Listening within through paints and pencils

Reignite your creativity

Once upon a time I used to say that creativity is like a tap in a modern household. You only need to approach the tap, gently turn it to the right and bingo … magic happens, ideas keep coming up ready for you to pick, explore and apply.

What I failed to acknowledge at the time is the that so often the ideas are there, the passion is there, the burning desire to create is there but the energy levels are below zero, the reality of life overwhelming and one finds oneself in a frozen state, stuck and unable to do one thing or the other.

One way to fulfil bits of the creative urge when your batteries are low is to approach short projects. It took me a while to embrace this idea. This weekend, energised after a blessed reunion with glorious friends, after a walk in the park, I picked up a journal bought years and years ago.

It suddenly spoke to me and what can I say after a few minutes of colouring the image, my breathing changed, my face changed - felt softer, less strained, less worried, heart felt more open to hope!

What you will notice with this journal is that it is not your usual colouring in book with pretty mandalas or images but an invitation to dive in, connect with parts of yourself unrecognised, hidden behind layers of frozen emotions through colour and words as well. You have plenty of space to journal and reflect as each image has a dedicated page ready for your words.

Listening within by Deborah Koff Chaplin is ideal for the cold winter evenings but also for the warm summer days overlooking the sea with a glass of gin and tonic in your hand. Explore more about the author and book here or click on the image above.