The Secret Power of Coloring
At two recent book events I have been made aware of coloring books for adults and how popular these are becoming. I am thrilled because I have colored for years in order to soothe my soul and to bring unconscious thoughts into my awareness.
How about you? Do you color?
I used to think that coloring was childish. How wrong that idea was! Coloring is powerful! Huffington Post wrote an article in April about how adult coloring is trending.
Here is how I make coloring a powerful tool:
1) Before I begin, I ask myself a question. Is there something bothering me? Do I feel stuck in some way? Or concerned? Worried?
2) As I prepare to color, I ask for the answer to whatever it is I would benefit from knowing.
3) I let go of the question and color.
4) When I am done coloring, I revisit the question to see if it’s still there…perhaps I have received an insight…an idea…a solution.
5) Whatever it is, I then act on it as soon as I can.
While coloring, here’s what’s important:
1) Choose colors without any judgment—they all go together in unique and marvelous ways.
2) Unless you are an artist and/or love to draw, choose something to color that is already designed.
3) Soothe yourself as you color. Be intent on your coloring process.
4) If thoughts and feelings come up, allow them. Just keep coloring.
5) Allow the coloring to start and stop, even if the piece isn’t finished. No pressure!
6) Give yourself as wide a variety of colors as you can and pick whatever you like to color with. I use Sharpie ® felt tip markers, both broad and fine point unless you tend to judge yourself and are afraid you might pick a ‘wrong’ color—there is no such thing!
7) Be gentle with yourself. When I began coloring, I simply drew a square and colored it black so that there was no stress about the design or the color. I then wrote ‘The Little Black Book for BLUE People’, which will be available for free download soon on www.deathbyroses.com.
If you tend to be BLUE, then coloring is a perfect tool for you!
When in doubt, COLOR!
Vivian!
How about you? Do you color?
I used to think that coloring was childish. How wrong that idea was! Coloring is powerful! Huffington Post wrote an article in April about how adult coloring is trending.
Here is how I make coloring a powerful tool:
1) Before I begin, I ask myself a question. Is there something bothering me? Do I feel stuck in some way? Or concerned? Worried?
2) As I prepare to color, I ask for the answer to whatever it is I would benefit from knowing.
3) I let go of the question and color.
4) When I am done coloring, I revisit the question to see if it’s still there…perhaps I have received an insight…an idea…a solution.
5) Whatever it is, I then act on it as soon as I can.
While coloring, here’s what’s important:
1) Choose colors without any judgment—they all go together in unique and marvelous ways.
2) Unless you are an artist and/or love to draw, choose something to color that is already designed.
3) Soothe yourself as you color. Be intent on your coloring process.
4) If thoughts and feelings come up, allow them. Just keep coloring.
5) Allow the coloring to start and stop, even if the piece isn’t finished. No pressure!
6) Give yourself as wide a variety of colors as you can and pick whatever you like to color with. I use Sharpie ® felt tip markers, both broad and fine point unless you tend to judge yourself and are afraid you might pick a ‘wrong’ color—there is no such thing!
7) Be gentle with yourself. When I began coloring, I simply drew a square and colored it black so that there was no stress about the design or the color. I then wrote ‘The Little Black Book for BLUE People’, which will be available for free download soon on www.deathbyroses.com.
If you tend to be BLUE, then coloring is a perfect tool for you!
When in doubt, COLOR!
Vivian!
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