How the Arts Transform Us
Learn the many ways you can experience better living through art and design.
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You've probably heard of art therapy at some point. You might imagine troubled children being asked to express their emotions through sketching and painting. However, art's proven skills and therapeutic advantages extend far beyond this.
You'll discover various techniques designed to improve your general mental health and well-being, along with numerous information from clinical trials and peer-reviewed studies. Every second of the day, your senses and brain absorb and process the environment around you. In this summary, you will discover how daily art may rewire your brain and enrich every aspect of your existence.
1. Our sense of aesthetics
Before we get into the various therapeutic benefits that art can give, we need to ask two key questions. The first is: What is art? The second question is: How do we process art on a bodily level?
While people have debated the meaning of art for millennia, we will cast a wide net for our purposes. In fact, we'll take a hint from Irish poet John O'Donohue, who once stated, "Art is the essence of awareness."
This may sound obscure, but it is also relatively straightforward. Art is everywhere. It's reflected in the pattern of your rug, the shape of your potted plants, and the style of your furniture.
Magsamen and Ross describe this awareness as having an aesthetic worldview. If you already have a strong aesthetic sense, you may be the type of person who visits art galleries, gets touched by music, and is aware of a room's interior design.
Whether you realize it or not, you are continuously influenced by aesthetics. The color of the walls, the lighting, and the soundscape of the space you're currently sitting in all impact you. Having an aesthetic perspective implies that you are aware of the relationship and prepared to capitalize on it.
This takes us to the second question: what physiological influence does art have on us. As humans, we are continually digesting our surroundings using our senses. The aesthetics of our surroundings include what we see, hear, and smell, as well as the temperature and texture of the things we touch. They are taken in and processed on a moment-by-moment basis.
Everything has the power to affect how you feel. Smells, noises, and colors might trigger your blood pressure to rise or fall. They can cause the release of stress hormones. Alternatively, they can make you feel relaxed, secure, and drowsy.
Most of this happens subconsciously. Neuroscience indicates that just 5% of your mental activity is conscious. The rest happens without you even realizing it. Your senses are being processed, and your emotions are developing subconsciously. However, by expanding your awareness—or aesthetic attitude—you may consider all of this and begin using art to achieve long-term changes in your life and well-being.
2. Managing stress, anxiety, and trauma.
You may have a conflicting connection with art. Perhaps someone told you at a young age that you lacked a natural ability for painting, and you've always assumed that art was for others.
If you only take one thing away from this summary, a summary that you don't have to be a creative genius to get the benefits of art. Creating something with your hands, whether it's a pencil and paper drawing or a small clay sculpture, is rewarding in and of itself. According to a Drexel University study, spending just 45 minutes doing art can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. They also stated that it did not matter how artistically talented or proficient they were. Making art is relaxing on a physiological level.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Over the last few decades, thousands of studies have been conducted on art therapy. The findings indicate that creating art in a judgment-free setting can boost one's immune system, cardiovascular reactivity, and psychological condition.
In reality, you don't have to create art to reap its benefits. A 2020 study from University College London discovered that people who attend cultural events at least once a year experience less mental distress and a higher quality of life, regardless of their financial status.
Although humans may experience over 30,000 different emotions, we also tend to become emotionally locked in specific emotional grooves. This can be pretty damaging, especially if the feelings create anxiety, stress, or sadness. Art uniquely influences how we feel since our sensory perception is part of a complex, interconnected neurological system.
Consider the last time you unexpectedly heard a music you hadn't heard since high school. Only a few seconds of that song can evoke many feelings. It may take you to a given time and location.
Smells and tastes are also quite powerful. A unique aroma or the taste of a particular cuisine can vividly recall a seemingly forgotten childhood memory. Sound therapy is occasionally used with talk therapy because of its demonstrated stress-reduction advantages.
This is a crucial ability. When you've been stuck in an emotional rut for so long that you're burnt out, an image, a sound, or a smell can help you break free and experience a moment of sublime serenity.
In many circumstances, art has the unique capacity to move your attention elsewhere. One approach is so practical that it has been used since ancient times. The mandala is a circular design filled with colorful, sacred geometry that Tibetans use to complement their meditative activities. Carl Jung discovered in the twentieth century that filling in the geometry within the mandala assisted people in navigating their complex emotional lives and arriving at the central unifying theme.
More current research has supported Jung's views. A study published in the Art Therapy journal found that patients who worked with mandalas had much lower anxiety levels than those who drew freely on blank paper. The researchers believed that the mandala required precisely the right amount of focus and intricacy to calm and redirect a patient's thoughts away from anxiety. Art's "switching-off" effect has proven helpful in boosting mental health.
The creation of art has been connected to the generation of serotonin and endorphins, both of which are associated with a happier, more emotionally open mental state. This openness is required while dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a long-term condition in which a terrible incident remains embedded in our bodies and minds. It could be a traumatic, violent occurrence or a difficult breakup with a friend. In either case, you have not been able to handle your natural emotional response. It's become stuck, and under the appropriate conditions, it might rise to the surface again and send your stress hormones and neurological system into overdrive.
