If art is subjective, then how it heals must be, too. At least, that is what I am hypothesizing. From my humble experience, my preferred form of art is music, and music is very healing for me. Music is a universal language and is transformative.
After my mom passed away suddenly one winter morning, I thought I would never be able to listen to The Beatles ever again as it would be too painful because it was her favorite band. She listened to their albums throughout my formative and teen years every Saturday morning as we cleaned the house.
Fortunately, as time passed, I was able to listen to The Beatles’ music and instantly feel my mom’s presence, which gave me warmth and healing from the heavy grief. Do not get me wrong, I still miss her, but listening to her favorite music seemed to bring me closer to her spirit and heal my broken heart, one piece at a time.
Wellness Through Art explains that, “Even if we haven’t asked ourselves the question clearly, we all know that there is a connection between music and our emotional states. We listen to music because it tells us something and this something stirs emotions within us, some pleasant, others less pleasant, but no matter the case music does not leave us indifferent. Otherwise, why would we listen to it?”
Others find sculptures, paintings, or even caricature art to be healing as they bring out laughter, which is also healing. According to Cedars-Sinai, “Research has found that creative expression fosters adaptability, connection, and a positive mindset and self-concept while also combating anxiety and depression. That has boosted the role of art therapy, as more people recognize its value in coping with tough emotions, trauma and serious illness,”.
Let’s talk more about laughter and see what the experts have to say.
What are the positive effects from laughing?
Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the endorphins released by your brain. As a result, it activates and relieves the stress response.
According to an article on Chopra.com, “Laughter activates the body’s natural relaxation response. It’s like internal jogging, providing a good massage to all internal organs while also toning abdominal muscles,” says Dr. Gulshan Sethi, head of cardiothoracic surgery at the Tucson Medical Center and faculty at the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine.
They go on to talk about how laughter is contagious. I find this part most interesting. In fact, I am laughing just thinking about it! My mother’s family, at least the women, are known to have incredible senses of humor, from being dry and sarcastic (my mom) to a practical joker (my Nana) or just plain silly (my aunt). On many occasions, the four of us would be up to the wee hours chatting and laughing.
Sometimes, my aunt would go off on what my mom called “a laughing jag.” No words were even getting out to say what she was laughing about, but the rest of us would be in tears, almost wetting our pants over something we didn’t even know what she was laughing about. Now, if that doesn’t represent how laughter is contagious, I do not know what else does!
There’s also a physiological reason why laughter is contagious. The sound of a chuckle triggers regions in the premotor cortical region of the brain, which is directly involved with moving facial muscles to correspond with sound.
This phenomenon is known as “contagious laughter,” and it’s actually a form of emotional contagion. Emotional contagion is the process of transferring emotions from one person to another without conscious thought or effort. The same phenomenon causes us to “catch” someone else’s yawn.
Laughter is particularly contagious because it’s a form of positive emotion. Hearing someone else laughing activates the same neural pathways in our brain associated with happiness, joy, and pleasure. In other words, it’s like a shot of happiness!
Not only is laughter contagious, but it also benefits our health by reducing stress, boosting our immune system, and improving our overall mood. Plus, it can help to strengthen relationships by creating a sense of closeness and connection.
Like those priceless “inside jokes” we share with friends. Or, as my kids put it, “funny family stories.” When they were little, they loved for me to share those funny family stories from my mother’s family or from when they were smaller. Likewise, some of the most precious moments spent with my boys were spent sharing humor as our “family gift.”
This leads me to my next question: have I passed down the creativity gene?
Is creativity genetic or learned
I believe it is genetic yet also a learned skill. Just as an athlete might be gifted in an area of sport, they still have to practice to perfect their talent. And even though I did not grow up with my father, his instrument-playing skills were passed down to me, his only child.
My mom had a talent for singing, but as she said, she couldn’t play an instrument to save her life, so it must “come from your father!”. My grandmother was a beautiful singer as well and tried many ways to learn the piano, but to no avail; she just could not get it.
On the other hand, as I entered middle school, I immediately joined the concert band. I quickly became proficient with all the percussion instruments, including the xylophone and the snare drum. Was it my competitive nature? Or was it an inherited talent? I believe it was both.
The National Library of Medicine states that, “Creativity, art and artistic creation in music, dance and visual arts are brain activities specific to humans. Their genetic background remained unexplored for years, but many recent studies have uncovered significant associations with cognition-related genes…Creativity is a trait with heavy genetic influences, which are also associated with mental disorders and altruism…Music is another complex phenotype with important genetic background. Studies in musicians and their families have highlighted the contribution of loci (e.g., 4q22) and specific genes (vasopressin receptor 1α and serotonin transporter). The latter two are also associated with dancing. Although few studies have investigated visual arts, they appear to be influenced by genetic differences, which could explain the increased prevalence of synesthesia in artists and individuals with autism. Lastly, although genes play an important role in creativity and art, epigenetics and the environment should not be overlooked,”.
Just as I guessed, creativity is probably passed down genetically and learned.
How does art heal
In conclusion, art heals by allowing emotional expression, connecting us with memories, and fostering resilience. Its universal language creates bonds and alleviates stress, enhancing overall well-being through shared and individual experiences.