The Creativity Cure: A Do-It-Yourself Prescription for Happiness

by Carrie Barron, Alton Barron

From a premiere hand surgeon and an accomplished psychiatrist comes an innovative, highly achievable five-part plan to unleash happiness and alleviate depression and anxiety by tapping into creative potential.

A Do -It-Yourself Prescription Happiness

In their insightful book , wife-and-husband physicians Carrie and Alton Barron present an innovative, highly achievable five-part plan to unleash happiness and alleviate depression and anxiety by tapping into creative potential.

A gifted psychiatrist and a premier hand surgeon, Carrie and Alton Barron draw upon the latest psychological research, a combined forty years of medical practice, and personal experience to demonstrate how creative action is integral to long-term happiness and well-being. The Five-Part Prescription for the Creativity Cure—Insight, Movement, Mind Rest, Your Own Two Hands, and Mind Shift—leads the way to a more meaningful, fulfilling life by simultaneously developing self-understanding and self-expression. With the Barrons’ detailed tools and strategies for cultivating creative outlets, overcoming unconscious fears and barriers to happiness, and linking internal thought to external action, readers will build the mind-set and habits necessary for happiness and positive change. They will experience—and learn how to sustain—the deep satisfaction that accompanies creating something by hand.

The perfect self-help book for our handmade, homemade, crafting culture, The Creativity Cure has a simple yet profoundly inspirational that you can find the authentic, contented life you crave by taking happiness into your own two hands.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2012

Reviews

[Jenny Benson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps just chapter 6, on creativity and your own two hands, was helpful. But a little snippet on autism left a bad taste in my mouth because of its lack of insight and downright untruth: "the boy did not seem autistic, because when he played with me, I felt a true connection." ??!

[Kerry Lofton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off good with some good points and there are some usable thoughts throughout but felt like a lot of chapters got weighed down with unnecessary psychological terms and concepts that could’ve been simplified.

[Reem Khalaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great journey as I believe we start our life when we know ourselves, maybe there was a lot of snaps points .. we want to know more which make it hard to move on but the aim of everything was clear with practical steps.
It was my pleasure to listen to this great podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi1l8...
It reminds me to write my review :"D

[Raejean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to get introspective and understand the benefits creativity has on our mental and emotional well-being. There are concepts that overlap the Artist Way and other books, reinforcing effective ways to take care of ourselves

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed this one.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the mental health language is dated. Creative activities are just a portion of the suggested "cure" which includes getting outdoors, physical exercise, building relationships, etc.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging book is well written and filled with concrete examples of how we can increase our happiness through creativity. It's filled with case studies, conclusions based on experience and scientific studies, and questions to ask ourselves. I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking to increase self understanding, authenticity, and joy.

[Roshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

BE ALIVe. Solid genuine advice.If you are ready to DO what it takes to being a more authentic and alive you, then this book is for you. No it doesn't tell you what to think, It will REMIND you the healthy habits for optimal functioning and will make you come back on track...after all the advice given isn't new, it's usually not applied. It's not a theory book, but rather urges certain action steps that eventually let's you be you...whoever you are and does a dedicated job of convincing you logically why these habits supports a humans well being. It's wants you to get up and do the acts that nourish and enlivens the human spirit. We need to be reminded that as humans we have certain needs that need to be met, like air and water, for us to be us. Let the book expand the meaning of creativity for you, let it show you how it's a part of your daily life - whether you acknowledge it or not.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably about a 3.5 stars. This was a quick and easy read about practices and habits that a person can adopt to make themselves more creative and healthier. They incorporated meditation, making things with your hands, exercise and self-reflection. I really liked the holistic of this book. I didn't do any of the exercises, but I'm thought about teaching or facilitating creativity classes in the future, and this book would be a good one to add to the roster. I loved how it focussed on so many aspects of a person's life. I did learn a bit from reading it, and was able to examine some aspects of my life.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to explore their own habits and enhance their own creativity. It's a quick and easy read. It goes nicely with Arianna Huffington's "Thrive."

[LemontreeLime · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may try this one again later on, but i find it's prescriptions are just not meeting my needs at the moment. It does have some interesting ways to work through creativity issues. Maybe another time this book will hit the spot for me.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish this one : ( It didn't keep my attention after the first few chapters.

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I expected

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great insight, although I did not follow the 'prescription' it urged readers to follow.