Join Mikel & Friends TONIGHT For "Creative Outlets!" with Warriors for Life (WFL)
- Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Drop in TONIGHT with Volunteer and Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs for "Burly's Warriors" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).
We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.
TONIGHT's Topic: "Creative Outlets!"
Join Mikel & Friends TONIGHT as we discuss the mental health importance "Creative Outlets!" We hope you'll join us!
Creative outlets boost mental health by providing a non-verbal way to process emotions, reducing stress and anxiety through mindfulness and flow states, improving mood by releasing dopamine, building resilience, and fostering self-discovery, offering a constructive escape and sense of accomplishment for managing conditions like depression and trauma. They help you express feelings too difficult to articulate, transform negative experiences into something tangible, and build self-esteem, acting as a powerful, accessible supplement to therapy.
How Creativity Helps Your Mental Health
Emotional Release & Expression: Art, writing, music, or even cooking allows you to externalize complex feelings (like trauma, grief, or anxiety) that words can't capture, providing catharsis and clarity.
Stress Reduction: Activities like painting, coloring, or playing music can induce a "flow state," fully engaging you in the moment and quieting mental chatter, lowering cortisol levels.
Mood Enhancement: The creative process stimulates the brain's reward centers, releasing dopamine, which improves mood and combats feelings associated with depression.
Mindfulness & Presence: Focusing on a creative task grounds you in the present, a core aspect of mindfulness, offering a healthy break from worries.
Resilience & Coping: Working through creative challenges builds problem-solving skills and resilience, which translates to better coping with life's difficulties.
Self-Discovery & Agency: Creativity helps you explore your identity, gain new perspectives, and strengthens your sense of control and hope.
Examples of Creative Outlets
Visual Arts: Drawing, painting, sculpting, adult coloring books, photogrpahy.
Writing: Journaling, poetry, short stories, letter writing.
Performing Arts: Dancing, playing an instrument, singing.
Crafts & Hobbies: Cooking, baking, knitting, gardening, building models.
Mindful Movement: Yoga, tai chi.
Key Takeaway
You don't need to be a "good" artist; the process of creation is what matters, not the final product, making it a versatile tool for anyone to support their mental well-being.
Benefits of Creative Outlet
Our Vision at Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is simple: "Where Hope, Support, and Healing come together!"
We encourage you to join us, Everyone is Welcome, Everyone Matters, You Matter to Us, so Talk to Us! — invite a friend!
Warriors for Life (WFL) Peer Support Network Online "Burly's Warriors" edition, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — (TONIGHT), January 31, 2026 @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87197441247
Remember: Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) meets on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — (7-days) a week. Every week stay connected on Friday Mornings with "Coffee with Kim" and Monday Mornings for "Cup O' Joe" with Derrick at 8:00 AM CT.
“Everyone Matters, Talk to Us!"— Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs
Thank you,
Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs
Founder & Volunteer Facilitator, Warriors for Life (WFL), & CEO, Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV)
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