As we wind down 2024, we wanted to let you know that we are also winding down the Creative Wellbeing Workshops monthly newsletters.
CWW Website Will Still Be Live
As you can see the Creative Wellbeing Workshops website is still live and all of the handouts and blog posts are still available. We will also still be providing training and continuing education and, as always, we are available at the drop of a hat to support you around your happiness and wellbeing (contact us here if needed).
Shifting Our Focus
We are not closing down shop, only shifting to areas that may be outside of your interests as readers. For example, Gioia is concentrating on her work with Active Military personnel and Arts-Based Research and Rebecca is deeply immersing herself in art therapy’s contribution to Psychedelics and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness (NOSC).
Being Curious and Open in the Midst of The Challenges We Are Facing int the World
In both of our endeavors, and with the challenges that we as individuals face and those with which people and countries in the world are struggling, we recognize the critical need to be curious, open, and to maintain a sense of wonder. This can be extremely difficult to muster when the pull towards fear, anger, hate, and violence is so powerful.
Ways to Enact Positivity and Overcome the Negativity Bias
Nevertheless, that is what our work has always been about–not just encouraging people to be more positive and to overcome the negativity bias, but finding ways to actively do so. It’s one thing to want to be positive, it’s another thing to put it into action and to actually experience it!
Positivity Is Infectious
With this in mind, as we contemplated final messages (December 2024 will be the last regular monthly edition of the newsletter), we came across this video of a little girl named Kayden getting her first taste of rain. One way to enact positivity is to witness it in others–watching her absolute delight is infectious–without any effort, it puts us instantly into a state of wonder and joy.
Find Ways to Experience More Wonder and Awe
This kind of abandon and joy is available to you. See if, in the midst of whatever very real and seemingly insurmountable difficulties you are facing or that you perceive in the world, you can find something that transports you into a state of wonder and awe.
If You Can’t Find Wonder/Make It
If you can’t find it, see if you can make it. That’s the beauty of art, you can literally make something out of nothing. That, by itself, is simultaneously mundane and inconsequential and yet extraordinary and miraculous. We are reminded of actor Seth Rogan (also known as Pumbaa from The Lion King) who, after taking up ceramics and getting critiqued for posting some of his “barely adequate” ashtrays and vases, triumphantly exclaimed, “I made these!” Here’s our blog on Seth’s ceramics.
Previous Posts on Activating Positivity
Here are few links to previous posts on activating positivity.
- How to Feel Better When You Don’t
- Micro-Moments of Positivity
- How To Do A Year in Review and Why Bother?!
- Attending to the Good to Overcome Hopelessness? Why Gratitude Matters
- Expression=Relief
- How to Use Art to Forget What You Think You Know, Forgive, and Love
Feel free to go browse our other blog posts–there are many more (over 120!) devoted to this topic.
You can also go to our handouts page to find printouts that you are welcome to download and distribute on topics like Optimism vs Pessimism, Strengths, and Mindful Observing.
Positivity Toward You!
We close out this penultimate newsletter with a moment of unadulterated positivity toward you! You, who have been accompanying us for the last 5, 10, 15 years (some of you even more) on our forays into the world of art therapy, happiness, and wellbeing. We are truly thankful.
With love and heartfelt appreciation, Rebecca and Gioia
Occasional Announcements
After December 2024’s newsletter, you will hear from us occasionally announcing different trainings that we are doing. Rebecca will also be developing a separate newsletter focused on the crossover of Psychedelics, NOSC, and Art Therapy and will let you know more about that as well.