What Is Mindful Coloring?

What is mindful coloring?   Mindful means “attentive, aware, or careful,” and coloring is “the act or method of applying color.” Mindful coloring is when we understand what we are feeling and associate that with an intentional color.  It is the process of holding an intention to heal in our body, mind, soul and spirit while we color.  

Coloring is a unique way to bring mindfulness to your life.  Life is full of circumstances and situations on a daily basis that deserve our attention.  We hear so much about mental health these days, anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, grief, bullying, etc. There are so many ways that we can feel indifferent and mindful coloring is a great remedy for healing. The Cleveland Clinic shares that, “It’s no secret that mindfulness is the key to achieving reduced stress levels. Instead of worrying about decisions made in the past or things too far ahead in the future, mindfulness keeps us committed to the present.”

7 Benefits of Coloring for Adults (from colorit.com):

1. Your brain experiences relief by entering a meditative state
2. Stress and anxiety levels have the potential to be lowered
3. Negative thoughts are expelled as you take in positivity
4. Focusing on the present helps you achieve mindfulness
5. Unplugging from technology promotes creation over consumption
6. Coloring can be done by anyone, not just artists or creative types
7. It’s a hobby that can be taken with you wherever you go

I can totally relate to being mindful as I’m coloring.  Coloring has been a part of my journey for 25 years due to the loss of my sister.  For a long time I didn’t know that I was coloring mindfully.  I discovered, in a self-taught way, that I was healing through mindful coloring the tremendous grief that I was experiencing.  My coloring had an intention that happened organically, and I felt better. 

There is healing in the action of connecting to an emotion, pairing it with a color, and allowing your hand to release the emotion onto paper, canvas, or a coloring book/card deck.  The action, with the mindful intention, is the miracle. 

5 Ways to Address Emotional Challenges with Mindful Coloring

1. If we are mindful coloring about feeling anxiety and depression from social situations, we can use the color blue for peace, calming and healing.  Also, you can add silver for compassion and stability. 
2. If you’re struggling with PTSD and your intention is to stay calm in stressful situations, choose the color brown for comfort and healthy boundaries. 
3. With the intention to “take care of yourself in the moment.’  If you are being bullied and your intention is “I feel hopeful in this circumstance.” choose the color green for hope and feeling calm.
4. If you are experiencing loss and grief, choose the color purple for prayer and spirituality or the color indigo for faith. State your intention as “ I will say a simple prayer right now” or “I have faith this grief will pass.”  
5. If we are in a challenging relationship with a loved one, we might use the color yellow for light, clarity and purification or orange for courage and confidence. State your intention as, “I take care of myself before anyone else.”

We can mindful color anywhere and at anytime to help ourselves.  Just carry your coloring cards and pens/pencils with you, and you’re ready to experience this powerful, transformative healing!