Exploring a New Way to Express Myself
I come home and take out my blue journal and markers. I put on my headphones to block out my surroundings. I think about my day. I think about how I feel. What do I need to express?
I think about how I struggled with feeling good enough at work. I think about the part of myself that competes for others’ attention. It asks if I’m good enough. I draw a face and next to it, I draw a cloud bubble that says Do they like me? Then I draw more faces and their accompanying voices: I shouldn’t have said that. They hate me. Who cares what they think? I like who I am. I am good enough. I title it “My Lovely Parts,” inspired by the therapy modality called Internal Family Systems.
My favorite thing about art journaling is the freedom to explore. When I get hung up on the right form of self-expression, I push myself to think of the first thing that comes to mind, even if it doesn’t come out how I think it should.
Art journaling is my safe space. I’m tapped into curiosity and a sense of wonder. I’m free from overthinking. I’m free from my inner critic. I’m allowed to simply be.
I’ve always expressed myself through writing. I’m better at writing than verbally expressing my thoughts. There was a season in my life when writing in a journal hurt more than it helped. I ruminated on past mistakes and criticized myself. It was no longer a safe place for me to turn to. I needed to take a break. I needed to find a healthier way to create and engage in self-expression.
Through art journaling, I’ve discovered how important self-expression is to me. One form of it isn’t enough. I need to dress in a way that reflects how I’m feeling that day. I need to write about an experience to make meaning of it and move on. I need to sing in the shower and dance in the kitchen. I need to express myself because it’s essential to my aliveness and well-being.
Benefits of Art Journaling:
Reduces stress and anxiety
Allows you to tap into your inner child
Nurtures desire for exploration and play
Helps combat perfectionism
Freedom to express without judgment
Allows you to be present
Ponder the following questions:
How do you express yourself?
Do you need a new way to express yourself?
What brings out your inner child?
What makes you come alive?
Things I’ve Been Processing Lately:
-This podcast episode about art therapy:
-Loving Maggie Rogers’ new album!
-I went to The Harlem Renaissance exhibit at The MET & wow it was an experience! It took my cousin Malik and I two hours to get through the whole exhibit. We were mesmerized by the way the artists captured the many facets of Black lives during that era.
I look forward to pondering the questions you posed. Great article! Thank you for sharing you as you ‘process.’ I love you! ❤️