Brushstrokes of Reflection: Unlocking Inner Growth Through Painting

[00:00:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well and I warmly welcome you in today's episode

[00:00:13] [SPEAKER_00]: of the Happiness Painting Podcast.

[00:00:16] [SPEAKER_00]: So let's begin this podcast journey by diving into something that often gets overshadowed

[00:00:23] [SPEAKER_00]: in our busy life and the busy schedules.

[00:00:26] [SPEAKER_00]: What is that?

[00:00:27] [SPEAKER_00]: That is a self reflection.

[00:00:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine the constant buzz of an IT professional's day, deadlines looming, meetings piling up

[00:00:37] [SPEAKER_00]: and the stress mounting.

[00:00:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It leaves a little room to breathe and let alone reflect that.

[00:00:45] [SPEAKER_00]: But what if I told you that there is a way to pause, to look inward and to regain your

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_00]: sense of clarity through something as simple and powerful as painting?

[00:00:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Today I am going to explore how painting can be a secret tool for the self reflection

[00:01:04] [SPEAKER_00]: and the emotional insight even in the middle of your hectic life.

[00:01:10] [SPEAKER_00]: We often think of the self reflection as an illusive process requiring hours of meditation

[00:01:17] [SPEAKER_00]: or lengthy journaling sessions.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_00]: But what if we brought the reflection into the more creative space?

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine yourself standing in front of the blank canvas after a long day.

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Your paint brush poised like the extension of your hand, ready to capture the thoughts

[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_00]: swirling in your mind.

[00:01:41] [SPEAKER_00]: The beauty of painting is that it allows us to slow down, to let our emotions surface

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_00]: in ways we cannot always articulate.

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER_00]: It creates a space for us to understand ourselves better.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_00]: And the best part is, you don't need hours, you just need few minutes every day

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_00]: which can offer a profound release of emotions.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_00]: So let's take a closer look at how painting can facilitate this self reflection

[00:02:13] [SPEAKER_00]: in our busy schedules.

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_00]: For instance, instead of reminiscence on the stress of the overloaded workday,

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER_00]: you can let each stroke of the paint express that words fails to capture.

[00:02:30] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not about creating a masterpiece, it's about using that act of painting as a mirror into your mind.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: It's an opportunity to pause and reflect even if it is just as simple as fulfilling

[00:02:45] [SPEAKER_00]: 15 minutes.

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_00]: You can find unexpected insights about yourself, about what you are really feeling

[00:02:53] [SPEAKER_00]: and this can transform how you navigate your career, your relationships and even your daily decisions.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_00]: There is also something magical about colour.

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Colours in painting is like the voice of your emotions.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_00]: When you pick a particular shade, you are subconsciously choosing the mood that reflects your state of mind.

[00:03:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Let's say you are feeling frustrated at work.

[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you will find yourself reaching for the intense black or the very dark shades.

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_00]: On days where everything feels lighter, you will be picking up the brighter colours from your palette.

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_00]: The act of selecting colours becomes the way of acknowledging what you are going through emotionally,

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00]: without having to spell it out.

[00:03:50] [SPEAKER_00]: It's an intuitive and deeply personal connection.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Over time as you paint more often, you will notice the patterns.

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_00]: You will become more attuned to how colours reflect your internal world.

[00:04:04] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a fascinating journey of self-awareness and self-discovery.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_00]: Speaking of emotions, there are specific painting exercises that help you dive deeper into the emotional reflections.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_00]: One of my favourite techniques is abstract emotion painting.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a practice where you simply let your emotions guide the brush.

[00:04:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Without worrying too much about the form or the structure, you might start with the bold sweeping strokes to represent frustration

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_00]: and end with the gentle swirling pattern that reflects a sense of calm.

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_00]: This kind of exercise isn't just an outlet for stress.

[00:04:54] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a way to connect with your feeling on a more profound level.

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_00]: You start to understand your emotional landscape better and that insight can be transformative in your personal and professional life.

[00:05:11] [SPEAKER_00]: But painting isn't just about reflecting emotions.

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER_00]: It's also a wonderful way to understand your career goals.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_00]: You might be wondering how can art, something totally different unrelated to work, can help you.

[00:05:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Well think of it in this way.

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_00]: When you paint spatially, if you focus on creating a vision board or painting a visual representation of your goal,

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_00]: you are subconsciously training your mind and creating a positive pattern in your mind with respect to your career growth.

[00:05:50] [SPEAKER_00]: You are opening yourself up to seeing beyond the linear path of day-to-day work and this kind of reflective painting helps you to see the bigger picture.

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_00]: You start to connect with what really matters to you and what you are passionate about and where you see yourself heading towards.

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Let me take you deeper into how painting helps to explore personal values and the belief system.

