2017-286: Stress – Day 1 – Mandala of the Day

I’m needing to be up close and personal with stress. So I started a Doodle Mandala to look into it and how it plays out in my life.

My progress today:

Stress Mandala - Doodle Mandala - Overwhelm

1 – I start with a blank circle

2 – connected with “stress” and doodled

3 – add green with a shading in some sections

4 – add purple with shading in some sections

5 – add “straw” color with shading in some sections

The effects of chronic, long-term stress is currently presenting itself directly to me front-and-center. I realize that most of the time my body is tense, in a constant flight-or-flight state. It seems a paradox for me since what I do and promote is suppose to be all about relaxation and meditation. I’m also feeling a major twinge of embarrassment in that I’m struggling with the very thing I “preach” to others. Actually while meditating I do feel calm and centered. Yet afterwards I jump right into action/stress mode.

This mandala is all about me looking in the mirror. Interestingly enough, as I’m writing this blog post, I’m also listening to a CreativeLive.com class about stress. The instructor, Cynthia Ackrill, decided to start a guided visualization just now. So I stopped writing and followed along. As part of it, I realized that what I value is peace, joy, and expansion. What I’ve been creating for myself is stress, more stress, and anxiety in my quest for peace, joy, and expansion.

When looking at this from observer mode, it’s quite fascinating to me. And I realize that I could do a whole big exploration as to where it came from and why I do it. Yet, from yesterday’s Mandala of the Day, Neural Pathways, I know that all I need do is create new Neural Pathways that incorporate mindfulness into my daily life.

As I progress through this mandala, I’m eager to explore this topic deeper so I can gain a greater understanding of how best to be more mindful and truly at peace, in joy, and ever expanding.