The Madala featured on the top is the creation of one of the Mandala Workshop participants.
Category: CREATIVIE&THERAPEUTIC_ART
Therapeutic Art Enrichment Group Program uses any type of ART as a medium and tool for self-discovery and healing.
Steve Jobs on STARTING
As Jobs said:
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something—your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
I have always found him inspiring. I do not agree with all he believed in but I can see how what he believed in worked for him and many others.
I was recommended to read this article (CLICK) recently and these bits I found telling about how to START anything that can lead to running something successful. Vague, ha?
People who eventually find success start by trying things. Lots of things. They succeed at some. They fail at others. They learn from those successes and those failures.
And this is how it is in my experience. I have tried many things. People laughed at me for keeping on trying something ‘new’ again. Though they were not new at all. They were just different aspects of the same road I was walking. And this road is often invisible to the untrained eyes. And this is the key, I think. I never let anybody discourage me. I maybe wrong, most of the time, but I am wrong as a result of my own choices not by somebody else’s. Plus I have learnt a lot. I keep on learning. I may or may not be successful by definition of the world.
I, however, consider myself very successful. I have walked a path so far that I carved out for myself. I failed numerous times but it has never stopped me trying again and again. I have pioneered in creating services and surfaces that contributed to the life of many people positively. I am grateful for that. I may not be successful in terms of how much money I have, but I am rather rich in terms of ‘thank you!’s’. My focus has always been on creating products, services and surfaces that add quality and depth to the life of others. And I have done that so far very successfully.
Getting here was a long and laborious road because I kept on ‘tryin out’ new things. I kept on changing the equilibrium and the way I see and experience things. I plunged into myself, stirred up the mud causing heartache and fear, then came out with little treasures. This approach has contributed greatly to the way I live my life. And my life has been, so far, a exciting adventure, full on living!
On Depression
To my personal experience there is no deeper pain and sadness but the one that is resulted in loosing SELF. In my observation, we are mostly unaware of our ‘missing’ SELF, but if we pay attention how we try to fulfill our felling of ’emptiness’, we can notice that something is out of joint.
The shopping sprees, workaholism, obsessive behaviour of any kind, alcoholism, etc. they talk to us, they tell us that something is missing, something is suppressed. In my experience, the lockdown has brough up onto the surface a lot of the hidden pains and aches. Maybe it is time to look at them, instead of surprising them back down again into oblivion
I do not hold the keys to your kingdom of happiness. You do. What I can offer is ways and tools to start to uncover the hidden gems of who you are. My tools are artsy, creative, meditative, contemplative and most of all ‘jolificatious’ 🙂 Let me know.
Classes I run and services I offer
Gratitude and ART
The idea to run a Gratitude infused Art Class came about during the Lockdown. I felt lost and angry. My entire life suddenly was on hold. Because of the uncertainties, I had to live my residence, move to another country where I was stuck for over two years. At the beginning, all I could do was to complain. Why is it happening to me? Why did I make that decision? I should have done it differently. I hated the place where I was ‘stationed indefinitely’ and I could not see the way out.
As I kept on looking at the glass half empty, I started to get depressed. This was the moment when I thought that it just could not go on like this. I cannot change where I am or what is going on in the world, but I can change how I experience all that. So, I started a ‘daily blessings’ exercise which basically consisted of me sitting in a meditative position and trying hard to find things that I was grateful for on that day.
It was not easy. Because I like drawing, I decided to try to draw my days in a way that the picture would remind me of the fun things that I have in my life. To cut this rather long story short, eventually, I thought that others may benefit from having fun with counting their daily blessings, so I opened my ‘daily blessings’ sessions to the general public. The rest is history! 🙂
GRATFULNES ART JOURNALING CLASSES AT UNITY UK
According to participants, the class supports them to become more mindful and creative. During the class we focus on addressing the shift from left-brain to right-brain activities, balancing the two hemisphere. Colouring and drawing contributes to generating a state of flow. Participants can also develop their drawing skills. All in a fun and supportive environment.
YOU DONT NEED TO BE AN ARTIST TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND ENJOY THIS CLASS!
Each class addresses a different aspect of Gratitude and supports you to deepen your practice of expressing your Gratitude towards the blessings in your life.
GRATITUDE ART-Journaling
UNITY in the UK is introducing a new and creative way to experience GRATITUDE!
Tap into your artistic skills, because everyone can draw!
A fun and practical class:
- Take part in short meditations to become more present and aware of the blessings in your life.
- Watch fun videos on how others approach Gratitude.
- Listen to wonderful songs to find inspiration for your creative journaling practice.
- Create a piece of colourful artwork related to what you feel grateful for that day, to generate more of what you are thankful for in your life.
Dates and Times of the ART GRATITUDE Classes held in 2022
7-9pm (UK time) on ZOOM.
Upcoming DATES in 2022
24th October
7th November
21st November
5th December
19th December
Upon your registration, you will receive an email with the Zoom Link and further instruction in preparation for the class. Thank you for your understanding.
Each weekly session addresses a different aspect of Gratitude. It will also support you in deepening your expression of Gratitude towards the blessings in your life. Along with that, your creative side will have an opportunity to come out and play.
Tap into your artistic skills, because everyone can draw!
According to participants, the class supports them to become more mindful and creative. During the class we focus on addressing the shift from left-brain to right-brain activities, balancing the two hemisphere. Colouring and drawing contributes to generating a state of flow. Participants can also develop their drawing skills. All in a fun and supportive environment.
YOU DONT NEED TO BE AN ARTIST TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND ENJOY THIS CLASS!
My Gratitude Art-Journaling Booklet from 2021
Abilities
How to use your inherent abilites?
It is a pitfall to believe that when you became aware of your inherent abilities, it will automatically enfold. Just because I am good at something it does not mean that I can use it well. In this podcast I talk about how to use one’s inherent leadership abilities for the benefit of all.
Play!
At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play — with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn’t).
Feel your feelings
In this video, you will learn how to name feelings and locate, describe, welcome and match sensations. You will also discover what wisdom your emotions have to offer.
Interview PODCAST
Introduction to self-love
How I integrated self-knowledge in my work and uncovered my passion
Chat on healthy boundaries and practical tools to set healthy boundaries; how to love self under any circumstances.
how to help those who cannot help themselves
SUMMARY
Final chat and closing.
El Sistema
Jose Antonio Abreu is the charismatic founder of a youth orchestra system that has transformed thousands of kids’ lives in Venezuela. Here he shares his amazing story and unveils a TED Prize wish that could have a big impact in the US and beyond.
Watch this video to learn more about the program
Jose Antonio Abreu
Maestro
Jose Antonio Abreu founded El Sistema (“the system”) in 1975 to help poor Venezuelan kids learn to play a musical instrument and be part of an orchestra. 30 years on, El Sistema has seeded 102 youth orchestras — and many happy lives.
READ MORE ABOUT HOSE ANTINIO ABREU HERE