Why a life with art is a life more fully lived

Art, in all its multifarious forms, engenders growth and forges connections amidst our diversity, prompting enquiries we aspire to resolve, yet too infrequently succeed in addressing. It stimulates the intellect, not in the prescriptive sense of dictating beliefs or prescribing certainties, but rather in empowering us to contemplate matters we have unconsciously neglected for far too long.

Essentially, art compels us to confront the impulse we have cultivated to flee, deny and forget, compelling us to face precisely what we most dread. The essence of fear is that it manifests in myriad forms, including self-doubt, indecision, overthinking, avoidance, procrastination and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Upon deeper examination, we discern that fear is, in fact, a mere trick of the mind, a transient illusion, whereas danger represents a tangible reality we cannot dismiss. It is an art that rouses us from the haze, meticulously peeling back the veil of imagined terror to unveil the stark contours of reality. Whether we appreciate art without creating it, we will inevitably awaken to the realization that we have, in some manner, acquired the ability to differentiate between the shadows we pursue and the authentic threats we confront. In that newfound clarity, we discover both courage and comprehension.

The Connection Between Art And Channeling Emotion 

When expressing art with the vocabulary of emotions, we state how color, composition, texture and subject matter can capture a plethora of feelings that range from excitement and love to sorrow and despair. Whether we gaze at a painting or write a new song, art helps us make sense of our own emotions, sparking a dialogue in which we are finally brave enough to acknowledge the way we feel. No more hiding, no more pretending; we admit what our hearts have known all along. We spend so long running from our feelings, hoping they will eventually change, move through us more freely, or even vanish. Meanwhile, the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves, and the damage becomes irreversible the moment we can no longer tell what’s real.

Every time we encounter an artwork, even if it’s through an online art gallery, where we cannot physically feel or touch it, we encounter an opportunity to understand ourselves better. For this reason, art does not merely free us from the world but from the quiet, convincing lies we whisper to survive. It serves as a mirror to our innermost thoughts, involving direct dealing with unresolved emotional issues, negative thought patterns, internal struggles, and buried fantasies. 

The Link Between Art And Developing Emotional Intelligence 

Emotional intelligence, or EQ (Emotional Quotient), is a fundamental factor for personal development. It empowers us to navigate raw feelings constructively. Engaging in art requires a heightened level of focus and mindfulness. It enhances our ability to understand and recognize the way we and others feel, ultimately helping us connect with human beings on a more personal level.  

Furthermore, here are some specific and structured art-based exercises designed to build different aspects of EQ:

• Emotional self-portrait: Create a self-portrait using colors, shapes, and symbols to represent more than just your outer appearance. Ask yourself what emotions are present in this portrait and whether there are any layers accompanying these feelings. 
• Empathy drawing: Think of someone dear to your heart and try to draw a symbolic representation of what they might be feeling recently. Ask yourself what you have discovered about this person through the drawing process or whether there is something hidden behind their words or silence. 
• Masks of emotion: Create two masks, one representing the face you show to the world and one representing your inner emotional world. Seek the differences between the two and analyze the emotions you feel most comfortable showing and whether there are times when you want to let the inner self be seen more. 

The Power Of Art In Storytelling 

From ancient myth to present-moment experience, art has always served as a powerful way to document history and change dominant narratives, inviting multiple interpretations. Take street art, museum installations, and see how they are all-encompassing stories of cultures, histories, beliefs, and emotions. 

Through art, we can express our emotions and the things we believe in in ways that words alone could never do justice to, bringing our characters and stories to life in vivid detail. So, whether driven by theory or emotion, every approach of art has its place and value, becoming as diverse as the people who create it. And after all, this is what makes it so great: the ability to cater to a plethora of souls, be they incurable romantics or cynical realists. 

The Importance of Art In A Well-Rounded Education 

By instilling creativity, critical thinking skills, and cultural knowledge, art has become a pivotal factor for a well-rounded education.  It strengthens cognitive, social, emotional, and developmental skills, empowering people to recognize that they are more than the walls they’ve been confined within and that life, in its essence, is filled with endless possibilities. You are more than your tiny hometown. You are more than the person who has ruthlessly broken your heart. You are more than the friend who betrayed you for a fleeting moment of attention. You are more than the teacher who told you your dreams are too much. You are more than the stranger who chose to give you a dirty look. You are more than the gossip nurtured by people who feel uncomfortable in their skin. You are so much more because so is life when you dare to see it. 

Overall, a life with art is a life more fully lived. It provides avenues for self-expression, contemplation, and connection to our inner selves, ultimately leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling existence. The art you consume, the art you create, the art that touches your heart – they are all YOU.