How to Use Art Therapy for Mindfulness
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
Do you ever find yourself reacting irrationally to unexpected events? Are you stressed because you acted without thinking and now you are in even more trouble? That could be from a lack of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. It is about being aware of your thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them. Mindfulness can help you to feel less overwhelmed by your thoughts and emotions, and to better manage stress. It is a way of training your thinking so that you can bring your full awareness to whatever you are doing in the present moment. Mindfulness can be promoted by many different activities, but the one I want to focus on today is art therapy.
Art therapy uses art as a means of communication. It can be used to help people express themselves, work through emotions, and improve their mental health. Art therapy can be used with people of all ages, from children to adults. It is often used with people who are experiencing depression or anxiety, or people who just want to enjoy the relaxation it provides.
Art therapy’s benefits over traditional talk therapy are numerous. Firstly, talk therapy can often be focused on past events. Doing an art therapy activity forces the person to experience sensation in the here and now. Art therapy incorporates more of our senses, specifically the sense of sight. Our sense of touch is also stimulated by the sensation of moving the pencil or charcoal across the page. Dipping a paintbrush into water and brushing it along a piece of paper provides a tactile response that traditional talk therapy cannot replicate. In addition to stimulating the senses, the repetitive movement of pencil or brush strokes can provide a zen-like sensation that will aid in relaxation.
The following are good art therapy activities:
1. Drawing or painting a picture of your current emotions
Expressing emotion through art can often offer more insight than talking about it
2. Painting a picture of a happy memory
Reminiscing on good times can be a stress-relieving activity
3. Sculpting a figure that represents your stressors
The physical sensation of molding clay can help to bring attention to the body
4. Creating a collage of images that make you feel calm and peaceful
Finding the right pictures keeps your thoughts on the here and now
5. Coloring in a zentangle or mandala coloring book
coloring can put the mind into a zen-like, meditative state
(I published a coloring book on Amazon if you want to start using art therapy right away)
Art therapy is a beneficial activity for mindfulness because it allows us to focus on the present moment. It can be used to express emotions, work through stressors, and relax the mind. Mindfulness is a way of training our thinking so that we can bring our full attention to whatever we are doing in the present moment. If you are looking for a way to increase your mindfulness, art therapy may be a good option for you.
