The Quiet Side

Exploring the unseen benefits of creative focus.

Admire  :  to marvel at

There are so many artists out there who create such amazing work – it is really easy to spend all day online liking pictures of tiles, Zentangle Inspired Art and all the beautiful works of art that are posted regularly through different social media resources.

What is harder to appreciate, is the feeling of well-being and relaxed focus that taking time with some simple materials can bring.  I love hearing students tell me that they can’t wait for their next tangling time, or that they are working hard to make it a daily part of their lives because of the gentle relaxation they feel when following the Zentangle method.

When they look at their tiles, their journal pages or works they have completed over time, I love that what they are admiring most is the lovely feeling of well-being they have from spending some creative time with themselves. Perhaps that will lead them to more creative exercises, and create more calm in their lives.

Taking time to admire your skill and the beautiful art that results from the Zentangle method is definitely valuable, whether you are just starting out or you see your strokes becoming more deliberate and your flow becoming more relaxed.  But taking time to admire your inner happiness and calm when giving yourself permission to fully embrace time you spend being creative and focusing is equally important.

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You don’t need to create something new – just look around you at something you created last week, or long ago and take a moment to admire your work and effort.  Creativity isn’t limited to pen and paper, or canvas and ink. Perhaps it is a floral display or holiday arrangement.

deliberate – still – appreciate – quiet – focus – trust – deconstruct – beautiful – reflect – relax – discover – create – comfort – shade – breathe – inspire – be bold – embellish – savor – slow – calm – admire

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The Quiet Side

Exploring the unseen benefits of creative focus.

Slow Down :  moving, flowing, or proceeding without speed or at less than usual speed

Slow down is advice often given, but is difficult to actually do.  In this episode of Quiet Side, rather than spending a lot of time reading about why you should slow down, I wanted to offer a simple exercise to be done almost anywhere with just a paper and pen.

Need more practice? Our podcast TanglePod has several epsisodes about the benefits of slowing down, Breathing Life into Creativity and our premium episode Connect the Dots both have some additional exercises to help you spend some time with slowing down and focus.

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Pick up your pen and draw a line. If you have a tile, wonderful, if you have a sketch pad or notebook, use that.  If all you have handy is a note pad with your grocery list – flip that over and draw a line.  Perhaps you have a string in place, or a border so go from one side of the string to the other. If your paper is blank, simply draw a line. It doesn’t have to be a long line, maybe three or four inches.

Now a little distance from that line, draw another line parallel to the first. But draw this line at half the speed as the first one. That is right, slow it down. Maybe you need to count. One, two, three for the first line. Count to six for the second line. Take a nice deep breath.

Now you have two lines, add a third. And draw this one half as fast as the second. Yup, slow it down even more. Take a breath before you get started, and take another breath when you are finished.  Got the drill? Repeat this exercise each time slowing your line down. Taking a breath. Relax – there is no rush, there is no competition, and there is no goal.

Out of space? Rotate your paper and draw more lines, in the same fashion perpendicular to the others. You continue to do the exact same stroke and the rotation makes a grid. By rotating your paper you can just continue melting into the exercise, relaxing your mind, remembering to breathe and slowing down.

This is a gentle exercise to help center your breath and help you focus – repeat as often as necessary.

deliberate – still – appreciate – quiet – focus – trust – deconstruct – beautiful – reflect – relax – discover – create – comfort – shade – breathe – inspire – be bold – embellish – savor – slow – calm – admire

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The Quiet Side

Exploring the unseen benefits of creative focus.

Savor :  to have experience of

During the holidays we want to savor the season, or savor an expensive dinner out.  To really have the experience of something is to give it your full attention, all of your senses. How does it feel, taste, look, smell? What are the sounds rounding out your senses?

As we enter into the holiday season, calendars and budgets are squeezed. Without savoring our time in traditions they can feel like a chore.  Take a moment today, while the season is in full swing and think about the events ahead that you want to cherish and enjoy.

Regular practice of Zentangle can help your body remember to slow down and take a moment to savor.  We are regularly reminded to focus on a particular stroke while practicing Zentangle.  Like rushing through a meal leaves you unsatisfied – so does rushing through a tangle to try to get to the finished product.

Because the Zentangle Method results in a non-representational art work – you can follow the steps of the process even if you only draw straight lines, regularly revisiting the practice can be a reminder to take a little time to pay attention, focus and savor your moments.

As we enter into cozy months think about renewing your committment to spending some time each day allowing your creative energy to flow.

deliberate – still – appreciate – quiet – focus – trust – deconstruct – beautiful – reflect – relax – discover – create – comfort – shade – breathe – inspire – be bold – embellish – savor – slow – calm – admire

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The Quiet Side

Exploring the unseen benefits of creative focus.

Embellish :  to make beautiful with ornamentation

I don’t find it easy to embellish.  As a metaphor in life or in tangling, embellishing is an act that is an uncomfortable place for me, and so it is yet another thing I can do in my day to day tangling practice.

Perhaps if I practice adding a few extra swirls to a tile, or sparkling highlights or dew drops, I’ll think about wearing some sparkling jewelry, or a new color and take a break from my normal choices. Perhaps I’ll try dipping my toe into making a story a little more enchanting, adding some detail I might have left out for brevity.

Perhaps that little sparkle in my tile will make my eyes twinkle when I see it, and that twinkle will be contagious to the person in line behind me. And they will pass it on to someone they love.

It could be contagious, and it all starts with just trying a little teeny something new.

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Try a little embellishing in your tile this week – a few little tipples here and there, or accenting with a glitter pen.  Perhaps you have a sequin to glue onto the corner.

deliberate – still – appreciate – quiet – focus – trust – deconstruct – beautiful – reflect – relax – discover – create – comfort – shade – breathe – inspire – be bold – embellish – savor – slow – calm – admire

Sign up for my blog to allow yourself to get inspiration and some fun tangling exercises right to your inbox.