What brings you joy – a simple self-care art exercise
This creative self-care exercise is simply about finding something that feels good.
Over the course of the exercise you’ll be paying attention to something that helps your heart sing or makes you feel warm inside. Hanging out with this feeling is a lovely way of moving towards feeling better.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Walk around your house and chose something (an object, picture, book, food etc) that brings you joy. I chose some wooden mushrooms that were a present from my Mum.
- Find somewhere comfortable in your house, somewhere you can sit for a while.
- You can use any material you want. Paper, envelopes, notebooks, writing pads, pencils, paints, markers or pens etc. Today I chose a notepad, pencil and highlighter pens.
- Feel free to put your phone on silent. If you are conscious of time, put a timer on. Give this a minimum of 20 minutes.
- Close your eyes. Take five deep breaths in and out.
- Open your eyes and take in your object(s). Memories might come to mind: a story, a person, a place. Feel free to daydream.
- Draw, doodle, play with it.
- The perfectionist Gremlin will come out and probably tell you to stop being silly, that’s it’s not good enough and go do something useful! Thank it for its opinion and keep on drawing.
This is not about creating a picture, it’s about creating a feeling. I smiled through most of this exercise! The 20 minutes flew by as I was totally engrossed.
Feel free to share with me or put up on your counter or fridge for the day. Wherever it will bring you joy!