Fortunately, there has been a lot of study in recent years on how various art practices might aid with PTSD and toxic stress. Drama therapy, dance therapy, painting, and sculpture are all techniques that can help people explore and express their inner sensations, which is an essential step in overcoming PTSD. Drama therapy, for example, allows people to move outside of themselves and develop their empathy by representing others. One peer-reviewed study found that drawing-based training reduced PTSD symptoms by more than 80 percent.
In the following section, we'll go beyond tension and anxiety to see what additional physically therapeutic benefits art might offer.
3. Managing pain and increasing physical health
We've already discussed some of the things that happen in your body during sensory experiences, but it's crucial to note that this process is mental and physical. Your cells' structure and function are also altered, resulting in a physiological and biochemical response to art.
Consider neuroplasticity, for example. This is your brain's ability to rewire neural networks and change how they work. This takes time to happen, of course. Still, it does occur when you change your environment or adopt new habits, such as incorporating a new creative practice into your daily schedule. This explains why many people are prescribed art as a healing and prophylactic therapy.
Many hospitals are also recognizing the benefits of an aesthetic attitude. Many hospitals consider paint colors and other interior design components when building rehabilitation facilities. Aromatherapy is being utilized to cure nausea, while video games are becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of stroke patients. Art practitioners frequently collaborate with clinical professionals to design care plans in hospitals.
There's even a phrase: palliative aesthetics, which refers to pain management techniques that incorporate art and aesthetics. BJ Miller, an internal medicine doctor, lost both of his legs and one arm in a tragic accident many years ago. He understands that chronic pain might be accompanied by other symptoms such as exhaustion, nausea, depression, and insomnia. Miller discovered that art and aesthetics, particularly music therapy, can help improve mood and manage these symptoms over time.
He encourages his patients to create an aesthetic attitude by noticing when they feel better during the day and asking themselves, "What's making the difference?" What is the environment like? Is there a sound, odor, texture, or color? Take a photo using your phone so you remember.
Music and dance therapy are also being used to treat Parkinson's disease, which is a neurodegenerative condition that causes physical symptoms such as shaking, imbalance, and poor coordination. Only recently has science come close to fully comprehending the impact of dancing on the human brain. A three-year study released in 2021 discovered that dance not only improved the mood and quality of life in Parkinson's patients but also enhanced blood flow to the basal ganglia, the brain region responsible for coordination and smooth muscle control. Dance treatment lowered illness symptoms while improving motor control tasks such as walking and facial expressions.
In the third segment, we'll discuss some of the general benefits of art that anyone can enjoy.
4. Learning to blossom via art.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr., a writer, reportedly addressed a high school class about the secret to success. It has nothing to do with ambition or perseverance. He instructed them to practice any type of art. It didn't matter whether they were writing poetry, making music, painting, or sculpting. It is not about fame or money. It is about developing something that would assist them in understanding themselves and "make their soul grow."
Many grew up in a school system emphasizing memorizing and rigorous testing. However, academics are increasingly discovering that joyful artistic creation can lead to healthier, more flourishing minds.
With this in mind, Magsamen and Ross have discovered various ways in which art and the aesthetic perspective can contribute to a fulfilling life. These include developing curiosity, establishing richer surroundings, and balancing ritualized practice with regular opportunities for new and unexpected experiences.
According to psychologist Todd Kashdan, living a rich and meaningful life means being interested and exploring the unknown rather than avoiding it. Engaging with art with curiosity and without judgment is an excellent approach to improving empathy while also learning to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, two inescapable components of life that can cause anxiety in some people.
Let's try to tie this up in a day-in-the-aesthetic lifestyle.
You get up and go to the kitchen, lighted by blue-white lamps that mimic sunlight and stimulate your circadian cycles. You take time to appreciate the flavor and aroma of your favorite coffee or tea. You have daily art practice that is equally vital to your regular workout and meditation habits. You work on the art without any expectations or judgment; it is about connecting with yourself and promoting your well-being. It could be a half-hour of doodling or, on weekends, a few hours working on a sculpture.
After that, you spend time in nature, enjoying the natural world's sights, sounds, fragrances, and rhythms. Nature's intricate designs and wonders inspire you, and you bring them with you to work. You also understand the value of workplace communication, cooperation, and creative problem-solving and prioritize them over pure efficiency and productivity.
After work, you look for shared artistic experiences with your friends, such as live music or a theater performance. You appreciate your social circle, the interchange of ideas, and the opportunity to develop empathy and different perspectives on your worldview.
That sounds like a very fulfilling day, doesn't it? Of course, not every day will be this perfect, but it is something to strive for. You can seek to create an aesthetically pleasing environment that promotes your well-being and encourages you to continue learning, growing, and living a fulfilling life.
Final Summary
Cultivating an artistic attitude allows you to receive art's many benefits. An aesthetic worldview considers the reality that you continually engage with your surroundings and process sensory information. Numerous studies have shown that art, whether sound, color, sketching, painting, dancing, or sculpting, can relieve tension, anxiety, pain, and trauma while extending life and enhancing overall well-being. You can live a happier, more meaningful life by creating a more attractive atmosphere and incorporating art into your daily routine.