Creativity to Survive

The title sounds a little dramatic doesn't it? Well maybe it is, but my personal experience has convinced me that expressing yourself creatively has the power to help you through some of life's most difficult situations.

Let me admit up front that the information I share in this forum is based entirely on my own experiences. It is not advice and does not indicate any professional experience.

I truly believe that self-expressing can help us to survive as it:

- Empowers us to appreciate ourselves more

- Allows us to respect our own feelings and values and

- Helps us to realise that our vulnerabilities are our greatest strength

The last point took me until age 48 to realise, with the assistance of a particularly nasty experience that led me to a very good psychologist. Unfortunately I was the "harden-up" type who never dreamed of visiting a psychologist, and who learned a very quick and powerful lesson that no one is immune to emotional and psychological trauma.

What's more I never expected to be provided some amazing tools that empowered me more than I could have possibly imagined - given the state of my mind at the time.

So if you're interested read on, engage and enjoy.

FYI ... I am only hoping that by sharing my stories and how I dealt with situations through art that it might help someone else to become more self-expressed and use positive energy to face up to and do something about the situations that are not working for them.

Any hey ... if nothing else you may enjoy some of the artwork.

So now here's what I'm trying to do:

1. Share my story with you

2. Provide examples of issues and share my difficulty in dealing with them

3. Explain how I tapped into my own dreams to analyse these difficult situations

4. Show you how I used self-expression to understand my situations and deal with them

5. Encourage you to do the same

Whether it be a work issue, a home issue, a moral or ethical issue or a desire to share a passion, by expressing yourself you are allowing yourself to understand your feelings, and place yourself in a much more powerful position to deal with them.

There is an absolute bucked-load of information around that validates self-expression as a display of individuality that may show your true character, and sharing this "self" is the ultimate in generosity and is vital for peace, happiness and fulfilment.

My story in brief:

I started studying art under an amazing artist of the same name, because she is/was my sister-in-law. Long story short she was married to my husband's brother who is deceased and who she had split with many years prior.

When exhibiting paintings I didn't want to intrude on her art name "Mancini" as she is a very well acclaimed artist especially in the community we share. My Mum and husband often shortened my name from Andrea to Drea so I figured that'd do just fine. I went with Drea.M. and quickly realised the rather 'wanky' outcome ... DreaM. but I figured what the hell and just went with it.

Then some years later when dealing with some really crappy experiences I started recording my dreams and even sketching some of them. This became a routine because I was totally fascinated in how crazy they seemed. Even now as I drive to work and home each day I have my dilapidated "purple notebook" and pencil in hand ready to take notes as the memories of my dreams find my conscious.

I started to get even more curious so started to research the meanings behind these dreams and that's when my whole world turned around. I was gob-smacked!

Then in November 2017 I researched a Facebook post about Kandinski and was blown away by another aspect of self-expression ... he is quoted as having said "The artist's thoughts, feelings and actions when translated into act have the power to affect the spiritual climate of their society. The artist is obligated to use their talents to make positive impact - to create sincere, original work that helps humanity toward collective enlightenment". https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artist-kandinsky

What a statement and a big ask, but it certainly sets a direction for us all to strive towards.