Day Nineteen
Theme: The Color of Emotions
Today is about Emotions. First, what is an emotion? An emotion can be described as a feeling. Feelings such as: happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust come and go throughout our days. Emotions are a normal part of life. We show our emotions by our facial expressions and our actions. Can you make different faces to show different emotions? Take a look in the mirror and try it. What does a happy face look like? How about sadness or surprise? We learn how to help one another by reading emotions. If you see a friend who is sad, what might you do?
We have changes in our body when we experience emotions. How do you feel when experiencing anger? Where in your body do you feel it?
There are many other emotions like anxiety, boredom, calmness, confusion excitement, fear, guilt, joy, pride, relief, and sympathy that may show up throughout our days. Can you think of other emotions?
Activity: Today you will work with colors. Watercolor paints or tempera paint work well. This activity asks you to feel colors and paint them. Choose three emotions that you feel often. You can also give shapes and shadows to your emotion paintings. This activity works well if you play music while painting.
Look at the Marc Chagall painting below. His use of colors created feelings and emotions in his paintings. How does the painting make you feel?
Warm colors can evoke different emotions than cool colors, and bright colors
can create different feelings than muted colors. Every color creates different emotions and feelings. Colors can make us feel happy or sad, and they can make us feel hungry or relaxed.
You can also create a Feelings Journal. You will need a small journal and colored pencils. Every time you feel a different emotion, you can take a color and draw that color only. This journal allows you to see what emotions you have more often. There are many ways to manage your emotions. Art, music, dance and writing are a few ways to express your feelings.
Here is a quote from Thich Nat Han.
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
Now that you have learned breathing methods, know that your breath can help your feelings. The quote also reminds me that no matter how uncomfortable the feelings I may have at certain times, they come and go. I hope this helps you too!
Gratitude: I'm grateful to have food and shelter. What are you thankful for today?