Three Creative Tools for Anxiety and Worry
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There is always something, isn’t there? In the midst of the good things, the usual life happenings, the doing our best to be positive…there is always something that knocks us down a bit.
With all the things coming at us, most of which are out of our control, it can feel very easy to lose our rhythm. We can start to internalize the heaviness, take it personal and feel weighed down. We can easily become unenthused and doubtful about ourselves and our creative work. But…
What if getting back to our creativity, was the thing that helped build a safe haven for our thoughts, struggles and worries?
We all know that self-care is a hot topic these days and it’s for good reason. We all need a release from the heaviness and uncertainty. And being creative is such a gift because it offers us another option…a way to think about and do things differently, despite what life is handing us.
Here are a few creative activities that I’ve found to be really helpful when things are feeling difficult.
Go somewhere. A coffee shop, out for a walk, a long drive someplace beautiful, visit a friend, go to a gallery, meander around your town. The thing about getting out and about is that it changes our perspective, shifts out thinking, allows us to witness different things.
Doodle. I’ve mentioned this before, but there is something magical that happens with a pen and paper and maybe even some color! Add a cup of hot tea and some feel-good music and you’re golden. Let yourself slow down enough to do this often. Here is a quick video and a link to my coloring book if you need help getting started on this.
Real life connections. This is probably the hardest thing to do when you are feeling a bit down, but it’s also one of the most powerful things you can do. Talk things out, have a laugh, share a conversation. We humans need this more than we think. So time and time again, I encourage us all to reach out to a friend, a therapist, a supportive community group that will hold space for you and listen.
Last, I’ll offer this. If getting back to your creative work is something you’ve been wanting to do for a while now and you just feel stuck, feel free to reach out during my office hours, or schedule a call with me here. Together, we can create some wiggle room and start getting you making with confidence and clarity once again. It’ll feel SO good!
Credit: Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash