Theme: Sustainable Mental Health and Wellbeing: Exploring Dutch-Japanese Solutions for Designing a Future Society
Irana Reverol | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Master’s in Business Administration
Full citations and references can be seen here in the essay’s original format
BE CREATIVE
How Art Can Contribute to Sustainable Well-Being in Our Society
Today’s fast-paced world can make us forget the importance of slowing down and connecting with what truly matters: our well-being. Now more than ever, humans must balance speed and serenity. Sustainable mental health and well-being foster resilient, productive, and harmonious societies; according to the World Health Organization (2022), “Societies with positive well-being provide the foundations for all members of current and future generations to thrive on a healthy planet.”
In recent years, “well-being” has garnered significant attention in both academic and professional spheres, evolving into a widely discussed topic. Despite an extensive and growing body of research, a universally accep-ted definition remains unsettled, due to its subjective nature (Eger & Maridal, 2015). Researchers have approached the study of well-being from various angles, employing diverse conceptual frameworks and methodologies to capture its complex essence. Alatartseva and Barysheva (2015) presented the idea that “unhappy people cannot create a society enjoying well-being”; thus, focusing on individual well-being as personal and spiritual fulfillment is essential. Approaches that foster well-being should be more complex and individualized, emphasizing subjective expe-riences. This necessitates less material and quantitative methods and more personal and qualitative aspects.
Nevertheless, how can humans achieve this elusive “personal and spiritual fulfillment”? When we undeniably inhabit a world dominated by ideas, where individual worth is often measured by one’s ability to propose novel theories or frameworks. This envi-ronment is characterized by the exponential growth of new scientific publications, innovations, and patents (Linturi, 2015).
However, contemporary discourse often overlooks the intrinsic connection between art and human nature. We tend to forget that art is essential to human existence, profoundly influencing culture and economy throughout history. In an era where society increasingly values intangible knowledge, I contend that promoting an expression-oriented culture through art can reconnect us with our inherent creativity and humanity. Offering an outlet for emotions, promoting mental health, empathy, and community can also increase public awareness of physical and mental health issues, encouraging an inclusive policy dialogue (Norton, 2016).
The idea that arts and the aesthetic qualities of healing environments are essential for health and well-being is not new (IntechOpen, 2023). However, concrete evidence of the direct therapeutic application of arts in health remains limited (Medical Humanities, 2023). Yet, corroborative proof shows that more and more countries have been integrating art as a key essential part of well-being (see Daykin, 2020; Health and Care Professions Council, 2024; The American Art Therapy Association, 2022; Clift & Camic, 2015; The Nordic Journal of Arts, Culture, and Health, 2019; World Health Organization, 2023; Bello, 2024)
Extending beyond scholarly evidence, I pro-pose that everyone can create art in various forms, significantly enhancing well-being. Dedicating a few minutes daily to self fulfilling activities like dancing, painting, listening to music, visiting museums, or attending concerts can forge meaningful connections with humans’ inner selves. These engagements are mere examples art does not need to be limited to traditional forms.
Society must dismiss the myth that art requires exceptional talent and humans are inherently creators; our brains construct reality through complex electrical and chemical processes, interpreting words, sounds, and experiences to generate responses. Creativity is genuinely embedded in us; it fundamentally shapes how we experience and interact with the world.
Embracing art as an intrinsic human capability can enrich daily life and contribute to holistic well-being.
This creative process does not necessitate observation, documentation, commercia-lization, or display. We constantly filter, collect, and curate data, consciously or unconsciously. Embracing this idea calls us to find ways to be more present, perceiving keenly, paying attention, and actively engaging with what attracts or repels us. Transforming our lives into a form of constant self-expression is fundamental because living separated from being an artist can damage our well-being.
Cultivating a heightened awareness of our surroundings can diminish our fear of shaping ideas. Achieving this state of awareness is not hard. In our youth, we naturally possess this ability, which tends to diminish as we age. As children, we encounter minimal interference between receiving and internalizing ideas; we exhibit spontaneous over-analytical behaviors and maintain a constant curiosity, embracing a sense of wonder and creativity hindered by the pursuit of perfection.
Disconnected from perfection and instead connected to expressing our true selves and how we perceive the world embodies the purpose of practicing art in this context. Suppose you hear a fantastic piece of music or see a beautiful sculpture. In that case, it can resonate deeply with you, and it is because artists capture the essence of everyday human experiences and imperfections, fostering a sense of connection and understanding. Unlike science or technology, which prioritize functionality, art focuses on self-expression and showcases individuals’ diverse journeys and viewpoints; this makes us who we are.
By embracing creativity as a playful and unrestricted process without judgment, this mindset prioritizes the joy of creation over the quest for perfection, fostering continuous growth and discovery. Much like kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold, the flaws we aim to correct can become the defining features of our work. Abandoning the pursuit of perfection allows our thoughts, emotions, and subconscious processes to infuse our creations with a unique energy. Ultimately, a finished work, whatever it can be or what people choose to do, blends intentions and experimental processes, which will, in consequence, bring a sense of fulfillment and increase people’s well-being.
In conclusion, I invite readers to embrace art in any form and foster environments for it with no judgment or sense of perfection. That way, we can cultivate a society that values holistic well-being, where life’s aesthetic and emotional experiences are cherished as much as intellectual achievements.
NOTE
Like I said before, please avoid confining art to its traditional tools and formats; painting, for example, involves playing with color on a surface to achieve something beautiful or to express a message; every other choice rests with the artist. Hence, I chose to share a piece of myself as an artist embodied in the painting in the upper right corner of this paper. This artwork, more than merely echoing the words of this essay, became the tool that allowed me to articulate my emotions through its creation.
Irana J. Reverol P.