When you were little, you used those huge wax crayons and scribbled all over a piece of paper for hours, determined to make your mark on the world... or on the table. You presented it to your mom and she treated it like the new Mona Lisa, hanging it up on the fridge for everyone to see. And just seeing it everyday made you a little happier.

Art can heal and inspire us more than people have come to accept.

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How Art Saves Lives

There’s a plethora of research and proof of the positive effects of yoga and meditation on the brain, but you might be surprised to hear that there is scientific research proving that art, too, affects the human body.

Contemplating and observing art creates a stimulation in your brain and increases blood flow by 10 percent. This leads to higher focus, elevation and overall happiness.

Not only that, but a study from the University of Westminster found that participants’ stress levels decreased after a visit to an art gallery. After spending a fair amount of time observing the paintings and doing nothing else, the participants contained lower contraptions of cortisol, the stress hormone.

Some people aren’t oblivious to the affects of art, as they are channeling this and using it to increase peace in their lives. The Art of Yoga, a yoga studio located in Central Ohio, uses different local artwork to monthly decorate the walls. Being surrounded by art while also practicing yoga can increase your happiness and focus.

Producing visual art improves psychological resilience and increases brain activity. Making art enhances problem-solving skills and encourages creative thinking, which is a healthy exercise for the brain. Because of these facts, anti-stress coloring books are becoming more and more popular, even among adults.

Maybe you should take a lesson from 5-year-old you, and do something good for your brain and your fridge.