Do you or anyone you know use unhealthy coping mechanisms when it comes to managing your emotions? I know I'm guilty of isolating myself or over/under eating when I'm feeling overwhelmed, but I've learned that there are ways we can start healing in a healthier way. I've implemented three things into my life that have changed the way I deal with my emotions and I want to share them with you.
1. Journaling
I believe journaling is one of the easiest things to implement into your daily life and is so beneficial when it comes to managing your emotions. Journaling helps open up our minds and get our thoughts out on paper. The easiest way to implement journaling is to either write down your thoughts as soon as you wake up in the morning or right before you go to bed. Make it apart of your morning or night routine, whichever is best for you. There are multiple ways to use your journal to open your mind such as making lists, writing about your day, your goals, positive affirmations, or even doodling new ideas. All you need is a blank notebook and you can be creative with how you want to use your journal. Try journaling before you start drawing, painting, making music, etc. to open your mind and get your creative juices flowing.
2. Meditation
Meditation doesn't have to be a long, drawn out process. You can simply implement it for only 5 min a day. I like to use meditative exercises before diving into my artwork to help calm my thoughts and clear my mind of any negative energy. All you need to do is find a comfortable space, close your eyes, take 3 deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, and try to visualize the current emotions you are feeling. When it comes to art healing, I enjoy using meditation to visualize my emotions as colors, shapes, patterns, etc. to get inspiration for my next painting. You can also try a quick meditative exercise before journaling if you are feeling stuck on what to write. Meditation is a great tool to use whenever you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed and need to relax your mind. If you find yourself overwhelmed in a social setting, quietly remove yourself into a separate space and focus on your breathing to help calm you down.
3. Intuitive Painting/Drawing
Intuitive painting, or even drawing, has many benefits when it comes to healing our emotions. The repeating motions of the paint brush or pencil helps put us into a state of relaxation, while experimenting with different colors releases certain emotions within our inner selves. While implementing painting or drawing into your daily life may seem like a challenge, one example could be creating a quick drawing in your journal every night. Creating repetitive patterns or shapes and coloring them can help calm your mind when you're anxious. You could also make it a goal to set aside one night a week to do something creative. Every Monday, for example, make it a goal to draw or paint one page of your journal. Having these in your journal serves as a visual reminder that can soothe your anxieties. It can also be helpful to journal and/or meditate, before you start a drawing or painting, to help open your mind and inspire creativity.
I believe art has the power to heal us emotionally and starting with journaling, meditation, or painting can be the first steps to a healthy, happy life. I understand how it feels to struggle with managing your emotions which is why I created a program to help you explore creative coping mechanisms and learn healing through the power of art. So stop imploring unhealthy coping mechanisms and experience the emotional freedom of art healing.