ART THERAPY as an experience is all about being mindful, self-awareness and self-exploration. In our daily life, we often forget to pause and listen to ourselves. Our emotions and feelings in one day move from happy - to sad - to be indifferent - to anger- to smile -to loneliness. What's it's doing to your attitude, behaviour, and personality? let's figure it out through ART.
Material -
Get Ready with your supplies- Supplies you need - pen, pencil, plain piece of paper, or a notebook.
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Instructions -
Sit comfortably! You may choose your favourite spot or that cozy corner, away from that extra noise. You may warm up by taking a few deep breaths, this might help you feel calmer, though no compulsion.
Hit that play button once you are ready.
Disclaimer: These voice guides are made with an intention of keeping a pace that is comfortable for everyone and all age groups, but we request you to follow your own speed. You may hit that "Pause Button" if you need that little extra time for your feeling to flow. You may resume back again , once you are ready for the next step.
About the Therapy
There are scribbles all over the place. At the back of your notebooks, on the margins of papers, on seats, and on the walls. While on the phone, in a meeting, or even while listening to a lecture, we tend to scribble as a random expression or even release tension at times. Ever wondered why we let such a heavy bunch of scribbles flow freely? Apparently, studies in expressive art therapy suggest that scribbling can be a good way to de-stress the mind. Perhaps, coded emotions and psychological concepts can be found in the lines of these scribbles if we paid attention. This random line art without an intention behind it and non-threatening art allows you to express yourself and relax.
Meanwhile, it is essential to concentrate on your breath, which shall further ensure peaceful channeling of the emotions. Conscious breathing opens a new channel for energy to flow, allowing us to just focus on the present moment and settle in sync with it. The key here is not to get lost in the moment nor to control them but to actualize the thoughts and channelize the emotions. This activity of scribbling becomes a crucial activity to manage stress and aggression and might anchor in releasing the tension, through a creative process on a piece of paper. It is just you and the lines now to reflect, react and relax.
For Assessment
We all have the ability to tell a story through our scribbles. While scribbling randomly on a piece of paper while on a phone call or even in between a conversation, your hands keep communicating as an extension to your brain. Since the conversation occupies conscious attention, the content appearing in the scribble becomes a part and piece of reflection, of your subconscious mind. This however provides spontaneous scribbling as a raw and honest expression of the unconscious mind. Now, imagine scribbling consciously. Using it as a medium to channelize all those unexpressed thoughts and emotions, that in return can help to unwind the cognitive process and ultimately contain it in the best way possible. Incorporating mindful breathing techniques in this process serves as an anchor. We can learn a lot from the natural rhythm, pace, and un-fussiness of how the breath continues its work and help us to proceed towards a calm and decluttered headspace.
The best way to describe scribbling is, it is a microphotograph of the procession we all carry inside us: Stripe without the tiger. Frown without forehead. Larva of creation. Caricature of abstraction - Orlando González Esteva
Future Benefits
Breathing Through Scribbles can be helpful in channelizing your aggression, anger and further help in releasing built-up tension and redirecting you to connect with the present. Scribbling could be like meditation, but one must be aware when the mind starts thinking about quotidian problems and gently change direction. The therapeutic benefits of scribbling can be the elimination of hyper-perfectionism and in return, putting the mind in a relaxation state. The way here is to proceed with calmness and simply go with the flow. This art form is also supported by various neurological theories. It is proven that scribbling could be used as a soothing technique for people who suffer from aggressive, depressive, and anxiety disorders, people who carry a short temper, who are often found struggling with anger issues. So next time when you are angry do not forget to take a deep breath and hit that play button. Patients suffering from depression, stress and anxiety have shown positive results on practicing this art form. So, next time when you scribble randomly, take a pause and try to pay some attention to your subconscious mind.