Stressed? Try Coloring to Still Your Mind

STRESSED?

BE BOLD!

LET GO AND CREATE Q'ART

Why Color When You're Stressed?

Centering and Stress Relief

Quiet and Active Reflection

Puts you in a State of Flow

Coloring Q'Art to Quiet Your Mind

I've been using Q'Art~or quote art~as a form of quiet meditation for years. Years ago I traveled a lot on business and learned to take my coloring tools with me to relax in airports, hotels and restaurants. I'd get lost in a world of coloring in the midst of airport hurry and worry. 

Sure, at first I tried to hide my silly and childish coloring activity from the other adults doing serious adult things and looking extremely important. But over time I just let it be and openly let it be known I was a silly person who colors in public (despite being a very busy and important business woman....).

At the airport other business people would stare at me in wonder before asking, 'what are you doing?'.  

'I'm coloring,' I'd reply unabashedly. 

Despite my apparent 'serious lack of seriousness' for a business person 'coloring' in the airport~you could see the longing in these time-constrained people who wanted to join me in picking up the pens and losing themselves in a moment of quiet, yet colorful, reflection. 

There is nothing like coloring to give your mind and spirit a lift during a stressful day. 

A few short minutes of mental rest is all you need to retreat and renew your spirit. 

When you pick up coloring pens and begin to embellish a quote you naturally move into a state of flow and relaxation. And while you only need a few minutes to get into this flow state from coloring you can get lost in it for hours.

In a few inspired moments of coloring~your heart rate and breathing slow and become regular as the outside world disappears~you move out of your stressed and more serious part of your brain into your creative, and nonjudgmental mind and into a state of flow.

Q'Art~5 Easy Steps to Getting Started 

Quote Art is an easy and fun way to delve deeper into your favorite quotes, still your mind and center yourself.  Since many of you have asked  how to get started doing your own coloring (why should I have all the fun?) I am providing you the imperfectionist's guide to getting started. 

Here are 5 easy steps to getting started with your own colorful stress relief activity. 

The mind loves color so anything you do to illustrate your favorite quotes will help you absorb the message.

Hi my name is Susan and I like to color.....

Set Up Stress Survival Toolbox 

You can make it easy to renew your spirit wherever you are just by having a coloring toolbox with you that includes: 

• Pencil with eraser
• Black pen
• Colored pencils or watercolor pens (start with a pack of fat bright felt pens)
• Copy Paper  (or coloring book)

These spirit survival supplies don't take up much room and they travel well. You can create your own quote art with kids~the gurus of coloring play~or sitting alone by the pool, in the garden, at the office, the airport or easy chair. 

1.  Develop a Template. Keep it simple so you don't overwhelm yourself. I like to use ordinary copy paper (so I don't take myself too seriously) cut in 1/2 with a place for a quote in the middle and separate squares around to individually play with. If you are a perfectionist, use a ruler; If you can live with imperfection, don't. Once you have a format you like, make copies of your template to take with you anywhere to play with and calm your mind.

2. Collect Quotes.   You don't need to be a calligraphist  to create the quote. Just play with the lettering or use the computer to create the written word. The point is to do this in a way that is enjoyable, not stressful. If you don't like what you create you can erase it or toss it. 

3.  Choose a Motif to Decorate the Border. Sometimes I use geometric shapes with a repeating pattern and sometimes I choose to expand outside the lines of the squares. There are no rules that say you have to stay within the lines. Use pencil to layout your design then outline with black pen to create the pattern in each square.

4. Color and Embellish. Use the color pencils or pens to color in your design. Embellish with gold or silver pen.

5. Practice Playing. I consider everything I do as 'practice'. I have been practicing playing with art for 45 years. When you keep your eyes on 'practicing at playing' rather than trying to create art you'll discover it is much easier to leave judgment at the door.

Rest Your Brain and Have Fun

Now don't just sit there--go play. You know you want to do it! Doodle, color, and have fun NOW! You probably have felt pens, black ink pens and paper at your fingertips. If you have difficulty getting started, go find some kids to work with you. They'll show you the way to let go and create.

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

She Let Go and Let it All Be: Rev Safire Rose

Like a leaf falling from a tree,

She let go and let it all be

A light breeze blew through her

A small smile came over her face

And the sun and the moon

Shone forevermore

Rev. Safire Rose

Like a leaf falling from a tree,

Let go... and let it all be.

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

A Moment of Colorful Meditation: One Little Boat~One Perfect Day

One Little Boat, 

One Perfect Day

A day of perfection as told to me by Rebecca Fowler

There we were~

Just one little boat

Floating in a serene blue green sea

Two of us idly lounging on our wee boat

Happily fishing for hours

No Worries 

We gazed at the beautiful sky above

and into the watery depths below,

Listening to the chorus of whales

spouting WHOOSHing sounds

all around us

Their gentle breathing sounds became

the ocean soundscape filling the salt air

Then with a flip of a tail they dove into the depths,

Fins silently sliding back into the ocean

Harmoniously connecting the journey 

above the sea with the depths of 

the watery world below

We caught a beautiful little black cod

And also a ling cod 

But we said hello and let them go back to the sea 

Whooshing them well on their journey… 

No worries 

A perfect ending for a perfect day

This illustrated book is of course dedicated to Rebecca, my muse, for allowing me to peek into her personal moment of colorful meditation and share it with you. 

