Embracing Creativity and Positivity

Compárteme

From Diagnosis to Art

Living between art and multiple sclerosis

Creativity has no limits or restrictions, and each individual has the ability to discover their own unique path of artistic expression. For me, painting has been a liberating act. It has become a medium that transcends the physical, mental, and emotional boundaries imposed by multiple sclerosis.

I must admit that before my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, I wasn’t a person with a very positive attitude. It was true that I always tried to show others the bright side of the situations they were in, but I wasn’t the same in my own dealings with life.

Positive Attitude

However, after receiving the news that my symptoms had a name and surname, I felt the need to change my attitude towards life. To be honest, I didn’t do it for myself, but for those around me; or maybe for myself because I don’t like seeing the reflection of what’s inside me on their faces. Therefore, I strive to show them that not all is lost.

This transformed my attitude and resilience because I realized that facing multiple sclerosis with a positive attitude makes a big difference. It helps you maintain a growth mindset and seek the bright side of life.

This is where art comes into play because it drives you to explore new forms of expression, to create a connection with yourself, and to transform and empower your resilience.

Adaptability

Living with multiple sclerosis can be… unpredictable, to say the least. You never know how you’ll wake up, how strong you’ll feel, if you can even get up at all. Artistic exploration teaches you to be flexible and to adapt to changes with grace.

In this, painting in or with mixed media has been of great help. I am naturally a perfectionist and need to keep things under control, which often doesn’t leave much room for flexibility. I continue working on myself so that changes don’t disrupt my peace. (Side note: I can’t stand changes.) Painting has transformed my perfectionism into flexibility because, although I have the ability to control the materials, I’ve learned that the best marks are the ones born from the freedom within.

Self-Care

Taking care of oneself isn’t just about following the treatment to the letter, but also giving yourself space to grieve your losses and celebrate your victories; to sleep; to exercise (keep the body moving); and to relax.

It doesn’t matter how you do it, what’s important is to do it; especially to stay free from stress and anxiety. This is extremely important so as not to exacerbate the symptoms of the damage caused by multiple sclerosis. Expressing oneself creatively allows you to, or at least in my case, release those accumulated tensions and those emotions for which we can’t find words.

Creativity and Passion

Creativity has been a very powerful ally in my development of resilience. Art has always called my attention in all its different forms, and I thought, “Why not try it?” I urgently needed to “get out of my head”; it was urgent that I stop thinking about what I had lost. On the contrary, I had to recover who I was.

It turns out that not only did I find myself, but art transformed almost every area of my life, making me more positive and resilient. The important thing is to open the doors to transformation and pursue your passions. In short, do what makes you happy.