Doodle June: A Daily Drawing Challenge
As I have mentioned and discussed before, I have always engaged in and loved the art-making process. From a young age, creating was my outlet, my safe space and my perfect opportunity to play and explore in a safe and supportive way. Yet, there was one thing that I never “felt good” at or enjoyed and that was drawing.
Let’s Talk About Drawing
To me, drawing has always appeared as a skill people are either born with or acquire. In my mind, drawing requires precision and observation in a way that is very different from painting, crafting or even ceramics. All things that I just did not feel that I ever had or was developing. No matter how many classes I took, over how many years or teachers, I used to always beat myself up over not being able to do it well.
While there are many talented drawers out there, I have found in my work as a therapist that people often struggle with accepting their drawing “skills” (or lack thereof). This experience of feeling or deeming ourselves “bad” at it often stops us from even trying or seeing the other possible benefits it may have.
Benefits of Drawing and Doing Hard Things
Aside from making something that can look nice, drawing has many different benefits. Some of these include: emotion regulation through the repetitive strokes, increases mindfulness in the focus required to draw, improves focus and attention, externalizes your inner experience, enhances problem solving, boosts observation skills and so much more.
You may read this and think to yourself, “yeah, sure it does that - only if you are good.”
But let’s look at and think of the benefits of doing things even when it feels hard or “not good.” Doing hard things can help build self efficacy, increases resilience and distress tolerance, strengthens emotional flexibility, rewires limiting beliefs, can increase your sense of self and so much more.
So why not put the two together?
The Idea Behind Doodle June
In spending time (maybe more than I should) on Pinterest, I found myself drawn to the art that included drawing: some were with oil pastels and some more simple line drawings using pen. Being someone who has always had more of an interest in abstract art this was something new for me. I found myself admiring drawings more and more even in real life and on other social media platforms.
But, the thought that always came to mind was some variation of “I wish I could do that but I'm not good at drawing.” After saying it a couple of times to myself (and noticing) I asked myself “wait, why don’t I even try.”
And that is where the idea for Doodle June came to mind.
Intentions for Doodle June
A personal challenge (meaning you aren’t comparing yourself to or against anyone) to hold accountability and intentionality to engage in the drawing process daily. Whether that is a 5 minute, simple doodle or a 50 minute, more elaborate process - just taking the time every day to try something that maybe feels challenging. Some days it may mean drawing an object in front of me, others it may be in response to a prompt or even trying a tutorial or a picture of a drawing I see online. The content doesn’t matter as much as the experience. Simple materials or whatever I am feeling drawn to use that day. The only requirement is a blank page journal dedicated just for this.
One of the main intentions of this challenge is to show myself (and yourself if you decide to join) that we can do uncomfortable and hard things. Not necessarily with the intention to “get better” but to tap into a sense of play, to notice the feelings, to increase resilience and tolerance for discomfort and to give ourselves permission when we maybe haven’t in the past.
If you want to join me or just follow along on the journey I will be documenting it all on my instagram - a place for accountability, ideas and motivation. All you need is your journal and some drawing materials and starting Monday, June 1st we will begin the Doodle June Challenge.
