Are you living with a constant low-grade irritation?

Do you ever feel like your life would be better if the people around you made different choices, communicated better, drove faster, showed up on time, or simply did things the way you would do them?

Unfortunately, we can't control the rest of the world. But we can change how we respond to it.

One of the most powerful tools I've found for reducing stress, increasing resilience, and removing that constant state of irritation is making art.

Think of art-making as a gym for your mental health. You go to the gym on a regular basis to invest in your physical health. Making art is an investment in your mental wellness. While a physical workout raises your heart rate to build muscle, the process of creating art actually slows your heart rate and builds resilience. This physiological shift allows you to build new neural pathways, training you to respond thoughtfully to life’s irritations rather than simply reacting to them. And you don't have to be good at art, you just have to be willing. And with consistency you will improve.

The other day, I was painting in my sketchbook during an outdoor concert. My friend, Sam, watched me for a few minutes and then said, "I wish I could do that."

If I were Yoda, I would have replied. "There is no wishing. There is only doing."

Because wishing doesn't build creativity any more than wishing builds muscle. I could sit on my couch and say, "I wish I weighed less and had more muscle tone." But we all know that's not how it works. The people who become physically stronger aren't necessarily blessed with a better body composition. They simply show up consistenly. They tolerate discomfort. They practice.

Creativity works the same way. The people who draw, paint, write, play music, or create aren't blessed with some magical gift that the rest of us missed out on. They simply put in the reps. Art teaches us to slow down and become more curious and less judgmental. And that shift doesn't just make us better artists. It makes us better leaders, partners, parents, and human beings.

Recently, as a challenge to myself, I've been painting glass bottles. Painting glass is incredibly difficult because it forces you to see what most people overlook—the reflections, shadows, distortions, and subtle shifts in light. What first appears simple becomes surprisingly complex.

People are the same way. The more we train ourselves to notice nuance, the more we recognize that beneath someone's frustration, confidence, success, or struggle is a much richer and more complicated story.

My challenge to you: Slow down, start doing and look for the nuances. Spend just 30 minutes this week doing something creative (that’s just 10 minutes 3 times a week). Draw circles. Paint squares. Doodle. 

Give your creative brain half the attention you give your physical body. You might be surprised by how much calmer, less irritated, and more resilient you become.

What creative practice helps you slow down and reconnect with yourself?