The Power of Creation

With everything going on, globally or on an individual level, many of us have been overwhelmed and stuck in our uncertainty. There doesn’t seem to be a break from the wave of stressors in our lives. However, we are not helpless in dealing with our stress. Drs. Amelia and Emily Nagoski identify six strategies for completing the stress cycle in their book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle:

• Physical activity

• Creativity

• Laughing

• Crying

• Physical affection

• Deep breathing

Over the last couple of months, creativity has greatly helped me in working through my stress and anxiety. I built an arbor for my son’s wedding, helped extend a trail in my neighborhood, and took a beginner’s pottery class (a Christmas gift from Ellen!). In each of these cases, the act of creation helped put me in a better frame of mind and enabled me to do something meaningful. It allowed me to channel all the energy that was building up from the chaos around me into a healthier outlet.

Each of us has the power to create! It might be cooking, writing, knitting, painting, gardening, scrapbooking, organizing, singing, and so on. It might be something you’ve done for years or a brand-new venture altogether. It can be for the benefit of others or an act of selfcare. Either way, every time we create anything, we are adding something positive into the universe. Like the butterfly effect from chaos theory, just a little more good in the world can greatly impact the negative influences around us. What can we create today?