The Idea of the Week
Mindfulness [article] is the state of being fully present and maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, experiences, and surrounding environment.
One way we can pursue mindfulness is through engaging with the arts. Coloring structured designs can build focus and have a calming, meditative effect. Mindful coloring allows us to suspend our inner dialogue and focus on our current experiences.
When we mindfully color, we are not judging the quality of our art and coloring; instead, we allow space to explore and experiment with art and see what works for us.
In this 8-minute video, we’ll learn about what mindful art is and the benefits of engaging in mindful art.
Practice of the Week
This week, we encourage you to find a coloring book, a coloring sheet, or a blank page and mindfully color. Here are 9 coloring pages you can print, or you can search online for free printable coloring pages.
Alternatively, if you’d like to color on a blank page, try creating neurographic art. This 8-minute video discusses and demonstrates neurographic art, a mindful art activity that can help us transform fear and chaos into peace and calm.
Lastly, here is a 1-minute video that shares 5 mindful art activities that you can do in 5 minutes or less, even if all you have is a pen and paper.
Here are some tips to help you mindfully color:
- Whether you choose to practice for 5 minutes or 15 minutes, find a time and place where you won’t be interrupted.
- Set a timer for how long you want to practice and try to practice mindfulness while you color until the timer goes off.
- Incorporate mindful coloring into your evening routine before you go to bed. Practicing before bed may help you relax and find it easier to sleep, and it’s a more calming alternative to the blue light of our phones and laptop screens.
- Remember to suspend judgment. Mindful coloring is about the process, not the product or end piece.
- Experiment! Experiment with color value, color density, layering colors, or using colored pencils, paints, watercolors, or construction paper. Don’t worry about if it’ll look good; embrace your creative expression!
News of the Week
Virtual and In-Person Group Request
We are gearing up to provide virtual and in-person groups in the fall. We are planning to conduct several groups, and we want to meet the needs of our community. What kind of groups would you like to see?
To request a group, send your requests in an email to [email protected] with the subject “Group Ideas.”
If you are training to become a forest bathing guide, please contact us! We’d love for you to lead a group!
The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
