the power of expression

Being the first real post of this blog it seemed fitting to title it after the namesake of my blog. My first post doesnt really explain the name so let me take the time now. I consider art and expression to be synonymis. i believe you cant have one without the other. even if you are just expressing your feelings through speech there is an art to it. Ive gone through most of my life not really feeling any emotions other than pain, fear, anger, and frustration, 4 very base emotions that most people feel easily. through therapy i learned that as another of my defense mechanisms i would push my emotions away and only these 4 powerful emotions would sometimes make there way through my barrier. This made emotions very confusing for me, everyone would say they feel emotions like sympathy and empathy and many others but i had never felt them because they were hidden beneath a hardened carapace. another thing i learned through therapy was how to better access and express my feelings to others and myself. Do not be like me, pushing your emotions away is exhausting and prevents you from seeing the real you. At first when i began to unlock my emotions i was overwhelmed i felt so many things i never had before and could barely explain to my councilor what i was feeling. this is where art helped me. I guess my point is you need to find an outlet and use it. My outlet is art.( sort of a confusing concept as my art of expression is art, a term that can mean so many things.) the art i used as my outlet was reading, writing, and drawing. these things gave me away to express myself even when i couldnt do it verbally. it is much easier for me to put down on paper what i am feeling than to actually say it. reading also helped because i could relate the the feelings a character experienced in the story. You dont need to be a picaso or emerson, or read dense philosophical books, as i certainly am not and dont. Art is about you, Art is imperfect, art can describe almost anything as long as it has meaning to you, and most importantly art is expression. Find your art, and express yourself, because expression is power.
The Freedom from Depression Workbook By Carter, Les/ Minirth, Frank B. (Google Affiliate Ad)