Mindfulness and Meditation — Self-Care and Being Digital in the Arts

copyright: Dorothée King

Do you also feel drained from all the input you are supposed to deliver, and all the output of others you consume? How does this affect your creativity? In this special time, do you also ask yourself how to deliver content, catch up with everyone, motivate, inspire, stay creative, stay on track, stimulate discussion, be high-level intellectually, and deliver artistic excellence? All at the same time?

This semester I am super happy to teach a graduate course called “Mindfulness and Meditation — Self-Care and Digital Teaching in the Arts.”

We study self-care methods. We learn ways to strengthen ourselves energetically. We identify the changes we individually want to see in this world. We grow digitally, but only in the direction we actually want to grow. We diminish the feeling of being drained. We enhance creativity. We focus on stimulating exchange.

I am excited to share the key points we identified:

1. Change your scenery

I know, traveling to Boa Boa is not an option currently. But we could work in the kitchen. We can take a bath at 10:20 on the morning. We can go for a walk… Get out of your seat and into the world.

2. Connect with your body

Your body is your vehicle to be in this world. Don’t treat yourself as if looking at a screen and swiping on your phone are the only possible activities. Listen to your body. Do a body scan. What does your body truly want? Good food, hugs, muscle building, luxurious massages?

3. Get Still

Meditate. No, you do not need a meditation app or to scroll through YouTube to find the perfect voice to sprinkle yourself with. Sit down. Set a timer. Calm down. Withdraw your senses from external stimulation. Focus on your breath. Repeat daily. Start with 5 minutes. Find yourself refreshed, with more focus and ability to make relaxed decisions.

4. Listen

Take your time to listen: Listen to your body, listen to your inner voice, listen to your loved ones, listen to your colleagues, listen to good music, listen to inspirational podcasts. You are the boss of you. You decide which voices to follow.

5. Follow your energy

Ask yourself in all your activities: Does it bring you energy? Or does it take energy away? Reduce all draining undertakings and focus on the things that give you joy, inspiration, and power.

6. Play

Do not underestimate the power of play. You don’t always have to subordinate your own actions to career moves or your own financial advantages. When was the last time you played just for fun?

7. Laugh

Imagine a world in which everyone focuses on quality of life instead of security and control (see Petra Bock’s coaching approach). Start today. Free yourself from pressure, comparisons, or rules. Live.

8. Connect

Connect with inspiring, nourishing beings. Connect with your body. Connect with places of power. Connect with your individual spiritual sources.

9. Make time for inspiration

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through demotivating news feeds? There are 8 billion people on earth. Follow inspiration sources. Read good books. Watch sophisticated movies. Visit museums, locally or digitally. Align yourself with joy, not energy suckers.

10. Have a goal

It is easy to push everything to the time after Covid–19. But why not use this time of rest for your own personal development? Prepare, train, align with your goals. Having ambitions fuels your whole being with more purpose.

Enjoy life. Thanks for reading.I am looking forward to your comments.