But now all I can think about is the clay in my hands. No more stress, no more thunderclouds. It’s a common feeling for many ceramicists. Working with clay makes stress melt away like snow in the sun. But how does this happen?
Clay makes you meditate
When I sit with my hands in the clay, I think of little else but manipulating it. How can I bring the picture in my head to life? All my attention is on what I want to make and the actions I need to take to make it. There is no room to think back to that difficult day at work or to think ahead to that long to-do list. I am completely ‘in the zone’.
Without knowing it, I’m practising mindfulness. After all, according to the Centre for Mindfulness, it is nothing more than “being fully aware of the present experience”. So by putting my full attention on the clay, I get into the same state of mind as someone who meditates. And that has a lot of benefits.
Meditation is said to lower your blood pressure and heart rate. It reduces stress symptoms such as fatigue and insomnia. And it can improve your concentration and give you more energy.
These are just some of the many benefits attributed to meditation. Beyond the theories and studies, I also hear it from my fellow potters. From beginners to experienced ceramicists, clay brings peace of mind.
Clay gives perspective
It is a form of meditation, with all the benefits that go with it. But clay has an additional benefit. Working with clay also changes your perspective.
You learn to deal with mistakes and failure differently. You press too hard or in the wrong place? You slip and there’s a dent in your new creation? Or the clay spills out of the wheel onto the walls or floor? No problem at all. Clay is forgiving: you can just start again.
s a ceramicist, you discover that mistakes can also lead to something beautiful. Because sometimes a mistake makes your piece better than you originally planned, completely by accident. Just adapt and make something of it, that’s the message.
Above all, you’ll discover that there’s more to ceramics than the end result. You find joy and satisfaction in the process, in creating. And that’s an attitude that will serve you well for the rest of your life.
So grab a lump of clay, put on your favourite soundtrack, and have fun!
