Daily Zen Doodles: 365 Tangle Creations for Inspiration, Relaxation and Joy

by Meera Lee Patel

Bestselling artist and author of Start Where You Are , Meera Lee Patel, presents an entire year of calming, stress-relieving zentangle drawings for young, first-time zen drawers to help relax and enjoy a mindful moment.

Anxious and overwhelmed about school, friends, family, and well, life? Take a deep breath. Grab your pens. And let your worries go with hand illustrated prompts and thoughtful quotes, that will inspire kids to settle their minds into the contemplative act of drawing. Each hand-illustrated page is an invitation to sketch, relax, focus and reach toward inner peace every day.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2014

About the author

Meera Lee Patel is a self-taught artist, writer, and internationally recognized best-selling author. She writes books that help people connect with themselves, each other, and the world around them. Her books & journals for everyone have sold well over a million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide.

Her latest book, How it Feels to Find Yourself, is a vibrant guide towards deeper self-knowing. Through illustrated palettes, honest essays, and insightful questions for reflection, Patel encourages you to sharpen your internal compasses—so you can discover your purpose, let go of what you’ve outgrown, and navigate challenging relationships with greater confidence.

Her other books include My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown, as well as 3 best-selling journals: Create Your Own Calm, Made Out of Stars, and Start Where You Are.

She writes a weekly newsletter, Dear Somebody, on Substack: meeraleepatel.substack.com.

Meera lives with her family in St. Louis, MO. To learn more about her, please visit www.meeralee.com.

Reviews

[Tima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Studies have shown that drawing, coloring, and doodling relax your mind. They are great stress relievers. This small book provides one inspiration quote and doodle for each day of the year. The doodles have been started for you, but aren't finished so you can add your own creative style to the page.

The concept behind this book is interesting. It does calm me to doodle and think while I'm drawing, so I'm sure that other people will enjoy this as well. The quotes are varied and thought provoking. The book is small enough to fit in your purse or briefcase so that you can pull it out whenever you have a few minutes to just chill. It would also make a great gift.

I received this book free of charge from Ulysses Press in exchange for my honest review.

[Orbs n Rings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly and truthfully, I had no idea these doodle books were even available. When I offered to review this book it was during the holiday season. How ironic, here I was reviewing a book that would help me with the stress that comes with the holidays and I just couldn't find the time to give it a review. If I couldn't find the time to read some quotes and do some doodling, how could I find the time to relax.

Overall, I feel when it comes to stress, we seem to always find the time to feel stressed but not the time to relax or use the tools to help lower our stress levels. When what we really need, is to allow ourselves the time to relax and not allow stress take control of our body and emotions. Does this make sense?

Daily Zen Doodles is such a simple book, you may look at it, read the quotes and decide this book will do nothing for you in regards to relaxation and stress. This is exactly what I found myself thinking, that is, until I gave myself the permission to act and actually do some doodling. I other words, I took time out for relaxation and to find a stress free place to be, even if only for a few moments a week.

There isn't anything I didn't like about Daily Zen Doodles. It is what it is, a book to doodle in or write a daily affirmation in. It is a tool that removes you from the stress environment, allowing you some time to focus and relax. It fits nicely into my bedside nightstand or into my handbag when on the go. Make it a daily habit to allow yourself time to relax and release stress by using this simple book. Overall, you will find yourself feeling better physically and mentally.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that the holidays are a busy time of year and ANYTHING I can do to relax and be more mindful, I am all for. The doodles in this book are so much fun. The quotes add to the centering that we all need daily to really enjoy each day and have a positive outlook on life! I loved the size as it is small enough to be carried along with me, but I also made copies of many of them and took them with me places. I like begin able to come back and doodle the designs that I really enjoyed. My kids also found this to be an amazing way to pass some time. The quotes were a great way to have a conversation about being a good person and to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. 5 stars.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very neat little doodle book. Love the inspiring quotes on each page. Some of the doodles, I felt, we're a little lacking. They all can't be elaborate though. The size of the book is nice. It's not tiny, so there's plenty of room to actually doodle. However, it's not a large book either. It fits nicely in my handbag, which is a relatively large handbag. It would fit great in a backpack or satchel also. I think this book would make a great relaxation gift, maybe with some tea and a mug.

Thank you to the author and to Goodreads First Reads for sending me this book snd giving me the opportunity to read this book and review it.

[Am Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of the 365 tangle drawings, many are repeated, and are nothing more than a curved line on the page. The quotes mostly come from the same few sources as well (Buddha, Henry David Thoreau, various swamis, Lao Tzu), AND mostly talk about the same thing, just phrased differently. E.g. Most of the quotes all tell you one or more of the following:

1) You should detach yourself from everything.
2) Life is transient.
3) You should rise above all material things.
4) You should rise above all feelings.
5) You should look within yourself to find the truth and enlightenment.

That's about it.

Still, good for a few nights' worth of usage, before it starts feeling like deja vu.

[Breath of Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful thing do wine down with at the end of my day. I have a hard time sleeping due to the fact that my mind races off in a million different directions.

When first received this I was like "YEAH!" Thumped thru the pages and just went nuts over all the different things and prompts that can help you:

To read more of my review: Breath of Life

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute little book! What I like about this is that you can keep it out on your table and whenever you want to doodle or just let your mind wander you can pick a page and just go at it. You can do as many or as little as time allows, it made me feel like a kid again! I love the quotes on each page too.

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book based on the recommendations by a noted book (romance) blogger. What a disappointment.

For one, the content (should I say teachings?) or quotations are cliche and repetitious. Then, the quality of paper is lousy; for this price point, I expected better paper. I don't think I would want to color the doodles even with regular colored pencils, let alone watercolor ones.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pocket sized coloring book with awesome quotes (and not just the usual recycled blurbs). What's not to love?

[Simonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

little unfinished doodles you can finish, pencil would be best, pages are too thin for marker