Creativity- Benefiting You And Your Relationships

In our busy lives, much of our focus goes to family and work and our personal creative hobbies sometimes get pushed aside or even forgotten.

Having a creative outlet that is rewarding and fun can be a great way to engage in self-care and self-development. Self- expression is also an excellent way to channel negative emotions we might have and create something with them.

However, it is easy to make excuses. How many times have we said?

"I'm not artistic, I can't draw."

"I'm tone deaf, I can't sing."

“I’m not musical, I never had piano lessons.”

"I can't write."

“I never know which colours look good together.”

Remember, take part in creative hobbies for yourself and not necessarily for the benefit of others. Do an activity just for the sole purpose of your own enjoyment. Do you like every painting in an art gallery? Not everyone will like your art and that is okay. Remind yourself that even though you may not be the best singer, singing has health benefits for the heart and lungs and can also lower stress. In addition, learning an instrument exercises and develops certain areas of the brain.

So be creative for your own mind and body; you may even discover hidden talents!

Not sure what activity to take up? Think back to what you used to enjoy as a child. Did you draw? Build with Lego? Sing? See if those things bring you the same happiness now. On the other hand, it can be wonderful to try something completely new! No matter what you choose, the main idea is that you are setting some time for some self-care.

Keeping in touch with our creative side keeps the child inside us alive and therefore can keep us happy and playful.

Finding creative ways to express ourselves also can do wonders for our well-being and mental health because creating something that is an extension of ourselves can be deeply satisfying.

If you are single, signing up for a new class is also a great way to meet new people with similar interests. You never know who will be there! Another additional perk to creative hobbies is that it keeps you interesting. This is important for your relationships early on in dating and throughout the relationship. Hobbies help define and develop our individuality, are outlets for our energy and emotions and can help attract people with similar interests. Seeing if you have similar interests when dating is a great way to discover if you and another person can connect and explore compatibility. In addition, having your own hobbies shows that you are independent and do not rely completely on your relationship for entertainment.

If you are already in a long-term relationship, participating in a creative activity together with your partner can create a memorable bonding experience.

Here are some examples of popular creative expressions:

Painting, drawing

Music playing

Singing

Gardening

Writing

Decorating a room

Knitting, sewing

Sculpture, woodworking

Jewelry making, beading

Photography

Enjoy!