Kindness Rocks: A Good Craft for A Rough Week

Holy Guacamole it’s been a tough week for good news! August has certainly brought forward the uglier side of life. But not here. Not at A Crafty Composition. In times like this I feel it is super important to look for the good in life . . . and sprinkle a little more of it where we can. I know, it’s hard to stay informed and not let the sadness of tragedy get ahold of you. But, we are all better people when we focus on the good in the world. When we focus on the positive – on kindness, everything else in our lives benefits from it.

“We are shaped by our thoughts. We become what we think . . . ” ~ Buddha

My Not-So-Dirty Little Secret

I’d like to share something with you. I may talk the positivity talk but I don’t always walk the walk. You see, I suffer from anxiety. I have since I was thirty when, out of the blue, I experienced my first panic attack. Heart racing, skin crawling, pacing, crying . . . full-blown, think ‘I’m going to die’ panic attack. I was in the middle of a 200+ student auditorium at ASU at the time – so that was fun. Over the years, I’ve managed to get my anxiety under control and I’ve learned two distinct facts about it. First, anxiety SUCKS – but you CAN manage it. Second, negativity ALWAYS makes anxiety worse.

Unfortunately, I’m not always as clear-minded and disciplined as Buddha. When incomprehensible tragedy happens, I tend to latch on. I listen to the reports, ruminate over the facts and scour my brain for solutions – that I have no way of implementing. Yes, I know I should meditate but I can’t shut my mind up. I also know I should exercise but. . . it’s exercise – and sweat. So, without an outlet, my anxiety increases.

My mood suffers as I lose sleep. My body is tense, my jaw clenched and without realizing it, I hold my breath. Most significantly, I waste my time and energy on the negative event; like a hamster on her wheel running nowhere. It’s not good for me and it’s not good for those around me.

So What’s MY Solution?

I say, “My Solution” because I believe solutions to anxiety are very individual. That said, sometimes hearing what worked for one person can help another.

So, the first thing I do and I do it everyday, . . . is take drugs; prescription drugs – or one prescription drug to be more exact. I also follow an herbal supplement regiment to lower my cortisol and take hemp oil.

Secondly, I shut down my access to the negative information. I avoid the news for a week. I don’t click on those enticing little ‘news’ boxes popping up on my computer’s home page and I don’t read the paper. Sometimes, ignorance IS bliss – or at least a method of self-preservation.

Finally, I fill my spare time with an easy and mindful craft. What’s a mindful craft? Something like coloring or painting – an activity so simple you did it as a child. For the past year or so, my go-to mindful craft has been rock painting. In it’s simplest form, it’s just a rock and some paint.

My favorite anxiety-reducing pattern is a random grid; sectioning off one bit of the rock after another, coloring in the spaces. It so satisfying!Sometimes I listen to music. Other times, it’s completely silent and I just get lost in the simple process of painting a rock.

What Do You Do With All Those Rocks?

So, if you haven’t been reading A Crafty Composition for long, you might be wondering what I do with all these painted rocks. Well, the wonderful thing about painting rocks is that you get the personal benefit of a mindful craft plus the perk of hiding it for a perfect stranger to discover. It’s like a two-fer (and y’all know how much I love those)!

There’s actually several rock painting groups around the globe and many of them were started thanks to The Kindness Rocks Project. It’s all pretty cool – and fun – and therapeutic! Read about The Kindness Rocks Project HERE and about my first experience rock painting HERE.

Kindness Rocks – A Good Solution to a Crappy News Week

Let’s face it, the news over the past two weeks has been anything but positive. As Buddha’s quote says though, if we let our minds dwell in a negative space, our bodies, feelings and actions will follow. This week, my focus is on looking towards the good in the world and hopefully, these kindness rocks will help others hear that message too.

Hugs and Happy Crafting, JoElle

Do You Want To Paint These “See The GOOD” Rocks?

I’ve put together a full tracing template with general directions and even positive quote labels for the back of your rocks. It’s FREE, FREE, FREE! So, click the button below and go paint a rock . . . and maybe take a break from the news for awhile.

More Rock Painting Tutorials from A Crafty Composition

Go Paint A Rock!

Trace & Transfer: A Simple Technique with Endless Applications

Rock Painting Sunsets and Silhouettes

Creative Pen Alternatives for Rock Painting

Three Easy Steps to Creating Gorgeous Art Rocks

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I hope you already have some ways to focus on the good in life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the latest events in the news, please reach out – to a friend, a doctor or a family member. Sometimes simply vocalizing your fears and frustrations is all you need. If it turns out you need more than that – reaching out is the first step to getting back in control. Most importantly – don’t be embarrassed. You are not alone!

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