The Healing Power of Creativity

“Art therapy opened up my world to new passions and possibilities.” – Dr. Howard Murad

We are all meant to create in one way or another. Creating relieves stress, distracts your mind and soothes your soul. It inspires you, liberates you and gives you a whole new perspective. And there is solid research showing that art therapy is good for our mental, physical and spiritual health.

Dr. Murad experienced the healing power of creativity firsthand, and it transformed his life. In 2008, after undergoing retinal surgery, Dr. Murad had to keep his head down with his chin on his chest for nearly a month while the retina healed. He started painting to pass the time and discovered an unexpected passion for art, which became a pathway to reintroduce play and freedom of expression back into his life.

Dr. Murad said, “Through art, I have found a delightful way to reintroduce a sense of playful creativity back into my life – something that can benefit anyone’s mental and physical health.”

Here are some common forms of art therapy:

Visual Arts. Drawing, painting, pastels, clay, photography and collages.

Performance Arts. Acting, singing, dancing, improvisation, stand-up comedy and playing an instrument.

Writing. Essays, short stories, monologues, poetry, music and journaling.

Crafting. Sewing, jewelry making, scrapbooking, knitting, woodworking and flower arranging.

This is just a quick list we put together for you, but the options are endless. Many people also love to cook, bake, garden, decorate, decoupage and create beautiful mosaics out of broken glass. Choose an activity that brings you joy. If you love dog grooming, then tap into that creative outlet, and see where it takes you and how it makes you feel.

So if you find yourself stuck, stressed or in any kind of physical or emotional pain, heal yourself with a little art therapy. Use the art form of your choice to express your feelings. Let the art heal you. Use it on a regular basis as preventive medicine.

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