4 Ways Doing Art Can Benefit Your Personal Growth
It’s time to be a kid again!
Everyone has dabbled in art at some point in their life. Whether in an art class at school, or just putting crayon to paper as a toddler, we all have a creative side, but not all of us are as in touch with it. Maybe you think, “Well I can’t draw, so I shouldn’t even bother.” Well, you’d be missing out on the many benefits of engaging in artistic activities.
Many of us often forget that the purpose of art is not to be good at it. Art has been around for as long as modern humans have, and I don’t think any of the homosapiens back then were too bothered about whether they were good at it or not, but they continued doing it because it brought them some form of satisfaction through expression. The perception that one has to be good at art in order to do it ends up leaving a lot of people out of the benefits of art. You might be wondering, “So what is the point of art then?” Well, the point is whatever you want it to be. You can do it for fun, for profit or just because you want to build a new skill. What matters is that you’re happy with it. Unless you’re planning on making a living from your art in some way, you don’t need to put too much weight on what others think about it.
Drawing, coloring, writing or music. It doesn’t matter which type of art you prefer, each of them can have a positive effect on you personally. I’m going to go through a list of the benefits that can come from doing art. Some you may not have thought of.
Forces You To Confront Feelings Of Failure
Anytime you’re trying something new, there’s going to be a point where you realize, “This is harder than I thought”. You probably thought this after your piece didn’t turn out the way you wanted. You might feel bogged down and start doubting your abilities after this set back. You may feel crummy, but it’s good to be confronted with these sorts of emotions. It gives you the opportunity to explore why it’s there and how to start remedying it. Being able to manage feelings of failure can have positive effects in your career and personal life and contributes to overall wellness.
Fosters Patience
In today’s fast moving society, we tend to want things now. We prefer to be good at something quickly and get there with moderate to minimum effort. At some point we all have to learn that there is a process to things that takes a lot of time and effort. Artistic activities are a great vehicle to teach this sort of lesson. If you want to challenge or develop your own patience, picking up an artistic hobby is a great way to do it.
Nurtures Self-Acceptance and Confidence
It’s well known that art is a form of self-expression, but that self-expression is also a catalyst to feeling empowered and confident. When you give yourself permission to express whatever you want without criticism and pressure to be perfect, you’re indulging in freedom. Draw what you want. Paint what you want. Write what you want. Sing what you want. And don’t give a second thought to whether it’s good enough, because that’s not the point. The point is to express whatever needs or wants to be expressed whether it’s sadness or unbridled joy. Giving yourself the space to express and create while being free from judgement and shame is like a form of self-care. Remember, just because you’re not a Picasso, a Bob Dylan or a Toni Morrison doesn’t mean your art is worthless.
It’s Fun and Relaxing
This one is kind of obvious but has to be said. Art is fun! Getting creative and making something that’s an extension of yourself can be fun, relaxing and even cathartic. A fun, relaxing activity such as this can be a much needed break from a stressful work schedule or other overwhelming obligations. It’s important to give our mental and emotional selves a break from stressors. Tap into your inner child and embrace the old days when you created whatever you wanted and wasn’t fussed about how it turned out. The older we get, the more we tend to neglect our inner child, but it’s there and needs some TLC every now and then.
There’s a reason art is included in elementary school schedules and as a form of therapy. There are real and meaningful benefits to engaging in an artistic hobby. Continuously meeting hurdles and overcoming them to improve your skills builds self-efficacy, or belief in one’s own ability to conquer a challenge, which is an immensely important characteristic to have in life. If you’re searching for ways to improve yourself or have always wanted to dabble in the arts, don’t hesitate. Pick up a pen or pencil and give yourself permission to express yourself without judgement and see where it leads you.
