming forth with strong evidence to support this concept. Let me elaborate on it for you. Anything from potting plants, painting, or planning events, is highly beneficial for your mental well-being. Creativity is known to reduce depression, relieve stress, improve the immune system, and decrease negative emotions. They say that time spent in achieving creative goals helps create a positive affect (PA) that day.
Positive affect is a barometer to gauge positive moods, like joy, happiness, and possibilities. A higher positive affect lowers the negative moods, decreases stress, and increases the chances of looking for possibilities. This in turn facilitates us to see the brighter side and dwell on goodness.
HOW DOES CREATIVITY AFFECT THE HUMAN BRAIN?
This is the billion-dollar question. You might have often noticed people doing their stuff, designing a program, doing graffiti, or simply a quilt; they get lost in their activity. This act of creating their stuff requires immense attention. Scientists term this state, “flow “in which the creators are immensely occupied and absorbed. Whatever they are doing, the world beyond seems to be drifting somewhere else.
This state of creative flow is caused by notable changes in the brain's functions. Brainwaves slow down during this creative flow and make space for original thoughts to replace them. The prefrontal cortex goes quiet or deactivates, making them less decisive of ideas, and subsequently braver. You will be surprised to know that during this creative flow, the brain experiences a huge neurochemical transformation as well. Large quantities of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin are released. These are pleasure and happiness-inducing substances that affect mental well-being.
The way the human brain responds to creative activities is similar to its response while doing yoga or meditation exercises. All these activities block off any external stimuli and induce peace, calm, content, and happiness. The brain can experience a natural high of excitement and pleasure.
CREATIVITY AND THE PERFORMING ARTS
Another aspect of this notion is that throughout recorded history, prominent artists’ have some mental issue that provoked them to produce astounding pieces of art. If you allow me to dive into history, Vincent van Gogh will be a perfect example. If you want someone from the present generation, won’t Kanye West capture your fantasy? This guy is a genius, not afraid to push boundaries in whatever he does. The ability to do something better than others is not creativity, but doing something that people consider undoable is surely creative.