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER_00]: When you paint, you bring your thoughts, emotions and even your core values onto the canvas.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Whether you realize it or not, have you ever noticed how some people are drawn to certain symbols or the recurring themes in their artwork?

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_00]: That's because art has this incredible ability to capture what is important to us on our subconscious level.

[00:06:47] [SPEAKER_00]: By looking back at your artwork, you can start identifying the pattern that reveals your values and the belief systems.

[00:06:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Are you someone who paints calm, serene landscape, perhaps you value peace and tranquility in your life?

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Or maybe you paint bustling cityscapes indicating a love for energy and the movement.

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER_00]: And these insights can guide your decisions, not just in the painting but in your life also.

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_00]: One thing that really special about reflecting painting practices is that they help with the personal growth.

[00:07:31] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not just about capturing who you are in the moment but also evolving through the process and each painting becomes a step in your growth.

[00:07:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Helping you to make sense of the challenges you face, whether it is a personal challenge or a professional challenge.

[00:07:52] [SPEAKER_00]: And when we talk about the personal growth, we also touch upon stress, especially the workplace stress.

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Many of us have workplace stressors that are hard to pinpoint let alone the process.

[00:08:07] [SPEAKER_00]: But with painting we can externalize those stresses.

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine your frustration with your colleague or manager or the project deadline being released through your artwork.

[00:08:19] [SPEAKER_00]: The stress that was previously internalized become visible on your canvas giving you a tangible way to process it.

[00:08:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Once you have expressed it, you can approach these stresses with the calmer and the clearer mindset.

[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_00]: And then there is a role painting plays in the mindfulness and awareness.

[00:08:40] [SPEAKER_00]: In today's fast-paced world, we are constantly bombarded with distractions leaving little room to just be yourself.

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Painting however offer a beautiful way to practice mindfulness.

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_00]: As you concentrate on each brush strokes, the colors and the textures you are present, you are in the moment.

[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_00]: And this practice of focusing on the now builds the awareness and the awareness towards other areas of your life.

[00:09:12] [SPEAKER_00]: And you also start to notice things in your day-to-day maybe which you were not noticing earlier.

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER_00]: It can be your thoughts, reactions or the perception you have around your surrounding or the world, external world.

[00:09:27] [SPEAKER_00]: It's important to note that this isn't just about spending some hours in the painting every day.

[00:09:34] [SPEAKER_00]: A common concern many people have is balancing painting with the busy schedule.

[00:09:39] [SPEAKER_00]: But here is the beauty of it.

[00:09:41] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't need to dedicate hours and hours. Even a few minutes of the mindful painting every day can make a huge difference in your lifestyle.

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER_00]: You can integrate painting into your routine in the small ways. You can start very small.

[00:09:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it's a quick sketch or a simple doodle activity or simple floral exercise or any abstract pattern.

[00:10:04] [SPEAKER_00]: While waiting for the meeting to start a painting or while unwinding after a long day, it's about making an art as a part of your life in a way that doesn't disrupt.

[00:10:17] [SPEAKER_00]: But it improves and enhances your life and work.

[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Now let's talk about the balance. Painting isn't mean to replace other self-reflection practices.

[00:10:28] [SPEAKER_00]: But it is to compliment them. It is to give them visual form.

[00:10:33] [SPEAKER_00]: You can weave it into your meditation also, journaling also, even your daily walks also.

[00:10:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It's also finding what resonates with you in creating a balance between different practices that support your mental and emotional well-being.

[00:10:50] [SPEAKER_00]: In closing, painting isn't just about a creative hobby.

[00:10:54] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a powerful tool for the self-reflection, an emotional insight and the personal growth as well.

[00:11:01] [SPEAKER_00]: It helps to process emotions, understand your value system and navigate workplace stress.

[00:11:07] [SPEAKER_00]: All while promoting mindfulness and balance in your life.

[00:11:12] [SPEAKER_00]: So if you're looking to deep dive into this topic especially in your inner world, why not pick up the brush and let the colors guide you?

[00:11:20] [SPEAKER_00]: If you want to explore these techniques in more depth, I invite you to join my upcoming webinar where you will get to know about my journey,

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_00]: my approach and my three secrets with respect to healing through art.

[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_00]: Together we'll dive into how painting can transform our life and your life and help you to build emotional resilience and the mindfulness.

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Just click on the link in the description to register for my webinar and let's paint our way to a more reflective, mindful life.

[00:11:53] [SPEAKER_00]: If you want to join the webinar from my mentor, you can click on the other link.

[00:11:58] [SPEAKER_00]: If you really want to go towards a coaching side, you can definitely register for his webinar also.

[00:12:05] [SPEAKER_00]: So, bye-bye. Take care. I'll see you in my next episode, next podcast where we will be exploring a topic related to stress and emotional balance.

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_00]: So, bye-bye. I'll see you in my next podcast episode.