Find what makes you happy in 2023
Are you full of the January blues or raring to go with new vim and vigour for 2023? I’m feeling a bit of both if I’m honest!
I’m certainly not a fan of big New Year’s Resolutions. I think they put too much pressure on us and are difficult to maintain, which is why a huge percentage of resolutions are abandoned before the end of January. But I do believe in the benefit of making small adjustments to improve our outlook, and above all being kind to ourselves.
Sometimes it can be hard to refocus on what we love after a break, we might feel guilty when we spend time on what makes us happy. My happy place is learning and trying out new art forms. I seek out different artistic workshops, from painting to jewellery making and I even handmade a knife last year! My family gift me experiences for my birthday and Christmas (some of which I’ve chosen and some as a surprise) to try out new and exciting arts and crafts.
I find it really valuable to rediscover different aspects of my creativity. Making a whole new piece of art is delightful and fun and good for the soul! Finding time to be creative is great for our physical and mental health, boosting our immune system and reducing the effects of stress. Connecting with my inner artist makes me a better person to be around and is a terrific inspiration to others.
It's important not to put pressure on ourselves to achieve something that may be unrealistic. When trying a new art form, we need to remember:
- Practice makes perfect – we may not be entirely satisfied with the first creations but this shouldn’t overwhelm us, with practice, it will gradually get a lot easier! Or we can decide it’s not for us and move on to something else!
- It’s a journey, not a destination – the creative process is a journey and we take different paths along the way. We’re all continuously learning, so we mustn’t get frustrated or lose confidence in our journey.
- Challenging is good – even though being over-critical is unhelpful, it’s good to set some personal and artistic challenges. It’s important to get out of our comfort zone occasionally and push that creativity.
Whether it’s writing, sculpture, painting, printing or any art form, finding a way to express our thoughts and feelings is challenging and joyful – it can sustain us through all the downturns in life too! No matter what age, background or experience, everyone has the capacity to be artistic. We all need to connect with what makes us happy and try and give time to that – turn off the phone, clear the diary and be kind to ourselves.
If you’d like to try something new, Artistic ReTreats has something for everyone, from low-cost art supplies to inspirational workshops. Check out what could be your next fun challenge at www.artisticretreats.co.uk
Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash
