As we search for ways to cultivate mindfulness, there is an almost innate understanding that engagement with the arts is a valuable route to take. In this article, we will look at mindfulness and its relationship to creativity, the benefits of practicing mindfulness through art, and some of the ways you can incorporate creative mindfulness into your daily life.

Mindfulness Coloring Pages To Calm Your Mind 15 Printable Mindfulness Coloring Pages To Calm Your Mind

Those familiar with meditation practices will know that mindfulness meditation for beginners is often as simple as sitting quietly, focusing on breathing in and out, and observing the sensations. The practice of knitting compels you to pay attention to your own rhythmic, repetitive movements – effectively harmonizing the mind and body. We all know how important it is to show kindness to others. But to effectively do that, you must first learn to be gentle with yourself. There’s no wisdom in always beating yourself up and holding yourself to extremely strict standards. Schonert-Reichl, K. & Lawlor, M. (2010). The Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Education Program on Pre- and Early Adolescents’ Well-Being and Social and Emotional Competence. Mindfulness. 1. 137-151.Modern Meditation: Coloring For Focus and Creativity by psychologist Stan Rodski contains more than 75 unique patterns designed to focus your brain through pattern, repetition, single focus, and creativity. It is important that you stay in the present moment and remain non-judgmental about your own abilities. Avoid thinking about previous experiences, telling yourself that you can’t draw and thinking too much about the end result will take you out of the moment. Jung (1965) believed mandalas had a soothing effect and observed that mandala-type images repeatedly appeared in the drawings of the mentally ill. The drawing of mandalas was often incorporated into the treatment of his clients. It’s the time everything comes to life after the harsh snowstorms and long hours indoors. If you ever needed something to remind you of hope, this spring season adult colouring sheet is the one. Peterson (2014) suggested that mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) improves the attention, memory, decision-making skills and the physical and mental wellbeing of cancer patients, even after a relatively short eight-week program.

Mindful Colouring: A Complete Guide - Living.Pretty.Happy Mindful Colouring: A Complete Guide - Living.Pretty.Happy

This visual aid can help explain how the mind is affected by negative emotions like anger or frustration. When the jar is unshaken, the contents peacefully remain at the bottom. When shaken the jar represents the muddled thoughts that prevent us from thinking clearly. DeLue (1999) investigated the effect of coloring mandalas on relaxation by recording physiological changes. The study found that the coloring of mandala designs decreased heart rate and blood pressure, while simultaneously improving some symptoms of stress and anxiety. Singer (1994) described a case in which mandala drawing was deemed critical to the successful treatment of a patient experiencing distress from recurring dreams. Interactions with art are related to increased visual literacy and observational skills. Research by Naghshineh (2008) found that both mindfulness and art are positively correlated with an increase in attention skills. These abilities improved further with continued engagement in creative pursuits. What does spring remind you of? For us, it’s all about the light at the end of the tunnel and the joys that follow looking on the brighter side of life. Spring is one season everyone looks forward to as it provides soothing relief from the cold winter months.Mindfulness is a state of sustained and alert awareness resulting from being focused on the present moment (Brown & Ryan, 2003). The development of mindfulness is a reliably effective method to reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression, while simultaneously encouraging improvements in self-regulated behavior, cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal functioning (Lebuda, Zabelina, & Karwowski, 2015). Research indicates that 47% of the time, we do not think about what is happening in the present moment. Additionally, a wandering mind has been linked to greater unhappiness, regardless of whether the mind wanders to pleasant or unpleasant thoughts (Killingworth & Gilbert, 2010). Babouchkina, A. & Robbins, S.J. (2015) Reducing Negative Mood Through Mandala Creation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Art Therapy, 32, 34-39, Before you put pencil to paper, sit quietly for a few minutes and observe the space around you and the object you intend to draw. How does it feel in your hands? Try to look at it in a way you haven’t before. What do you see that you have never noticed before?