Let's Have a Heart to Art

Art can open your mind, expand understanding, build empathy, and bridge gaps. As a self-proclaimed empath (unless I am angry), I try to empathize and envision myself in someone else’s shoes. It is particularly important and needed when someone is going through a tough time and feels alone.

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Boundaries matter and are appropriate (especially in abusive situations) but people want to feel like you "get it" when they are in their darkest moments. Sometimes it requires first-hand experience, other times it just requires a cognitive understanding. Artwork can penetrate beyond the cognitive and go to the heart of the matter. It is like having a heart-to-art or heart-to-heart as they say.

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We all have values, whether they are shared or not, but it is important to still garner respect even when values may not align. The most important thing is to be able to communicate and be vulnerable. Without saying a word, this can be done through art, though some prefer poetry, therapy, and other means of venting or expression. I truly believe art allows us to connect to something inside and outside of ourselves. Often the outside connection is larger than us, while the inside connection is full of surprises as we inquire and dig deeper within.

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To bring it all in, art can foster empathy, understanding, vision, connection, and inspiration all in one. The world could use more of that, in my opinion, and artists are here to illuminate the world and shine a light on the places where it is dark. Art can be used for the opposite purpose, but in most cases, it is for the greater good. Technology has been disconnecting us, let us reconnect it. Let us have a heart for art.

#empathy #healingart #artinspiration #fineart #photography #artist #holistichealth