Day 3 - Releasing negative emotions
Processing Your Image

 

In the previous step you transferred your feelings into a visual image (and hopefully started to feel better as you did so).

Now we’re asking some dialoging questions which will help you to process your image and in doing so to process your emotion. The questions will prompt you to engage with your deep knowing and to absorb messages that the shapes, images and colors are communicating to you.

It’s a crucial step which will guide you directly into transforming your image so you can fully process and release the painful emotions you might be feeling.


Here are some tips how to stay connected to the deeper part of yourself when engaging in this exercise:

1. Quiet yoor mind

Before writing each response try to quiet your mind and listen for the answer for a few seconds. Take few deep breaths, feel your body, shift your attention inward, then when you have even a vague sense of something coming up to the surface start writing. 

2. Write freely and don't edit

Try the stream of consciousness writing and after reading each question just put the pen to paper and start writing whatever comes to you. In this case the less thinking you do the more beneficial it is. Don’t try to force or overanalyze it. The intention is for the answers to flow from your deeper knowing, from your intuition not from your judgmental mind. So relax and give it a go. And remember there’s no faking at this exercise, it’s process of self discovery and getting in touch with your emotions.

3. Write from your right brain

As you write responses to each question, it might be easy to slip into your verbal, logical mind because the act of writing engages that part of our brain. Try framing your answers by starting with “I feel” versus “I think the color blue means …..” Whenever you catch yourself writing words like “ I think”, “should”, “could”, “have to” or any other judgmental phrases it’s an indication that your ego is taking a lead. Stop, take a deep breath and go back to your feelings and start a sentence with “I feel” statement.


Now, here are the questions:

You can write a response to each of the questions either in your notebook or directly on your artwork if you choose so.

1. In what parts of your body did you feel your emotion?

2. How do you feel when you look at the image?

3. As you look at the image you’ve created what does it tell you about the emotions you are expressing in this piece?

4. How do you sense this drawing symbolizes your painful emotion?

5. What do the colors in your piece tell you about this emotion?

6. Now look at the shapes and all the elements in your drawing and describe each one of them and what they would tell you about your emotion.

7. If this artwork could speak what would it tell you about your feelings of shame? What would it say?

8. How did it feel to express this emotion in an image?

9. How does this emotion feel now in your body?

10.  What have you learned about your feelings of shame around your patterns from your drawing?


The next step to complete the process is the transformation of the image of your feelings into a positive and empowering image.

If you feel ready to tackle that now, you can skip straight to the next exercise

Or if you can take a break, spend some time reflecting on your work so far, and look out for tomorrow’s email.