Creativity is the Great Encourager

 Let’s start with Journalling!

What do you do when you play? Do you have a favorite activity, like hiking or adventuring to see fresh places in nature? Do you love to garden?
What have you dreamt about doing but have yet to find the time?

Today, grab a notebook or journal and begin by listing your dreams, your favorite activities, and playful things.

I played little as a child. My imagination was quite limited. I spent my childhood endeavoring to be the best I could be: obedient and diligent.

But I loved to sew and make things! It was a great skill to foster, just like my mom. When my kids were little guys, I took in alterations from another business and then did dressmaking and alterations on my own—Loved making a little money to help with household needs.

I’m sure many of you have similar stories. Let’s Journal them. 
This is your time to write in your new journal or notebook. It’s private and belongs only to you. Your thoughts, your words, your feelings. Get comfortable. It’s your time.

To get started: would you like to use a word or phrase as a prompt? Or maybe an image, a photo you’ve collected, or from magazines. That would be great! Write for as long or short as you like. It’s often recommended to start with 5-15 minutes.

Do you have ideas you want to ponder? A memory you want to keep or add to? Write it out, write till you feel satisfied it's covered. Did something else come to mind—note that too. This is your personal time and space.

Do you have a desk, a special place to write? If not, can you create one? Or would you prefer to be outdoors? Maybe take your journal to the park, to a favorite spot, or the coffee house you love. And write there.

Do you have challenges or troubles you want to contemplate? Maybe search for a way to resolve or mend it, or just comfort your heart by forgiving and letting it go through your journal.

Use your journal to manage information overload, and as a treasure for storing thoughts, quotes, and important information you don’t want to lose.

Your journal is also a great place to list the things you are grateful for and to recognize your successes, your accomplishments small and great.

Use your journal for stress release. Things might look or feel different after some writing time pouring into your journal. Doing so just might change your outlook, even your mood.

Keep your journal handy. It’s yours and personal until you choose to share it.


More about grief:
Grief has a path of its own. It comes in many sizes and phases. It is helpful and calming to accept where you are in grief’s path.
We suffer grief for many reasons. Here are a few:
            Retirement from your career, one you loved or wish was different.
            Loss of a child through sickness, going their own way and cutting you out, through accident or passing.
            Loss of a parent or lover or spouse passing away, leaving you barren and starting a new.
            Loss of a dear one because of anger and offenses, or the needful pulling away due to abusive ways.

Grief is real. It is a path for healing, restoration, and strengthening.
Write it out, pour it onto your page and be grateful you can, that you have a place to do so.

It is time for healing ointments to be applied to your heart—Along with a vision of enjoyable arts and crafts to embrace! New friends to make and treasure!


“Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God.”
John 14


Deborah Lyn Stanley is an author writing non-fiction articles, essays, and stories. She is an artist crafting in textiles, fabric and watercolor.

Author’ Books site:
https://healingthrucreativearts.blogspot.com/
Artist’s Blog:
https://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/ 

Please follow me on Facebook & Pinterest too



Creativity: A Wonderful Way to Get Away from Pain

May You Soar!

Book Preface
Creativity is a Wonderful Way to Get Away from Pain

We all need creative pursuits to heal from pain, loss and disappointments. Some losses are more traumatic than others: but all require healing.

That’s why people create!    
            For deep inner healing,
            For relief from pain, grief & hurts of all kinds.

Creativity is a great encourager!
Foster a creative mind-set, it resets the soul, even if it’s relief is just a short time.

 So, What do I do?

You may ask, “So, What do you do?”
I journal
 
I write: freewriting from prompt or photos is great
I make fabric art, including fabric collage, books, & quilts.
I watercolor and collage with lots of papers, vintage when possible.

This series of stories and articles is all about creativity for healing and well-being.
      For the Joy.
      For Hope.

What are my underlying issues?
      I struggle with depression daily,
      Chronic pain,
      Physical and emotional exhaustion.

Art and Creativity—making pretty things, helps me feel more worthwhile. It helps me understand and keep what is valuable to me.

I make wall hangings, small embroidery projects, repurpose and decorate books for notes or journals, making them for my use and purpose.

A Word About Grieving

Wondering what grief really is, how defined, and what the process might be, I began searching for helpful articles to settle my heart. I found a post entitled “The 7 Stages of Grief” from https://www.recover-from-grief.com/stages-of-grief.html . We are all different and there is no usual progression. We might loop around the 7 stages, we might stay longer at one stage than another, and we might experience stages in a different order. I know I have. But it’s helpful to have a general guide. Somehow, I feel less alone, less anxious, more hopeful.

The Stages are described below. Grieving comes in all shapes, sizes and intervals.

  1. Shock and Denial
  2. Pain and Guilt
  3. Anger, Fear
  4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness
  5. The Upwards Turn—Adjusting
  6. Reconstruction and Working Through
  7. Acceptance and Hope

Waves of the Sea gently rolling toward shore, active crashing with white foam, or deep and high stormy ones are often the images that come to mind with grief.
It can toss us about or bowl us over. It rolls with rhythm and pattern sometimes but is unpredictable, too. Eventually, grief clears, hope, and calm returns, maybe for a short time often for days.

 So, Why am I Writing this Book?
I hope my sharing will encourage and inspire others.
To find relief from pain, disappointments, grief & sorrow.
To live a more peaceful, enjoyable, hope filled life.
You are valuable and your portion is needed.
Life is about loving & caring about one another.

May you find something to ease your journey in these pages, so you can say
“I feel better when I make pretty things."

 

Deborah Lyn Stanley is an author writing non-fiction articles, essays, and stories. She is an artist; crafting in textiles, fabric and watercolor.

Author’ Books site: https://healingthrucreativearts.blogspot.com/
Artist’s Blog: https://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/

Please follow me on Facebook, Pinterest & LinkedIn

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