The magic of coloring
I’ll admit it — sometimes I color. I print out some coloring pages and whip out the colored pencils and plug away for a couple of hours. Often I feel ridiculous afterwards — I’ll sit there looking at my finished pictures and think, “What the heck do I do with this now?” Then I’ll think about how coloring is the least productive thing I could possibly do (aside from possibly watching television). Couldn’t I have done a Sudoku puzzle? There is at least some thinking involved there.
But nope, when I’ve had a really stressful day all I really want to do is color in front of the TV (while watching House, of course). Much to my relief, I am not the only person who does this. Apparently a lot of people (over the age of 10) have used coloring as a coping tool. In fact, I’ve know therapists that give their patients Mandalas to color.
So, I decided that I needed to know exactly WHAT about coloring was helpful…. and this is what I found:
Active meditation, sometimes called moving meditation, is easier to learn, but just as powerful as the Eastern techniques you may be more familiar with. When practicing active meditation you will chose a simple movement, like coloring, drawing, or even walking, to give you stronger focus. The repetitive motions act as a constant reminder allowing you to easily shift your attention back to the meditation, back to the moment, before any fleeting thoughts take hold. Negative images, past regrets and future worries are simply pushed aside as you take the time to enjoy the present.
I think that I like coloring because it is the easiest fun thing that I can think of doing. It requires less mental energy than sudoku (even really easy sudoku) and never feels like a chore. I don’t have to even be creative like with drawing. I can zone out and just color between the lines. There’s also something about keeping my hands busy that relieves anxiety.
I love the idea of counting coloring as “active meditation,” because it seems to justify taking time out of my day to color. The next time my fiance jokes about hanging up my pictures on the refrigerator, I can say, “Hey! This is a kind of therapy.”
Coloring is aweseom. A really good coping mechanism, even for those of us over 10! Hahaha1
I loved this post. In fact colouring when I can’t focus on working on my paintings is something I lvoe to do as well! AND HOUSE IS MY FAVORITE THING THAT HAPPENED TO MY LIFE. (Is that pathetic?? lol)
I’ve always found coloring very therapeutic, but I never tapped into it until my brief inpatient stay (not for ED) as a teen. It’s interesting it is considered an active meditation but it makes sense. I wonder if jigsaw puzzles would be considered similarly as their is a strong “focus.” This was another of my coping strategies, except I found I only did these when deeply depressed.
I agree, I used coloring as an outlet all the way through high school. I still would, if I ever had any spare time. For years one of my best forms of therapy was my box of colored pencils and a Precious Moments coloring book.
I love to color when I’m stressed out. It’s a great coping mechanism.
I love coloring. That’s a standard piece of advice I give newcomers in AA, get yourself a coloring book and a big box of crayons. I completely agree with the idea of it being active meditation.
I too love coloring. For my birthday a friend bought me one of those fuzzy color-it-yourself posters of a pirate. When I’m adventurous I do paint-by-numbers…I found an awesome pirate painting that I can’t wait to paint-by-number.
Ha…I didn’t even notice the theme til I typed it now!
Ugh, colouring is so fun. I miss it! It’s still not generally acceptable to colour at fifteen. I personally feel this is far too young. How unfair is society?!
I am now going to go out and purchase myself a box of crayons (god, those are so beautiful. How do I not have some?) and a colouring book!
I just adore colouring. I adore colour. I adore doodling, and mindless activities that have pretty outcomes. =)
I’m gonna get some playdough too, I hope (although I’ve no idea where since the only easily accessible chain of stores that would sell playdough no longer exists). A while back, someone brought in a bright pink tub to class to make a science project with, and being on the desk in front, I got to (surreptitiously- which is great, ’cause the only way you could possibly make playing with playdough any better is making it feel REBELLIOUS) play with some! It. Felt. Amazing.
I want it so much right now, and screw peer pressure. I’m going to play with playdough!
I’m getting it. Oh, hell, I’m never going to get my schoolwork done anyway.