Worth - Challenging Negative Thoughts
What is worth?
Meaning (Oxford Dictionary)
Noun: The Level at which someone or something deserves to be valued or rated.
Adjective: Sufficiently good, important or interesting to be treated or regarded in the way specified.
I often think of my home town Keighley, much of which sits in the Worth Valley.
Since I last moved back, I have been drawn to this little hill. An oasis of green amongst wild and windy moors. The Brontë Country is famous for its rugged beauty, but what if we turned around and looked down the valley, towards the town? Growing up in Keighley, hearing people slate it was an everyday affair. I therefore naturally looked forward to leaving it one day. However, each time I did, I missed more and more things I'd taken for granted. On my last return, the contrast between my fondness for the place and people's attitudes was stark.
I've also been learning a lot about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT works with the idea that thoughts, feelings, behaviour and people's physical reactions are all interlinked. Applying CBT to my own personal life has had very positive effects, so I've been thinking, could I apply it to how I approach my art practice?
Since I've been thinking about how I could use CBT for how I approach my art practice, it's making me wonder, could it link in with the subject matter? Surrounded by dramatic Pennine hills, which frame changeable weather, nestling industrial (often derelict) buildings, and row upon row of terraced houses all moving with the contours of the hillside, Keighley is full of inspiration!
If a town is constantly told it's rubbish, how will that affect its people's state of mind, their thoughts, feelings behaviour and people's reactions to this and the town. If I start to find beauty on my doorstep, and show it in my work, I wonder if people will stop dreaming of leaving, or, at least, see more clearly what is here in front of our eyes – all around us?
Meaning (Oxford Dictionary)
Noun: The Level at which someone or something deserves to be valued or rated.
Adjective: Sufficiently good, important or interesting to be treated or regarded in the way specified.
I often think of my home town Keighley, much of which sits in the Worth Valley.
There is a Green Hill
Since I last moved back, I have been drawn to this little hill. An oasis of green amongst wild and windy moors. The Brontë Country is famous for its rugged beauty, but what if we turned around and looked down the valley, towards the town? Growing up in Keighley, hearing people slate it was an everyday affair. I therefore naturally looked forward to leaving it one day. However, each time I did, I missed more and more things I'd taken for granted. On my last return, the contrast between my fondness for the place and people's attitudes was stark.
View From Yorkshire Bumps
My Cliffe Castle Thing
I've also been learning a lot about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT works with the idea that thoughts, feelings, behaviour and people's physical reactions are all interlinked. Applying CBT to my own personal life has had very positive effects, so I've been thinking, could I apply it to how I approach my art practice?
Since I've been thinking about how I could use CBT for how I approach my art practice, it's making me wonder, could it link in with the subject matter? Surrounded by dramatic Pennine hills, which frame changeable weather, nestling industrial (often derelict) buildings, and row upon row of terraced houses all moving with the contours of the hillside, Keighley is full of inspiration!
Worth
If a town is constantly told it's rubbish, how will that affect its people's state of mind, their thoughts, feelings behaviour and people's reactions to this and the town. If I start to find beauty on my doorstep, and show it in my work, I wonder if people will stop dreaming of leaving, or, at least, see more clearly what is here in front of our eyes – all around us?
Parkwood
View From Hainworth
