Creativity and the Individual | Moth and Rust DIY Mission Series, Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of my short series on why I do what I do; if you haven’t yet, you can read part 1 here.

Creativity is essential on a personal, individual level for many reasons. Creating something—whether you’re painting, knitting, woodworking, making soap, whatever—does much more beyond just offer a distraction.  Of course, the distraction can be enjoyable enough, but the benefits go so much deeper…

There are numerous studies backing up what most crafters already know: the enjoyment of creating can be incredibly relaxing, which is great for your wellbeing.  Repetitive movements, like those found in knitting and crochet, have a calming effect on the mind.  Crafting involves many parts of the brain and helps in preventing memory loss, as well as strengthens problem-solving skills. Basically, it’s a fantastic thing for your mental health.

But beyond keeping our minds sharp, there’s a certain type of satisfaction accompanying crafting that isn’t found in other pursuits.  There’s something just special about making something with your own hands.

Making your own things—or things for others—allows your expression to soar, while simultaneously helping you stay (or get) grounded.  When you’re immersed in the flow of creating something, it’s an incredible experience.  

We are all creative, whether we know it or not.  If you believe you aren’t creative, know it’s really just a matter of figuring out what form of craft speaks to you.

Practicing creativity is an essential yet sometimes neglected part of a healthy life.  That’s part of the reason I want to share what I can. And if we look a little further, beyond the benefits creativity provides to us personally, we’ll see a plethora of benefits to communities as a whole; that’s what I’ll be discussing next time on this series.