The topic of the day seems to be how to protect ourselves from illnesses that may come in the form of viruses, secondary infections, and other sickness. There are a lot of ways to boost our immune systems by tending to our physical needs for nutritional foods, hand-washing, and refraining from touching our face, there are also effective ways to boost our immune systems by tending to our emotional/mental well-being.
There are many studies, in a wide variety of fields, that have shown how fear and stress weaken our immune systems.
On the other hand, studies also show it is possible to boost our immune systems by engaging in social activities, actively engaging in stress-lowering activities, and utilizing cognitive therapy to work on increasing positive thoughts.
(See this link to one such study:https://www.apa.org/research/action/immune )
If you are even the tiniest bit creative, you probably enjoy creative activities from time to time such as crafting, painting, sewing, woodworking, knitting, . . . .and the list goes on. For me, it is painting. I love to feel the brush moving against the canvas while watching the colors blend together to create images. I find myself breathing more easily, having a lowered heart-rate, and feeling overall more joyful while I am painting.
Whatever creative or artistic activity causes you to feel relaxed and happy is the very thing you could begin to use on a regular basis to boost your immune system. The act of engaging different parts of your brain, using your hands to make things, and focusing your senses on the creative process lowers stress, reduces fearful thoughts, and lowers blood pressure. If you really want to benefit from making art (or any creative pursuit that involves kinesthetic movement with creative intent) then get into a daily or weekly practice and watch your stress levels go down and your sense of peace go up.
(Here is an article about the benefits of art: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/ )
If you have not yet received my free mini-series about creating space and time for painting and you would like to receive it, you may go sign up for it here: https://sherryjoycollier.com/ – click the “Get Access Now” button on the top of the screen and follow the prompts. You will also have access to a brief tutorial showing you how to paint my abstract/expressive flower in this mini-series – and it is free.
Here’s to Boosting Our Immune Systems with Art,
Sherry Joy Collier, Therapist, Artist, and Instructor