We all learn ways in which to cope with everything that is thrown at us each day. What works for one person may not work for another. And what has worked in the past, is sometimes not enough in the present. Have you been looking for new ways to shift your mood? Have you tried exploring your creativity?
I know, I know, “’creativity?’ Ha! I’m not an artist. NOPE, that’s definitely not for me!” Well actually, you may consider yourself a “non-creative” but if you can put pen to paper or press the shutter-button on a camera, guess what? You’re a creative.
Art offers us the unique opportunity to become completely immersed in self-expression. In doing so, we are able to calm our nervous systems and more easily access a mindfulness state.
So, be brave. Try these five art exercises for a simple way to access your creativity, to change your perspective, and to see a boost in your mood.
Remember, these art activities are all about the process of creating, rather than the aesthetic of the finished product. It is for nobody’s benefit but your own. You can be as messy or abstract as you like, no critiquing allowed!
Unplug for an afternoon, put your phone on airplane mode or pick-up a disposable/digital camera. Take a walk outside. Photograph 6 things on your walk that uplift you.
Write something you’d like to get rid of (such as, anxiety or self-doubts) on the side of a rock. Take it to a nearby body of water and chuck it in! No water? Bury it in the ground!
Imagine yourself in a paradise location. What is it like? What have you been enjoying there? How does it feel to be there? (Is there breeze blowing through your hair? Are there songbirds singing?). Create a postcard from that place with an image on one side and a letter on the other, sharing your experience with someone else (you don’t have to send the letter).
Draw the first letter of your name in a big block letter on a piece of paper. Think of a difficult experience that you overcame. What personal qualities allowed you to overcome it? Write these personal strengths within the block letter, decorating it as you please.
Create an image outside. You may do this with your finger in sand, with a water-saturated paintbrush on cement, or with chalk on a sidewalk! These are all temporary mediums so let loose and let your inner child play!
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I am Ruth Andrews MCP:AT, a Registered Clinical Counselllor and certified Art Therapist working in Vancouver, BC. If you’d like to work with me individually, please feel free to get in touch.