Creative Mind, Happy Soul - The Art of Doodling
Around Christmas time I went to my town's local craft expo, at which I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of something called "Doodle Lovely". The woman talked to me about what her products were - one of which was this daily "doodle book" which encourages you to take time every day to do something for yourself. The woman's focus on a positive attitude, gratitude, and self-love had me interested right away.
There were other products on her table like tote bags, journals and colouring books, but her doodle-book titled "Creative Mind Happy Soul" was by far my favourite. She let me look through the book and talked about how we get stuck in busy schedules and forget not only to do the things that make us happy but also forget what they were in the first place. I have always thought that self-reflection is one of the best ways to learn and grow and mend.
You can imagine how thrilled I was when my boyfriend pulled the book out of a bag as a belated Christmas present for me. Since exploring my own book I can say that I am really happy with the product and while I am facing the challenge of giving myself the time to fill it out (which is the hardest part in mindfulness - taking a time out) every time I do I am so happy that I did it.
I think this book is a great tool for those with anxiety or seeking to become more positive. If you have the budget for it, I think it would make a great addition to your collection of tools for calm and happiness. It because it reminds me of guided meditation, where it's your thoughts and feelings, you just need a little help triggering the reflection to get some of them on paper in a tangible, and clear way.
So here are some quick reasons why I like this book and why you might like it to:
There is space on every day to reflect on how you are feeling which allows you see patterns and take note if there is any change over time
The book doesn't force you into a specific calendar. The top reads "Today is..." so you don't feel guilty if you miss a day or two...or three or four....(I've been bad). You just pick up where you left off.
The tasks are simple. They won't cause you too much frustration like some detailed colouring books can.
It allows you to do an activity and then reflect on the activity. You get something guided followed by something more free
There's a ribbon bookmark attached by the spine so you can flip to where you left off really quickly (small things like this really excite me)
The artwork is simple and calming
It's quick. It only takes 5 minutes if you want it to so you don't feel like you have to set aside a huge chunk of time. Just a few minutes everyday to yourself can make a huge difference.
