Q: Over the past few weeks I keep noticing your flyer/poster for “Mindful Art for Teens”. Also, I keep on hearing the term “Mindfulness”. It seems to be a sort of catch phrase these days, but I’m curious. Please tell me more about this and how my teenager might benefit. I need all the help I can get!
A: Timely question! Thank you. And, you’re right that we’re hearing the term “Mindfulness” more and more these days. It’s not a new word or concept. The human race has been practicing forms of mindfulness for ages. We are now incorporating this way of being into our modern, highly technological and busy lives because our need for this place of calm has grown by leaps and bounds! Communication has shifted greatly as has the necessity to find ways of stilling our mind and resting.
Let me first give you the most frequently heard definition of Mindfulness. As stated by Jon Kabat-Zinn over 20 years ago, mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally”. Sounds easy, doesn’t it! Well, it is, yet it takes much practice. Children naturally engage in focused and soothing experiences like playing in sand or swinging on a swing. As we grow and develop we turn away from these experiences and focus more on our peer relationships and the need for approval and acceptance. The teen years are full of change and readjustment, so this phase is a prime time to begin to learn some simple tools for staying calm, centered, and present.
Mindful Art for Teens is a process of introducing experiences that are calming, focused, and simple. When we are able to tap into our creativity in a way that is free of fear, intimidation, and judgment, we can reconnect with some parts of ourselves that we’ve forgotten. This process can help your teen to get to know and even like him/herself better. As you may have heard, the key to caring for others is in caring for yourself first. To learn that it’s not selfish to care about and like yourself can greatly shift your perspective on relationships. This can be transformative at any stage of life, but the teen years are key.
As an Art Therapist, my focus is in providing opportunities for connecting with your inner self through creative self-expression. Being mindful during these experiences allows the mind to be clear and free of stressors from the past and/or worries about the future. While painting freely or working with clay, the mind is soothed and present. The focus is on the process, not the product.
What I have shared with you is only a brief overview of Mindful Art for Teens and Mindfulness. Many people of all ages are engaging in these processes and gaining insight as well as a sense of calm. Setting aside the phone, computer, and T.V. is the first step and trusting in your self is the next. Paying attention to the simplest of actions, when done without judgment, can bring peace and calm into your life.