How Did It Make You Feel?

Think about how you felt when you sat down to do the first exercise. Were you nervous? Anxious? Worried that you wouldn’t “do it right”? At the end of the first exercise, did you feel any different? Did anything change as we progressed through the exercises? If you didn’t feel anything, no big deal, everyone is different. For many people, however, the process of drawing repetitive shapes or lines can be very soothing and they are able to forget to think about doing it right or stop thinking hard about where they are going to put something. Or, sometimes, they no longer notice that they are thinking about what and where, they are just in the moment and drawing. That’s the part that is the meditation.

This is the way in which drawing (and coloring and paint-by-numbers or needlework with a pattern to follow) is good for reducing stress and anxiety. Drawing, especially when done mindfully, can offer a sense of comfort, peace, and relaxation. The repetitive movements are often self-soothing and rhythmic, and can mimic the physical sensations we connect to during active meditation and yoga practices. There are studies that show that people who draw and doodle while listening to a lecture are more able concentrate because the act of doodling helps you to stay present and in the moment. Drawing, like coloring, is a good stress-reduction tool, but a doodle takes you beyond merely coloring in, but to creating from scratch, helping to build creativity and self-confidence.  

So, how did it make you feel? Did you connect to the mediation part of it? If you didn't that's okay, remember there's no right or wrong way to play with art-making.