Art Therapy & Mindfulness
This worksheet invites you to choose an art form you enjoy, such as painting, clay, or collage, and use it to explore and express how you feel. The aim is exploration, free of any idea of what the result “should” look like, and you can follow your own intuition about when to add to your work and when to stop. The worksheet also suggests thinking about colors, shapes, and images that reflect your moods, or trying a quick scribble to see what appears.
Art can sometimes bring up difficult memories. If making it feels forced or leaves you more stressed than before, the worksheet suggests seeking professional guidance. This practice complements professional care, such as working with a licensed art therapist or other mental health professional, and does not replace it.
Before you begin, you might pause for a moment, maybe letting your eyes close and taking a few deep breaths, allowing your thoughts to settle a little. Once your mind has quieted a bit, you can reflect on the questions below with loving awareness, openness, and mindfulness.
- Why did you select this topic in particular? Did something specific make you want to study it? What are you hoping to get out of studying this topic?
- When you think about this topic, how do you feel? Think in terms of your physical body, and not just abstract emotions. How does your chest feel? Your stomach? Your head? Now, how does your entire body feel like a functional whole?
- Consider these physical feelings. What emotions can you match up with them? Do any particular emotions reveal themselves to you when you concentrate on these physical feelings? What kinds of emotions are they? Do they reveal themselves to you fully, or are they complex and difficult to categorize?
- What stories have you already told yourself about this topic? What impact do these stories have on your life? How might they impact that way you perceive this exercise?
- Consider everything you’ve just thought about: the good, the bad, and everything in between. Now, remind yourself that many other people likely feel these same things when considering this topic. How does this new awareness feel? Is it comforting to know that you’re not alone?
- Lastly, reflect on how you plan to put this topic to use in your day-to-day existence, particularly in terms of increasing your overall mindfulness.
