One Crafty Individual: Unleash Your Full Potential

Unleash your potential. Something you’ve probably heard a thousand times by now. Let’s be honest – sometimes in some really weird context. This time it’s a little different; we truly believe this phrase does belong in this short blog post. 

Why? Well, it’s directly connected to the topic we’d like to briefly discuss today, which is joining some kind of creative workshop. Doing anything that involves working with our hands has some serious benefits and – has the potential to turn you into one crafty individual. And that’s not everything.

Wellbeing, mental health, self-esteem – the list goes on.

Let’s dive in and discover what we can get out of creative pursuits:

No Stress

If you suffer from anxiety or, perhaps you’re just feeling stressed (who isn’t, right?), then here’s your release. 

There’s something unbelievably soothing about engaging in creative activities. It’s like a more productive meditation, where, when you’re done, you have tangible proof of your efforts. Of course, meditation is great and there’s no need in labelling it as unproductive or anything like that. Any moment we spend fighting to become better human beings and gain a deeper understanding of our own nature is a moment well spent.

This tunnel vision or laser focus on a task at hand can help you get completely lost. All the stress goes away.

Self-esteem boost

How? Well, it’s very simple. Finishing any task feels rewarding, whether we know it or not. It’s just that normally we have so many of them during the day, the sensation sort of fades away almost immediately. We don’t focus on small victories when there’s a whole war to be fought right ahead.

This is different. There’s no deadline, no stress, no specific restrictive guidelines. Just you and your task. This way you get to enjoy the process itself and the fruits of your labour. That can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment. That’s where that self-esteem boost comes from. You find out, you can finish something – the proof is right in front of your eyes. Not to mention the practical aspect – you can learn useful, new skills during, let’s say, a gardening workshop.

Healthy Mind

As we all know, the sickness of the mind can be just as scary and difficult as the sickness of the body. That’s why it’s so important to make sure we are in a healthy state of mind as often as possible.

Numerous studies have shown that engaging in creative activities can help fight off or mitigate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Using your hands to build or create something can be your personal form of meditation – a mindful practice. It helps you stay present while shutting down all the surrounding noise. There’s your project, your task at hand – and you. Nothing more.

Creativity 

Do you know that saying ‘money begets money’? It works exactly the same with creativity. Whenever you engage in something creative, you tap into the creative part of your brain, and if you do it regularly, you become more creative. Simple as that. It’s a skill and a useful one at that. It translates into other areas of your life and helps immensely. Being an outside-of-the-box thinker never hurts.

Social aspect

Let’s not forget one of the best things about workshops and courses – you get to meet other people. People, who often show up with the same heavy thoughts hanging over their heads. There’s just something comforting about, having that awareness that you’re not the only one.

It doesn’t even have to be that deep – simply sharing a passion for a craft is more than enough to bring people together. It creates a sense of community. You learn, while satisfying your social needs. Win-win.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of pottery, floristry, willow weaving, painting, or any other creative activity – all of them have plenty of similar benefits. Why not explore your artistic side?

It’s fun, it’s good for you and you’ll feel much better. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a new passion or meet some kindred souls. 

You never know what experiences you might have along the way.