Experience - MojoExpressions

Art and creative projects have long been celebrated for their ability to bring joy and inspiration, but did you know that engaging in these activities also triggers profound changes in the brain, influencing mental health, stress management, and overall well-being? In this article, we delve into the scientific studies and data that support the theory that actively participating in art and creativity is a powerful catalyst for positive change.

Art and the Brain: A Neurological Perspective

Numerous scientific studies have explored the impact of art on the brain, revealing fascinating insights into how creative activities influence neural pathways. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), engaging in artistic endeavors stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This neurological response not only enhances mood but also contributes to stress reduction.

Flow State and Creativity: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Research

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concept of "flow" – a state of deep immersion and focus in an activity. Scientifically, this state is characterized by a specific pattern of brain waves. Csikszentmihalyi's research demonstrates that engaging in creative projects often induces this flow state, leading to heightened creativity, increased happiness, and improved mental well-being.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

The concept of a growth mindset, popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, emphasizes the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Engaging in creative pursuits inherently promotes a growth mindset by encouraging individuals to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and view effort as a path to mastery. Scientific evidence, including studies published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, supports the positive impact of a growth mindset on mental resilience and well-being.

Positive Change and the Science of Transformation

Scientific research on neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt, indicates that engaging in creative activities can contribute to positive structural changes in the brain. Studies, such as those published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, highlight the potential for sustained positive changes in cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall mental health through regular participation in artistic endeavors.

Meditative Benefits of Art and Creativity

Artistic activities often induce a meditative state, promoting relaxation and stress reduction. Research from the American Journal of Public Health suggests that creative practices can lead to decreased cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. Moreover, engaging in mindful art-making has been linked to improvements in attention, focus, and overall emotional well-being.

The scientific evidence supporting the positive impact of art and creative projects on mental health, stress management, and overall well-being is compelling. As we embrace the neurological, psychological, and transformative benefits of creative engagement, it becomes clear that integrating art into our lives is not just a source of joy but a scientifically-backed pathway to positive change and enhanced mental resilience. So, pick up that paintbrush, explore your creativity, and let the science of art guide you towards a healthier and more fulfilling life.

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Welcome my fellow soulful travelers of October! As the leaves don their vibrant autumn attire and the air carries a delightful chill, I feel a little more alive during this transformative season. Let's embark on a contemplative adventure together!

Welcoming Transformation with Open Arms: Feeling Alive and Open

There is magic in October – a month that reminds us of the beauty of change. As I sip my rum tea (yes, I'm that person), I recognize that nothing remains the same, and that's okay. In fact, it's more than OK; it's awesome! Nature's transformation isn't a threat; it's a breathtaking symphony of colors and emotions.

Finding Beauty in the Decay and Time Passing: Nature Puts on a Vibrant Celebration

Have you ever truly stopped to revel in the beauty of decay? It might sound a bit morbid, but it's like a somber yet vibrant celebration. The scent of fallen leaves, the crisp morning chill warming up to the gentle caress of the sun – it's an invitation to experience the world with all your senses and the duality of experience. Nature shows us that even in endings, there's exquisite beauty.

Connecting with the World Around Us: Experiencing Awareness and Connection

So, how can we connect more deeply with the world around us during this profound season of change? We can immerse ourselves in the outside world. We can pick up leaves, chestnuts, cones, and sticks, remaining in silence without judgment. We can look up at the sky, observing its ever-shifting hues without the need for words or explanations.

Quieting the Restless Mind: Inner Peace and Stillness

As we soak in the visual and sensory delights, we challenge our restless minds. Who is the one witnessing all of this? Does understanding or labeling change the experience? For a moment, let's release the need to perceive, analyze, or change, and just... be. It's a moment of profound connection – you and this moment are one.

Raising your mulled wine glass to October – a time to be a little more alive, to welcome transformation, to find beauty in the passing, and to connect with the world and our inner selves. Let's savor the season with a heart full of wonder and a mind at peace.

"The moment you left this life was the moment I knew you'd always be with me in spirit"

I was not there when my father left this earth. I could not hold his hand or look into his eyes. I could not reassure him of anything or release him from worry. Worst of all, I could not become aware of anything, as he was in the hospital. I was thousands of miles away both physically and perhaps mentally.

I did what most human beings do, when they are not told a story. I asked questions, the questions led to more questions and before I knew it, I had all sorts of narratives, moving images and stories in my mind. Because I did not say goodbye, it meant I would spend a "lifetime" thinking of the goodbyes I did not get to say.

“I think perhaps I will always hold a candle for you – even until it burns my hand.

And when the light has long since gone …. I will be there in the darkness holding what remains, quite simply because I cannot let go.”

― Ranata Suzuki

I guess it was a way to keep me sane or to keep the guilt at bay, to torture myself but for all I know, it could be his spirit haunting me as he and I were left as an unfinished story.

I lost him more than a year ago now. I think about him more than the week after I heard about his passing. Perhaps it was because I threw myself into the whirlwind of activity. It was perhaps easier to bare or perhaps time was a comfortable medium for the distance needed to see the situation.

Whatever the reason, it is now up to me to craft the end of our story. Or is it? Perhaps it is not the end. Perhaps it is just a new beginning.

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.

Norman Cousins

I now no longer need cars, airline tickets or my feet to cross the distance between us. If anything, I know where to find him. My mind still struggles and goes back to the same patterns of looking for him in the folds of my mind.

I search the past, yet I know he is in the space of silence between every beat of my heart.

“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”

― Jamie Anderson

As breath, body and story unites, the spirit comes to life and we come to share our life through the expressions of our human experiences. Our society eagerly excepts happy, cheerful and pleasant messages but often leaves us hanging with the things in between.

“When we lose someone we love we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind” – Anonymous

In between the loss, trauma, pain and the happy ending, there is a lifetime of thoughts, feelings and human experience that is worth more than the outcome itself.

I often feel guilty and ashamed at such times and almost want to apologize for wasting your time with my "weakness" or "silliness". I know what they are, intimately mine and yet, I refuse to hide away and ask that you too refuse to walk alone.

“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?” – Edgar Allan Poe

I, like you, have trouble with words at times. I then use images and whatever means I have at my disposal to cope, reason, analyze, accept and transform my predicament.

Whatever it is, I remind myself, that what my thoughts project are just holograms of the things that hide reality. As such, everything is just play. Just colors, forms, stories and sounds coming together as energy transforms them into an illusion I choose.

Such is the story of my life and as so, I chose it.

“If being a kid is about learning how to live, then being a grown-up is about learning how to die” – Stephen King

Death is a transformation. As I know it transformed my dad, it is transforming me. I can accept the fact that we have a spiritual bond and it no longer scares me to embrace it.

There is no death, only a change of worlds.

Chief Seattle

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