Here is Lissa Rankin’s post on Creativity which was originally published on www.OwningPink.com.
I had the sweet treat of getting to know Lissa through The School of the Womanly Arts.
Her posts are always inspiring and her website has a variety of wonderful bloggers posting along with Lissa’s genius.

December 15, 2011

Dear suzi banks baum,

So many of us put our creative projects on the back burner because creativity doesn’t feel as “important” as being a good parent or excelling at work.

Are you one of those people? Do you feel like there’s some project (a novel, a new business idea, a piece of art) boiling up within you just waiting to be born?

As someone who spent fourteen years helping women gestate and give birth, I’m here to tell you that it’s time for you to give birth, my dear.

Did you realize that expressing yourself creatively isn’t just some fun luxury pastime? It’s actually vital to living a healthy life. When you leave your creative ideas unexpressed, they fester, but when you bring them to life, you THRIVE.

As I’m writing in my next book Mind Over Medicine, there’s cold, hard scientific evidence to prove that creative health is every bit as important to your body as good nutrition, daily exercise, and regular check-ups.

Check this out!

Creative expression:
Improves mood. Expressing yourself creatively stimulates the amygdala in the brain, which releases endorphins and other feel-good neurotransmitters.
Improves immune function, which helps you fight infection and cancer.
Relieves pain.
Activates the autonomic nervous system, lowering your heart rate, decreasing your blood pressure, slowing down your breathing, lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and improving sleep.
Balances your hormone levels.
Results in better health, fewer doctor’s visits, diminished use of medication, and even fewer vision problems.
Improves quality of life for women with cancer.
Reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
While it is important to nurture your body, caring for your body may actually be the LEAST important part of your health and in order to be truly vital, you must be healthy in all aspects of your life, including your creative life.

Nobody knows this better than my succulent wild woman friend SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy.) I had the privilege of rocking the stage with her at TEDxFiDiWomen in San Francisco and I want to share with you the TEDx talk she gave, which earned her a very well-deserved standing ovation. Take it away SARK!

Watch SARK blow your mind here.

Midwifing your creative birth,

Lissa

© Copyright Lissa Rankin 2011

Lissa Rankin, MD: Founder of OwningPink.com, motivational speaker and author of
What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend and Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide To Creating Fine Art With Wax.