Awaken to curiosity and creativity
Encouraging mindfulness during creative endeavors
Welcoming mindfulness into artistic projects is a fun way to incorporate curiosity and creativity into our daily lives. Many of us have seen the extreme concentration of a child when they are engrossed in an artistic project: drawing, coloring, finger painting or writing a story. Their whole body is engaged. I remember my daughter would stick her tongue out when focused on a project, and when I saw that, I knew she was in her creative zone.
I am a life-long creative and always have an artistic project in the works. Knitting, crocheting, sewing, cooking and writing fill my heart with a joyful calm. The mind is focused, the heart is connected, and I know this is a special time. Recently, I began guiding monthly Meditative Creations classes. We use the power of mindfulness to enhance focus and curiosity. Whether it is coloring a mandala, free-drawing, knitting or journaling, mindfulness awakens what is happening inside and out. Using mindfulness, we pay close attention and use the five senses as a way to invite curiosity.
In an article entitled “Mindfulness and Creativity” published in the Canadian Teacher Magazine, Peggy Bochun quotes Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Siegel. “Mindfulness helps fine-tune brain connections and creates integration by developing new neural pathways.” When we incorporate mindfulness into creative activities, the brain can focus intently on what is being created and we are able to integrate “the whole of the body, both hemispheres of the brain, and memory” which develops new ways of engaging with the project.
For example, when we are drawing, mindfulness helps bring full attention to hand-eye activity. The mind is in the background as we focus intently on what the hands are doing. We notice the colors, the texture, the feeling of the instruments in the hand and the sound of drawing on paper. When knitting or crocheting, we bring full attention to the movement of the needles or hook and the sensation of the yarn in the fingers and hands.
FAMILIES MEDITATE TOGETHER Anne-Marie Emanuelli
Smell can be used to notice the odor of colored markers or pencils as we draw or paint designs. The eyes are engaged as we pay attention to the colors of our creation as well as the rhythmic pattern of the activity. Periodically, we may stop, breathe and notice our whole body in space playing a role in channeling creativity.
This months’ practice is a group activity and each person has their own project to work on. The practice requires a leader who guides everyone through the five senses as well as inviting moments of silence.
Anne-Marie Emanuelli is the founder and creative director at Mindful Frontiers LLC, an education-based mindfulness meditation center offering workshops, classes and coaching for children, families, individuals and classrooms. For more information, please visit MindfulFrontiers.net.