Crafts That Activate Your Emotions

Things you do with your hands have a direct and immediate effect on your brain. Quite a few therapies use manual work as a way to channel problematic emotions and feelings. And they don’t do this for nothing. It is a fact that handicrafts help us to allow more positive thoughts and attitudes.

Here’s a list of crafts you could turn to if something in your life isn’t quite right. Each and every one of them is a great and simple form of therapy. Through these crafts you will be able to change the way you view the situation that is frightening to you.

1. Lines Against Anger

At times when you are angry, there is nothing better than drawing straight lines. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal. For every detail that goes through your mind that provokes anger, draw a line. You will see how powerful the result of this can be.

2. Spirals to Continue

Draw spirals to overcome the feeling of being stuck and to make short work of the idea that there is no way out, no clear path to follow. Use different colors and draw one spiral over the other without thinking too much about it. Just let the spirals flow out of you…

3. Tear up your indignation

Sometimes the anger runs very deep, especially if you have been wronged a lot or if you feel indignant about some concrete fact. To get rid of this feeling of indignation, the ideal is to take a sheet of paper and tear it into small pieces. As small as can be. You will see that this will make you feel better.

4. Draw grids to activate your concentration

If you feel distracted and unfocused, but would like to focus on a certain goal so that you can achieve it, you can activate your concentration by drawing grids as perfect as you can. Another option is to draw concentric circles, such as the circles on a target disk. Try to work in as much detail as possible and you will see how your willpower will strengthen.

5. Brighten yourself up with landscapes

If you feel depressed and experience a lack of energy, you can activate your vitality by drawing colorful landscapes. Don’t worry if the shapes aren’t perfect. Instead, focus on using many different shades to convey nature as beautifully as possible on paper. It doesn’t matter what kind of landscape you choose.

6. Self-portraits against confusion

Sometimes you don’t know why you are upset, sad or angry. You also don’t know if you’re behaving the right way or not. In these moments of confusion, when you can’t seem to pinpoint exactly what you’re feeling, it’s ideal to draw a self-portrait.

Stand in front of a mirror and try to really look at the expression in your eyes, on your mouth and forehead. Try to convey this expression in your drawing. This exercise promotes your self-image. Taking self-portraits helps us to gain knowledge about how we see ourselves.

7. Overcome your uncertainty with collages

As in the previous case, you sometimes realize that you feel confused, not about your feelings, but especially about your wishes. You face a dilemma and you don’t know which way to go. The confusion and uncertainty engulfs you…

In these moments of indecision, collages are a great tool. Grab some magazines and old newspapers and make a collage on a piece of cardboard or other strong paper. Don’t think too much about the composition. Do it almost automatically. The collage itself will give you clues as to what decision to make.

8. Reproduce to deal with disappointment

There are times of disenchantment or disappointment when handicrafts can be extremely helpful to you. If you experience disappointment, pick a well-known painting that you like and try to imitate it by drawing it on paper. This will help you redirect your emotions.

9. Waves and Circles for Seemingly Unsolvable Problems

If you have a problem that doesn’t seem to have a solution, grab a sheet of paper and start drawing waves and/or circles in different colors. Let them vary in size. Try to draw each figure in one smooth motion and preferably use cool colors. Repeat this process until light begins to shine at the end of the tunnel. Believe me, this will happen.

10. Mandalas for Better Understanding

No matter how hard you try, some things you can’t understand. Whether it’s the way you have to perform a certain task, a certain text or someone else’s behavior. Drawing mandalas or shapes full of arabesques will help you open up to insight and understanding. Take your time, strive for relaxation and rest.

11. Rag Dolls Against Fear

Have we not all felt overcome by a fear that drove us to despair? There are many situations that can cause this annoying feeling of fear that nothing seems to go away.

When you’re feeling anxious, the best thing you can do is make a rag doll. The size doesn’t matter. The doll just has to be finished: with a head, body and limbs. Give the doll the shape you want and come up with an expression for the face. This type of craft will give you the peace of mind you need.

12. Confront Fear by Knitting

Are you afraid? Then it’s time to knit. You read that right, knitting. It doesn’t matter which method you use: it can also be crochet, knitting with two needles, macramé, hand knitting or any other technique. Knitting is a very old activity, which also strengthens confidence in your own skills. Knitting, like life, is about joining different threads together until something new is formed.