Art for Your Sanity: How Art Journaling Can Help You Manage Chaos and Unleash Joy
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Review:
In Art for Your Sanity, Susan Hensley offers readers a heartfelt and practical guide to reclaiming the joy and creativity often lost in the busyness and unpredictability of adult life. Drawing on her own experiences, Hensley introduces the simple yet powerful practice of art journaling as a way to manage chaos, process difficult emotions, and rediscover a sense of play and freedom. This book is perfect for anyone looking to reconnect with their creative self and find a healthy outlet for the stresses of daily life.
Hensley begins by exploring the innate joy of creating, comparing the carefree nature of childhood art to the emotional clutter that often accumulates as we age. Life, with its inevitable challenges—whether they be job loss, relationship struggles, grief, or uncertainty—can overshadow the joy and simplicity of creative expression. Hensley’s solution? Art journaling is a practice she assures requires no artistic skill and is a powerful way to reconnect with your inner self.
One of the book’s standout features is its blend of personal stories, practical advice, and hands-on prompts. Hensley weaves in her journey with art journaling, sharing vibrant examples from her journals, which makes the process feel approachable and inviting. Her insights into how journaling can be used to process grief, trauma, and other difficult emotions are invaluable. By using colors, shapes, and images, readers can access feelings that are often hard to put into words, making this book a safe space for emotional exploration.
Curating Edits Review
Hensley emphasizes the benefits of using art journaling as a mindfulness tool. She explains how the act of putting pen or brush to paper can help quiet the overthinking left brain and bring us into a more intuitive, creative state. She also touches on the neuroscience behind the process, explaining how art journaling can reduce stress, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate self-compassion.
For those who are new to art journaling or are hesitant about their creative abilities, Hensley offers plenty of guidance. She shares techniques for overcoming the inner critic, cultivating self-compassion, and exploring emotions that can’t always be accessed verbally. The prompts and practical exercises scattered throughout the book encourage readers to experiment with different materials, colors, and shapes—reminding us all that creativity isn’t about perfection but about expression.
Art for Your Sanity is an uplifting, accessible, and invaluable resource for anyone looking to manage life’s chaos through creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a total beginner, this book will inspire you to pick up a journal, let your imagination run free, and reconnect with the wonder and wisdom of your inner child.
Where to find “Art for Your Sanity: How Art Journaling Can Help You Manage Chaos and Unleash Joy”
You can find Susan Hensley’s book wherever you get your books from. You can also purchase via AMAZON* using our affiliate links. When you order via our affiliate link, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. To read more, check out our Affiliate Disclosure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.