Draw Your Energy

Instructions: draw your energy in any way you please.

Check out my bold colours aura.

Cloud Drawing

Instructions: draw a cloud and something underneath it.

Discussion: Discussion centers on both the cloud (its shape, size, color, and meaning for the artist), and the person or item under the cloud. Goals include exploration of mood and emotions. The size of the cloud may represent the degree of depression or fear you are currently feeling, and how overwhelmed you are by external forces.

I just think of clouds as puffy things in the sky. They sorta make me happy. The house represents my need for stability and the fact that I would like to build one out of my paycheck.

Draw With Your Eyes Closed

Instructions: draw a picture in any way you please with your eyes closed. 

Draw With Your Less Dominant Hand

Instructions: draw a picture with your less dominant hand. The picture can be realistic or abstract. 

Squiggle Design

Instructions: draw a scribble with your eyes open or closed. Have fun with it. Let your hands move however you want to. Look at the scribble from all angles. Look to see if there is any object in it that looks familiar or if you can find any part of it that attracts you. Color that part in and give the picture a title.

it's complicated.

Opposite Emotion

Instructions: (a little bit of DBT) Fold a piece of paper in half. On one side of the paper draw an emotion or action and on the other side the opposite emotion or action.

Discussion: Share the two emotions or actions and discuss the behaviors associated with them. Try to focus on the opposite emotion or action when you feel stressed, angry, or depressed. Discuss how “opposite action” can help individuals work through issues, confront situations, deal with distressing emotions, and engage in activities that they might otherwise avoid.

As usual I made a collage with images I found online. Although I don't encourage bottling up your authentic feelings sometimes accepting them might lead to feeling the opposite. In some cases not talking about your negative feelings makes them go away. Psychologists have a hard time establishing an accord on the matter. So every time I feel fear, sadness and anger I will accept them or think of things that make me feel the opposite emotion and then feel the respective opposite emotion.

Golden Egg

Instructions: Discuss the meaning of the golden egg. In yoga practices it often means being enlightened, the supreme highest self. One’s inner voice that is always calm and perfect, and connected to “the true self.” Next draw a golden egg or an enlightened figure/symbol of yourself.

Discussion: Discuss your associations to the egg and/or figure. Share the type, size, and color of the egg or symbol. Goals include self-awareness and exploration of ways to attain inner peace and knowledge.

I have drawn an egg which is similar to traditional Easter eggs in my country to help express my nationality and status. Nothing out of the ordinary, just bold colours on a grey background which goes to show the power of colour in fighting off depression.