|
RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
Best selling books like “Cultural Creatives” and “The Element” are
bringing a lot of focus to creativity. What’s going on?
Futurists like John Naisbitt, agree that we are shifting out of the
“Information Age” and into a new era called the “Creative Age”. Computers
have leveled the playing field. The new leaders and shapers are creative
thinkers and empathizers; those who can find patterns and meaning in things.
Second the Boomers are retiring and they are looking for interesting lives
beyond their careers. Thirdly, women have the innate intuition and empathic
sensibilities to truly come into our own in this next era.
I’m not an artist, so why is creativity important? Dr. Eric Maisel in his
book Creativity for Life describes three forms of creative expression. A
professional artist or someone devoted to one or more art forms he describes
as an “art-committed life”. If you love art, music, science, theatre, etc.;
filling your space and your time with art then you are living an “art-filled
life”. If you are creative in the way you handle relationships, solve
problems, plan events you are engaged in “artful living”. Someone can be
just as moved as an audience member watching a live performance or film as
they can painting or dancing. When you’re connected to creativity your life
has more meaning, it is easier to find solutions and you feel more alive -
that’s important.
Can you tell me more about the “Art of Healing”? The biggest underlying
factor for illness, emotional pain and hindrance to recovery is STRESS. The
universal feeling from engaging in any art form is relaxation; most art
activities have the same benefits as meditation. Studies have shown that
what happens to the mind and body in the healing process itself is
duplicated when engaged in the arts. My favorite quote is from a patient
crying out: “Forget the morphine, just bring me the dancer!”
How can I be more creative? I want to do something artistic but what? Follow
your curiosity; it will lead you to your art form, inspiration and your life
path. Get out to museums, galleries, live music and performances, and
intelligent films. Read, start a journal, contemplate what makes you happy
and what interests you? Vision boards are a great tool. Visit www.oprah.com
to download their Dream Board software for free. Find images and phrases for
it and look at the patterns.
For details on artful living, email Phay Wills at
creativeconnectionworkshops@gmail.com or call 403.245.6629. Check
out her workshops and social club “A Great Night Out” at
www.meetup.com
|
