Art Antidote for Overwhelm
1. Sit with the feeling -Where is it in your body? Place your hand(s) on this place if it is comfortable. Breath into this place, by picturing your breath flowing in and taking the tension away like a soft breeze as you exhale.
2. Name the emotion-frustration, disappointment, sadness etc…..(labeling the emotion helps create a sense of separation so that it bears less weight)
3. Draw the feeling -A scribble drawing, a blended blob of color, create what you see in front of you (landscape, stack of books on a table, bowl of fruit)~All these options are grounding and will assist you in feeling more centered. This is not about your ability as an artist, try to be kind to yourself and don’t let judgment seep in.
4. How does this piece of art resonate with you? Is there a theme that is apparent? (in design, pattern or emotion) How does the artwork feel? Notice in your body if the emotion has shifted or changed. Close the cycle by breathing into your heart offering yourself compassion. Know that all of us have felt overwhelmed, stressed and uncertain about our lives ~this is common humanity.
I hope you find a sense of relief with this brief exercise. This may be done regularly to help identify patterns or as a one off to jump start a new perspective. If you are looking for more in depth activities a consult call is available to you hereBe kind to yourself,Christina Below are examples of this exercise
1. Sit with the feeling -Where is it in your body? Place your hand(s) on this place if it is comfortable. Breath into this place, by picturing your breath flowing in and taking the tension away like a soft breeze as you exhale.
2. Name the emotion-frustration, disappointment, sadness etc…..(labeling the emotion helps create a sense of separation so that it bears less weight)
3. Draw the feeling -A scribble drawing, a blended blob of color, create what you see in front of you (landscape, stack of books on a table, bowl of fruit)~All these options are grounding and will assist you in feeling more centered. This is not about your ability as an artist, try to be kind to yourself and don’t let judgment seep in.
4. How does this piece of art resonate with you? Is there a theme that is apparent? (in design, pattern or emotion) How does the artwork feel? Notice in your body if the emotion has shifted or changed. Close the cycle by breathing into your heart offering yourself compassion. Know that all of us have felt overwhelmed, stressed and uncertain about our lives ~this is common humanity.
I hope you find a sense of relief with this brief exercise. This may be done regularly to help identify patterns or as a one off to jump start a new perspective. If you are looking for more in depth activities a consult call is available to you hereBe kind to yourself,Christina Below are examples of this exercise
