Alyice on September 11th, 2008

Let Art Be Your Therapy

Do you ever just create for the sake of creating? Do you ever just do something artistic because it’s relaxing, fun, or therapeutic? Or must you, like myself, have a purpose for the things you do?

Up until three weeks ago, I couldn’t see myself doing anything if there wasn’t an end result to be obtained. Everything I did was basically mapped out in my head and the only luxury I had was to sit comatose in front of the television after a long and exhausting day of going, going, going. Even my art had a purpose—create something for a specific person in mind.

The problem with this way of living is that we’re not really living. We simply go about life on auto-drive as we lose ourselves in a sea of “doing”. And if we’re not careful it will kill us—maybe not physically, but definitely emotionally and spiritually.

It took me three weeks to break my “always on the go” habit. Three weeks of pure torture as I forced myself to do less and less each day until I could actually sit down and do nothing without feeling regret, remorse, or guilt.

And you know what happened? Nothing. The world did not end because I cut back on all that doing. Sure our finances got a little tighter and the family has had to help out around the house more and authors have had to find other people to review their books, but my family didn’t suffer neglect and my business did not disappear.

In fact, quite the opposite has happened. I am happier and more relaxed than I have been in years and because of how much better I feel emotionally, certain aspects of our family life and my marriage is better than it has been in years. There’s a calm that’s come over the family—either that or I’m just so relaxed that it feels more peaceful. Either way it’s taught me the importance of making time each day to just play.

That’s why starting next week I’m devoting one hour a day for Creative Play: no agenda, no guilt, and no excuses. The hour may be different each day, but it will be one hour none-the-less. And there will be no more excuses about how busy my life is or how important it is that I complete this, that, or the other. I will simple devote one hour to being spontaneous and expressive with my art supplies. I’ll sit down and let my muse take me wherever it wants to go.

What about you? Will you allow your creative side a little room to breathe? Will you allow your inner emotions a voice?

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Comments (5)

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ann says:
Oh, I would so love even half a day of creative play - I will accept a couple of hours of reading.
Posted at 2:20 am September 15th, 2008
Jenny R says:
Sounds fun.

I’ve always wanted to try painting.

Jenny Rs last blog post..A Profound Mystery
Posted at 3:51 am September 15th, 2008
Alyice says:
Hi Ann and Jenny,

Thanks for commenting. I hop you can find time to paint. I did a little last night–started my week early–and I can tell you that it really helped me get out of a funky mood. It’s very therapeutic.

Ann, my father-in-law reads for about 2 hours every day instead of turning on the “boob tube” as he calls it. He is 76 (or is it 78) years old now and his mind is as sharp as can be.
Posted at 1:25 pm September 15th, 2008
The Cotton Wife says:
I have a hard time doing things without a purpose. Except for reading… I can do that all day long and never feel too guilty about letting other things slack off.

The Cotton Wifes last blog post..How To Shoot A BB Gun - In Nine Steps
Posted at 5:18 pm September 15th, 2008
Alyice says:
Cotton Wife, I am with you! I think that’s why I really need to do this exercise every day. I need to retrain my brain–to tell myself that it’s okay to do things just for the fun of it.

My husband’s been telling me this for years and I’m just now “getting a clue”. He can’t wait, either. He says that it will make his “just because” time more enjoyable since I won’t be hovering over him asking him to do this that and the other and interrupting him. LOL
Posted at 7:38 pm September 15th, 2008