In the business of life, it is hard to stay present. Often people look at their whole week, month, or even year. Focusing on the never-ending to-do lists and the future can cause you to feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed. Matthew 6:34 states, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. By focusing your attention on the present moment, you are practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness shifts your attention to solely being aware of the present moment. By practicing mindfulness, you can achieve a better sense of calm, peace, and joy. Some examples of mindfulness include listening to music, breathing exercises, guided meditations, going for a walk, prayer, and creating art.
One art therapy activity that practices mindfulness is drawing your breath. This does not take any artistic ability and requires minimal art supplies. All you need for this activity is paper and something to draw with. To start, bring your attention to your breathing and visualize your breath as a line. Draw this line on the paper. Spend some time exploring different types of lines as you are focusing on your breath. Then, with a new piece of paper try focusing on taking slow, deep breaths. Draw lines to represent these deep breaths. Once you are finished take some time to notice the differences in the two drawings. You can also take time to explore how different lines can represent your breathing, and similarly how your breathing can change the lines.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3