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

Always Build a Nest in the Eye of the Storm~A Story

~Traveling on her life adventure, 

with change and uncertainty 

as her constant companions~

~And life swirling around her 

like a hurricane~

~Often feeling like a fish

swimming upstream ~

~She retreats into her inner sanctuary 

and learns how to build a nest

In the eye of the storm~

~Using her strength and wisdom

She creates a soft cushion 

on which to rest when weary

and an openness 

to think and hope~

~Slowly, slowly she begins 

to rebuild her life after the storm~

Each time rediscovering 

the strength

 and resiliency inside her~

~Soon she finds contentment, 

happiness and tranquility 

are hers once again and~

~She Lives Happily Ever After~

knowing she has what it takes 

to deal with whatever life

 throws at her because she is 

one smart and strong woman!

Dedicated to 'Moey' for requesting this story be drawn.

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Susan J Meyerott loves helping people become more fully themselves, particularly those working through anxiety, life and career transitions, relationships, and self-esteem. She provides a nonjudgmental, growth-oriented environment for you to become the person you’re meant to be—while appreciating the richness of who you already are. Learn more at Lightarted Living Blog

Starting Over: Regaining Your Love of Life

Starting Over in Life

If you've been struggling to regain your balance and sense of happiness after being knocked around by illness, loss, or sadness open your doors to happiness by following these 3 time-tested keys to regain your momentum.

 1. Take the First Step 

Not much has changed in the thousands of years humans have been facing and recovering from the hardships of life. As Lao Tzu stated so long ago, 'a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step'. 

We fuel our inner strength and sense of resiliency by taking action and walking through doors. But sometimes when faced with 'a journey of a thousand miles' we can be overwhelmed with the daunting task of where to begin. What is the first step? Which door to open first?

The good news is any first step will do. Your hope, resiliency, and personal strength will grow stronger with every step you take. It doesn't matter what the first step is. As you experience yourself being pro-active and physically taking action, your ability to cope and hope will improve. So start with a single step--any step-- and then take another.

2. Take Small Steps

An old Chinese Proverb says, 'The man who moved a mountain is the one who started taking away the small stones'. When you're in total overwhelm mode, start 'taking away the small stones'--one small step, then another. 

3. Build a Nest in the Eye of the Storm

Anthropologist, Margaret Mead, traveled on her life adventure, with change and uncertainty as her constant companions. Her grandmother, a major influence in Margaret's life, sent her on her journey with the sage advice to 'Always build a nest in the eye of the storm'.

This grandmotherly wisdom has had a strong influence in my own life. Whenever major life events cause upheaval in my life, my mind returns to this saying, and I think how important it is to apply to get things moving and balanced again. 

One thing I know--when you're in the middle of a crisis, the hardest thing to do is to take care of yourself. You can forget to nourish your body, push your body to the limits with lack of sleep, and remain in a constant state of emotional overload. But if you focus on 'building a nest in the eye of the storm', you will begin to create a cushion to rest and a space for thinking.

What does it mean to build a nest in the eye of the storm? When life is swirling around you like a hurricane--you find a way to create a home-base of comfort--or nest--from which you can rebuild your daily existence.

How to Get Your Natural Rhythms Back in Place

• Start with the basics to nourish your body and rest your nerves. Your body likes a regular rhythm that includes regular heart beats, breaths, sleep patterns, eating times, moving times, and rest time. 
• Eat regular, well-balanced nourishing meals.
• Pace yourself--put a time limit on dealing with your difficulties--and take regular rest breaks.
• Go to bed early.
• Choose to have daily contact with uplifting, supportive people who can listen and encourage you in your strength.
• If you're caring for others, take care of yourself first, so you have the strength and endurance to continue to help others.

Create Safety and Security

We all do our best thinking and acting when we do it from a place of feeling safe and secure. So create your nest--no matter what storm is brewing. It may not be easy, but it is essential.

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Susan J Meyerott loves helping people become more fully themselves, particularly those working through anxiety, life and career transitions, relationships, and self-esteem issues. She provides a nonjudgmental, growth-oriented environment for you to become the person you’re meant to be—while appreciating the richness of who you already are. Learn more at Lightarted Living Blog

Beyond Grief: Loved Ones Shining Down on Us

Perhaps they are not stars,

But rather openings in heaven 

Where the love of our lost ones

Pour through and shines down upon us

Letting us know they are happy

I AM HAPPY

REACH OUT  IN LOVE

ALL IS WELL

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.


Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list.