How To Build a Happy and Resilient Life: Make Art Not War.

If you have a job, you most likely have a routine: wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, head to work, sit in the same office, interact with the same people and then head home. We become creatures of habit, and the workplace routines can become mundane and repetitive. When you work at the same place and hang out with the same people, you’re constrained from creative growth and experiencing what the world and other people can offer you. All of this leads to Stress and Burnout

Pablo Picasso nailed it when he said, “every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” You don’t have to create a masterpiece to bring back those feelings as an adult, yet still reap the benefits of creativity and self-expression.

Being creative means something different to everyone 

• maybe it’s writing a poem
• participating in a paint-and-sip with friends
• making a new recipe 

The connection between artistic creativity and happiness is by no means a new idea. There is a growing body of research that tell us art has a powerful effect on us in positive ways. Psychology Today published an article in 1996 by Robert Epstein who enthusiastically extolled the joys of artistic creativity, among other experiences. Epstein noted, "...greater creativity breeds greater happiness. The creative process is itself a source of joy for most people. And with new creative powers were also better able to solve the little problems that beset us daily." 

So if you're not expressing your artistic side it's probably because you aren't being challenged or encouraged to do so. One of the most effective ways to change this is to befriend an artist- Here’s why:

1. Self Expression & Your inner Voice

Whether a poet, painter, photographer, artists have a medium of expression that they enjoy sharing with the world. Their thoughts, feelings, ideas are uninhibited and self expression is at the forefront.

In corporate and professional worlds were taught to filter what we say and the most appropriate way of saying it. I encourage you to spend time with an artist, you'll be reminded how free you can be, and that we all can live life on our own terms without the fear of losing your job or a visit to HR Compliance department. You'll rediscover your inner voice, and you should listen to it more often. 

2. View things from different perspectives

It’s rewarding to be around people who have different skills, and to witness their dedication to their vocation. We all have the capacity to build a healthy, positive and engaged workforce of creative and talented professionals. We just need to reduce boredom, increase meaning, foster friendships and commit to a happier workplace to grant better access to those creative and innovative spaces in the brain.

Just think of those days as a kid how you felt when you created a work of art. It probably brought up feelings of:

• unbridled joy
• pride
• Accomplishment and … happiness

Spending time with an artist can help you to create your own creativity. You’ll be inspired to create something of your very own. You don’t have to create a masterpiece to bring back those feelings as an adult, yet still reap the benefits of creativity and self-expression.

3. Peace & The Creative Flow

Like some of you reading this I lost my voice and had no idea how to get it back. Having a creative outlet that's entirely your own, with no external pressure is so important. Being creatively fearful is not only ok, but often advantageous. When you don't feel like you have found your purpose in life, each personal shift in self-awareness and act of focus on the good and the positive - assists and supports the transformation of the entire world. It is our pure and loving intentions, devoid of ego , that will support the highest good of all mankind. 

Chase your curiosity immerse yourself in whatever it is that interest you this week. Afterall inspiration and ideas don't appear in places that don’t deserve them. Instead of getting the same old lunch at the same old place, take a full hour to walk, write, and see where your brain takes you. Don’t count the hours, make the hours count. 

One last piece of advice:

Thanks to a significant amount of research, it’s clear that creativity can help lower anxiety and stress. I recently worked with illustrious new age artists Often Seen Rarely Spoken. Their talent and creativity displayed on building murals wow me. I felt completely relaxed gazing above me as the works of local artists enveloped my very being. 

They say the most interesting life is the creative life. Live life to the fullest by making it a point to learn from and collaborate with artists. Art making holds the possibility to transform that which can be a painful something eventually positive. To me, that is the ultimate testimony that art and happiness are inevitably intertwined.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Katie Coe is a marketing, innovation, and growth enthusiast. Katie serves as A123 Promotions Agency executive leader and advisor for entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and fortune 500 companies. Her creative approach to branding, marketing strategy and people operations include professionals and clients in technology, marketing, public relations, e-commerce, law, athletics, food, wine and spirits, staffing and recruiting, healthcare, transportation, and non profit organizations. 

We learn, create and grow together. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. What are you passionate about, in life and work? How do you find your creativity in life and work?