Make Time For This (or something like it)

Time for what? For an experience that will alter your state of being in the most delightful and joyous way.

We need this more than ever. Most everyone’s nervous system has been tied into knots.
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We’ve all had nights where it’s difficult to get good sleep. Regardless of your circumstances, very few people can escape the consequences of having too much to do and not enough time (or energy) to do it all.

This is exactly why I'm such a big advocate of participating in the arts. It's not only my direct experience but the research in the field of neuroaesthetics that reveals the arts aren’t just entertainment—they’re restorative. And that’s regardless of whether someone considers themselves creative or has been trained in the arts.

I’ve been going to (and making) different forms of art since I was a young, and it’s changed my life. I still have old concert flyers that remind me how transformational those experiences were.

Whether it was having the good fortune to be at Woodstock in the 60s, viewing Vermeer at the National Gallery, seeing David Byrne or Jon Batiste in concert, going to poetry readings or watching a theatre performance in an empty swimming pool, I can tell you the act of observation can be as powerful as direct participation.

So if you’re not much of an arts person - yet - let me give you some compelling reasons to get “in the room”.

First of all, it’s well known that the arts can reduce stress and regulate our nervous systems. Even simple activities like drawing, singing, listening to music, or dancing (perhaps in the privacy of our living room) lower our cortisol levels and calm our busy brains, and I think we can all agree that's something we all could use.

Whether participating or observing, the benefits are undeniable. And none of it is dependent on skill level.

The second benefit I want to share may not be surprising, but is still worth noting. When we come together for shared experiences like concerts, theatre, choral performances, museums,  they activate a sense of belonging with others. Why? Because it activates the parts of our brains (and our hearts) that register empathy and emotional attunement.

The arts can help us process our feelings and increase our ability to be compassionate, and that effectively minimizes feelings of isolation or disconnection we may have.

Everyone has had the experience of being at a performance and feeling this incredible sense of belonging with the rest of the audience because we’re sharing something that's uplifting or inspiring.
Finally, let's note what the arts do for our brains; specifically, our mental “vitality” and our brain’s neuroplasticity. When we take the time to find some form of the arts we can enjoy, multiple networks in our brains are stimulated simultaneously.

When that happens, our capacity for learning increases, our memory improves and our brains become more flexible and responsive.

And if we can’t participate in a live event or we aren’t yet ready to play with art materials, we have the option to watch an almost infinite number of events online, read a book on the arts or even visit a store where beauty, design and delight are featured.

All of this research may just be brain candy. But the test of the art experience is in the feelings we experience. Positive, uplifting feelings that give us the energy to keep going, to create something new and fun, and to give us a fresh perspective when we need it most.

So give yourself something that I can almost guarantee will give you a break from the demands that accompany our lives. Let yourself be inspired.
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And remember, the act of observation can be as powerful as direct participation.