🌸 Creative Self-Care
The Creative Self-Care series is a section of the Emily Lupita ❤️🔥 Creativity Series that features illustrated activities to promote creativity + wellness, plus provides links to three things I love online this week.
The Window of Tolerance
Today’s creative self-care activity is to make our own “Window of Tolerance” sketch. Here’s a little about the window of tolerance from PyschCentral:
This concept was developed by Dan Siegel, MD, and refers to the ideal emotional zone that a person needs for optimal functioning. If you’re within your optimal tolerance zone, you feel grounded and can manage your emotions effectively.
Above is a graph I made to show the window (optimal tolerance) and the two sides: hypo and hyper-arousal. On the HYPO side, emotions like depression & exhaustion can occur. While on the HYPER side, emotions like anxiety and agitation can occur.
Of course, it’s different for each person as we all have different types of windows of different widths. And we all have different emotions wrapped up in the ‘curtains’ on either side. The key is to know our window well and how to stay standing in front of it - in the light.
Let’s use this black & white blank version of the window and curtains above. Grab a few colored pencils, your watercolors, some markers, highlighters…whatever you have within easy reach. Or use your phone / tablet’s “mark up” to digitally color.
What colors are your window and two curtains?
Write the emotions you have during Hypo and Hyper-arousal…and what emotions are evident when you are standing within the window of tolerance.
Feel free to draw yourself, your activities, pets, hobbies…whatever feels best.
🎨 Here’s my sketch as an example.
☀️ Share your thoughts on this activity in the comments.
Lupita Artwork
This is the artwork I made from today’s activity:
Lupita stands in front of the Window of Tolerance. She sways from side-to-side from time-to-time, but ultimately knows the most beautiful place is there in front, in the light.
What I’m Reading & Watching
Damian Lewis performs the poem “Everything is Going to be All Right” by Derek Mahon. Damian’s wife passed away and this performance is part of her memorial. (Forward to 56:31 for this poem - it’s an hour-long video. Well worth watching all the way through if you have time.)
Fans of TWD may recognize this song from Season 10 - Episode 04 of the show. “Heaven I Know” by Gordi.
This “10 Tips for Family Caregivers” pamphlet from Caregiver Action Network:
Good journey,
❤️🔥Emily Lupita
✨Paid subscribers ($5) receive special artwork every month (printable greeting card, art print, and digital wallpaper) as an extra thank you for your support. ✨