Art therapy : the start of Self - exploration
Today, I relaxed and exchanged conversations with friends at the Lounge of Waterfront Hotel Cebu City - Lahug. Then in between the conversations, a painting hanging in the wall caught my eye. The painting is abstract, complicated yet utterly beautiful, which lead me to ponder what it really means. Bianca, my friend from social circles, said it is a girl in her room trying to fit several high fashion dresses. Then Juan Miguel, my soccer enthusiast friend contradicts Bianca and said " No way Bianca, Its a guy in a locker room who is relaxing after a soccer game". Personally, amidst the various colors and random brush strokes, inside the painting I see a guy who is in front of his laptop and intently writing his blog. Then I realized, we are unconsciously "seeing ourselves" in the abstract painting. A cool example of self exploration through art like a self-portrait.
Then i realized along the same lines as the self-portrait, the idea of self-exploration is a very important part of any art therapy. It can also be very rewarding. As you go through the artistic process and creative expression buds and grows, you may notice certain things about yourself that you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed.
It’s important to be open and not hold back when expressing yourself creatively. Self-exploration can be a hindrance when trying to communicate via normal language and expression, but with art therapy you are giving yourself the artistic license to really explore and not only find, but define new things about yourself.
