Thanks for sharing your success story with us. Like Davit, I wouldn't have predicted anything else. You are doing so well. How do you attribute your success?
Well I have said that would happen. That you would not even notice it was gone, it just would be. No fireworks hey, but so what. That is once. That is good, now don't concentrate on it, just let it happen. What a good feeling. Can't get much more normal than that.
Congratulations. You did it and didn't die. I like that too.
I love this thread that Ocean started.... I did it (and didn't die :P) .... so perfect! I have another instance where I did stuff I usually just avoid like the plague, but I did it and not only didn't die... I enjoyed myself. Unbelievable!
I met (in real life, at a restaurant) an old friend I haven't seen in quite awhile. I was calm and excited about going. I wasn't nervous about eating in public and really was able to just focus on her and enjoy the give and take of a real time conversation. I wasn't bothered... heck, I didn't even notice the myriad of things that used to make going out and meeting people so problematic. This is freedom! It was all so matter of fact, that I didn't even realize my success until I started filling out my mood tracker for the day. What a change!
Thanks for sharing, ~m. It sounds like you have learned somethings about yourself and your successes via your art. I have a friend who says "How you do something is how you do everything" and your story reminds me of that idea. You are not alone- we often want to achieve success right away. No one likes to feel incompotent, but it is just a fact of life that it does take time and practice to become good at most things! And clearly that is paying off for you. Good work all around!!
Thank you for the compliments and encouragement. Tangling is very therapeutic.... meditative. Juanita is right... it really is just doodling but while we were engaged in surviving our illness someone else came up with the clever name and copyrighted the process. LOL! Of course it isn't quite that simple but still....
The Zentangle process is helping me with the CBT process. In Zentangle the point is to break designs down to their smallest element... often only a dot or small stroke of pen. (Like breaking my goals down to the smallest step possible). Then you practice the individual steps over and over and over until it comes naturally. You put the steps together to make a design element. The individual elements look really simple... until you try to do it and then realize it takes care and patience to learn (just like those CBT goals). There are many examples of Zentangles on the internet and they are truly beautiful pieces of art.
In the beginning I was impatient for the final product (again, so like my approach to the CBT) and tried doing a whole tangled picture incorporating the different elements into it. Oh my! What a mess. Ugly. Infuriating. Had to calm down and take it one stroke at a time. I spend about an hour every evening practicing the different "official" tangles. I have tried copying a few tangles done by other people and the results were OK but not great and not me.
I hope this makes sense. To learn more just do an internet search and you can find really good explanations (and examples) of the process. Anyway, I guess the important point for me is that it has helped me to slow down and really take my time with each step (Zentangle & CBT) before I try putting it all together. Practice, practice, practice !!!
Your art is lovely! I hope you don't change it. It is worth showing off and being proud of! I'm glad you are feeling happy with it. Is it therapeutic for you to draw? I have never heard of Zentangle art- tell us more.
I love it.. the patterns are very attractive....the shapes really draw the eye...and you are too cool for school for resizing it!Wow! haha...You know, I've done Zentangle stuff forever, but I just called it doodling....very good job!
Today I posted my very first original Zentangle art. I'm so excited. Tomorrow I'll probably be embarrassed and tempted to change it, but today it feels really great. Plus, I figured out how to scan and resize and upload the darn thing. I'm too cool for school! LOL
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