“We may believe that we are thinking beings who feel, but it’s actually the opposite. We are feeling beings who think.” Your Brain on Art
Authors Magsamen and Ross point out that the arts enhance positive emotions. Things like joy and contentment contribute to an over-all feeling of well-being.
Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by stress and may look for ways to feel less anxious.
Interestingly stress isn’t actually an emotion. It is a response to emotions. Stress itself, can be helpful by initiating a fight or flight response. It’s when it becomes a chronic condition of every day life that it crosses over into the negative realm.
According to the authors, “Being stuck in stress results in feeling tired, depleted and possibly depressed.”
Turning to unhealthy habits for relief. might work in the short term, but are not really the best way to amp down the effects of chronic stress.
Turning to something like relaxing music or even coloring can be a way to reduce anxiety.
Believe it or not, coloring can have a similar effect as meditation on the brain. It helps to reduce anxiety in the amygdala. This is the the part of the brain that detects danger and causes us to respond instantly.
Tamlin Conner, who has researched the mental attributes of creativity calls coloring a “little-c” type of creativity. In other words, “an everyday activity that we may not think of as “art” but which reduces depressive symptoms and anxiety.”
Remember, just observing art can help reduce anxiety. Look for something you might enjoy doing that can bring a calming feeling to your day.
No comments:
Post a Comment