In this video, I wanted to delve into the challenges of managing artistic creativity while dealing with depression or other chronic invisible conditions (I also get frequent migraines). I'll share my recent personal experiences and insights on finding a balance that works for me. My mood is still low, but I'm making it through!

Struggling with Fluctuations in Energy and Mood:
Living with depression or similar conditions often leads to unpredictable fluctuations in energy, mood, and outlook. Personally, I've struggled with feeling great and full of ideas one moment, only to lose momentum and struggle to get back on track when my mood shifts.

During high-energy phases, I would start new projects and feel unstoppable. However, during low periods, I battled feelings of worthlessness and struggled to do anything productive. This black-and-white perspective created a constant internal conflict.

Shifting Perspectives
A few years ago, I had a realization that maybe my high-energy self was setting me up for failure by expecting constant peak performance. Instead of always initiating new projects during high periods, I learned to use that energy for maintenance and preparation for the inevitable low phases.

During low moments, I practiced being willing to do even the smallest creative task, like sketching a single line in bed. This shift in mindset helped me stay connected to my creative side even during tough times.

I also learned the importance of showing compassion toward myself during depressive episodes. Rather than judging or trying to force myself out of it, I embraced the reality of my feelings and focused on inclusion and acceptance of all aspects of my experience.

Just as Universal Design aims to make spaces accessible to all, I applied a similar concept to my art practice, ensuring it accommodates my full range of moods and energies. This inclusive approach has been transformative in maintaining a sustainable creative practice.

A Beautiful Experience of Self-love and Self-compassion
As part of a business course, I created a recording to rehearse and memorize the authentic self and values I want to bring into my business. I was very aware of including this embrace of my full self as I wrote it. I recently listened to it when my mood was very low and the experience of hearing my own voice remind me of these values of compassion, love and acceptance was extremely moving! I've built a safety net to catch me when my mood falls and it works. I'm still recovering, but I am hopeful

Navigating artistic creativity while managing depression is an ongoing journey of self-discovery and self-care. Finding balance requires embracing all aspects of oneself, practicing self-compassion, and honoring the rhythms of life.

Do you have strategies you use to manage your mood or energy? Is this an area you struggle with? Let me know in the comments :)

Join me for the for Radiate into Red expressive arts workshop (or to get the recording later).
​Register here!

Join me for a free expressive arts color mediation!
Friday April 5th from 7-8:30 Pacific standard time.

Pre-registration is required (see link below). KEEP THE EMAIL zoom sends you - it contains a link to the zoom session as well as a link to the webpage for the event, including the supply list!
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZwscO...

What we are doing in this workshop?
It is the second installment of the Color Mediation series - the "Dive Into Blue" workshop was the first one, and is still free, you can find HERE

In this workshop we are going to explore one color. We will use paint and other art materials, and writing. Setting and a sense of spaciousness and privacy and safety are critically important to this work. It is also important to have a sense of community and a way to share your experience, so there is a Facebook group for you where you can share whatever you are comfortable sharing. 

What I’m hoping you’ll get out of this
Art can be complicated. There are a lot of things we are working with when we paint or write or dance. If you are a beginner, you may not know a lot about color yet, and this is an opportunity to deeply explore what one color can do. If you are an experienced artist, this workshop will help you relax into the simplest elements of visual art and rediscover what you love about color without concern for making a finished painting. Remember, the goal isn’t to use your skills or make an amazing painting. It is to be as present with the sensual experience of using color and to explore it meaning and symbolism.

You might take something from this experience that you can use in more deliberate and developed artworks, but try to let go of that and just enjoy radiating into the color red.

What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive Arts Therapy is a method of using all of the major art modalities for self exploration and healing. It can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy to explore deeper issues, but I am not a therapist and I use expressive arts for creativity coaching, personal development and spiritual growth. It is deep work, with an orientation towards now, the future and your self actualization. Expressive Arts doesn’t use the arts in isolation. A defining characteristic of it is moving one art modality to another. For example, we paint, and then we write from our painting. We write, and then find movement in the words and perform.

Most of the most profound and deep creative experiences I’ve had have been through using expressive arts methods. I love this approach to creativity and self expression and I’m excited to share it with you.
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One of the most important things to know about expressive arts is that it has the motto “low skill, high response” when choosing materials and activities. This is a return to the raw essence of self expression. Which is actually much harder for those of us that are trained artists. It can be hard to let go of that training and just be in this almost primitive state of mind and to be with the experience of raw creativity. But when you can, it is powerful.