Nikki invites us to connect with and explore our natural, unbounded creativity!
As a Play Therapist, one of the many things I love about my role is often being immersed alongside a client in therapy processes involving clay, paint, playdoh, drawing, puppets, music, role play, games and the therapeutic sand tray.
Creative media allows us to regress to earlier developmental stages, resolve unmet need, offers sensory opportunities and most of all, facilitates the expression of feelings for which words fall short. It can also be a powerful tool in navigating a healing following trauma. In being creative our ‘right brain’ is activated – the brain hemisphere also responsible for regulating emotion. All forms of play are expressions of creativity, expressions of the individual’s internal world – a process that delves deep into the subconscious.
So, I invite you to connect with and explore your natural unbounded creativity!
It may take a little dusting off as there may be some longstanding attitudes and judgements within yourself to set aside. Bat away predisposed thoughts of your artistic or musical ability and allow yourself some freeing-up time. Find yourself a comfortable corner away from the rest of the world temporarily – for three minutes, half an hour or whatever time affords you and invest in ‘filling your own cup’ through creativity.
Music:
Play a favourite song (or album) from your teenage years and see where your mind takes you. You might find your hips and feet take you dancing around the room (or ‘on the ceiling’ according to Lionel Ritchie). Songs are like ‘mini therapy sessions’ – transporting our minds to another place and time, yet each contained to around 3 minutes. The music you enjoyed in your teens and early twenties has a particularly longstanding impact on the brain. If you find yourself singing along – there’ll be all sorts of feel-good chemicals whizzing around too – as singing improves mood and positive emotions. Not in the right place to sing? Try some air-microphone, hip or knee wiggling or head-bopping. Loose any inhibitions and be prepared to laugh at yourself as you relish the nostalgia!
Doodling:
As we navigate the January Blues... you might like to treat yourself to a nice set of felt pens or coloured pencils and do a scribble image? Starting in the corner of the paper, take the pen on a swirly walk across the page, overlapping loops and filling the page. Gradually fill in each individual space with it’s own shapes and colour combos. There’s no right or wrong – just allow yourself to indulge in the moment. Coloured pencils may be less readily available, but they allow you to shade and exert different physical pressures on the page. If you’re able to take the time to complete it your swirly image will have nourished you and you should also feel accomplishment.
Paint:
If you (or a family member) have a set of paints around the house, ask to borrow them. Quietening any self-judgement, splodge a selection of colours randomly on the page. Push, scrape or smudge the colours together using your fingers (for a sensory experience – the messier the better), a cotton bud, brush, fork or even by folding the paper in half on itself. Give yourself a drum role for ‘the big reveal’ as you reflect on your own abstract image. Take a moment to consider where your paint journey took your thoughts.
Once dry – cut around your image or your favourite part of it and use it as a bookmark or stick it into the front of your diary and connect with it whenever you need. You might find yourself adding to it as time goes on with decorations and doodles.
Alternatively:
Perhaps some diamond or scratch art to do once you settle of an evening with a warm drink and blanket over the winter months – a project you look forward to that focuses your mind. Baking, sewing, knitting, crafting, collage or montage… (selecting and arranging tiny print outs of favourite photos or magazine photos to create a backdrop to diary or note book). Choose photos or pictures that bring you joy – these will help ground you when things feel a little array.
If you’re still not inspired… have a mooch online for ideas and gently encourage your own self-expression through the freedom of creativity!
