Expressive Doodles in Pandemic Times.
So often during the Pandemic my aim has been to share images and words that comfort, motivate, and inspire others.
Like for so many of us this past year, every time I watched the news I was bombarded with upsetting and heartbreaking Pandemic updates that understandably had an immense impact on my thoughts and emotions.
Connecting within a more grounded space my response over time (and after the initial shock of it ALL) was to mindfully place myself in the moment. As I began to put my trust in being present, I noticed that I could also see the good in my experiences, creating a semblance of balance in these unbalanced times. Or, at the very least on certain days, I could gently nudge or redirect my thoughts to more supportive and heartwarming reflections. Needed. Nurturing. Transformative. Hopeful.
The stories or images that inspired these reflections were powerful reminders of the value of life, the beauty of humanity, the possibilities through hope, and the need to tap into these external experiences to build my inner resilience when times were tough.
This post shares a few sketched moments when feelings were intense (quick marks and simple materials to capture my wandering thoughts).
Holding on…
gripping tightly…
emotionally charged…
clinging to any experience that might ground, reassure or comfort…
embodiment of an ever-changing inner landscape of fluctuating feeling states…
what’s next?
Did I ask for this?…
looking away
from unwelcome companions
lurking in the shadows…
uncertainty…
fear…
dread…
looming…
blocks of weighted worry
compassion and concern…
what’s next?…
And?…
harsh and jarring shifts…
as the emotional bandwidth narrows…
overload…
survival mode….
questioning mode…
wondering mode…
what’s next?…
Can I get there?
tentatively reaching out…
noticing…
hesitant…
finding comfort in the small things…
it’s okay to feel unsettled…
it’s okay to be uncertain…
it’s okay to not be okay…
it’s okay to question…
what’s next?
See…!
redirecting one’s gaze…
to what shines brighter…
nurtures, strengthens and sustains…
hope…
finding solace in sanctuary spaces…
places where determination resides…
tethered to hope and a forward gaze…
grounded…
resilient…
now… what’s next?…
This post has become an unplanned companion piece in a way to my most recent art therapy contributor Brianna’s Ghosted-Feelings post that reinforced the importance of identifying and naming thoughts and feelings.
I have always wanted the ‘Connections Blog’ to be a place to share the benefits and therapeutic scope of creative expression in all its forms: from reflections, creative prompts, inspiring stories, humour, and learning to authentic emotional expression and shared discoveries.
This blog post in particular honours those difficult thoughts and feelings that we have had to coexist with during the Pandemic, capturing them in a visual way, and why it is important to do so (alongside the inspiring art and stories).
“One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.”
The value of personal expression… words and art… authenticity… sharing… connecting with community… collective voice…. limitless!!!
“By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.”
There is a place in our lives for art expression and creativity in the moment. This expression can be:
• relaxing and grounding
• motivational and inspirational
• emotional and raw,
• just to name a few forms of intentional mark making
These intentions exist within modes of art expression and personal narrative - interwoven supports for self and healing through creative exploration and internalized discoveries
