Get ready to learn some creative ways to help you find calm, take better care of yourself, and do more of what matters. Hi there! I’m Agnes de Bezenac, an artist and author from France.I’m so enthusiastic about self-care, and Im passionate about art, and that’s why I love mixing the two together in some way. In this course Id like to share with you a few of my self-care techniques and habits, expressed through art, more specifically through putting art together in some mindful, inspired way to create meaningful craft pages. Self-care is such a broad topic, so I find it helpful to separate them into different categories, for future growth and progress. Here are the specific topics or aspects of self-care that we will cover in this course: PracticalPhysicalSocialProfessionalHere are some of the things we will cover in this course, specific to creating these beautiful craft pages: Benefits of combining art with self-careFind inspiration for choosing your picturesNotice on what is personal and right for youCreate cut-out letter titlesInclude lots of space for journal promptsAdd beautiful final touchesQuestions for personal reflection timeExamples of activities, habits or rituals related to self-careHow to grow and practice in your self-careLearn to question yourself, for your well-beingHow to use and refer back to these pagesMaterials needed: craft bookwhite paperletter cut-outslined papercut out magazinescraft decors (if you want)stickers (if you want)gluescissorspaper fastenerblack pen or markerwhite gel pentapecutter and metal rulerattached print-outs (if you want)Some of the benefits to using art and a creative project like this for our self-care: For me, art and creativity makes me happy. It’s my joy and passion. I get a sort of high from it. It uses that side of the brain that is more attuned and sensitive. Im paying attention to my physical needs and my emotional needs at the same timeI use my creativity to facilitate soul searching and bring to light unconscious thoughts. Any sort of art form allows me to express what I have a difficult time putting into words. It works as a memory builder. Whatever I take time to do and create, it has a greater effect and meaning for me. Becomes like a concrete manifestation of my imagination and thoughts. Subconsciously works towards my good.I have a beautiful work of art that I feel proud of and can refer back to it as often as I need. Helps grow my confidence as I see all what I’m doing to better my self care. Encourages me to take time for me with no other distractions. I can’t very well multitask at the same time. Its concentrated me time. It helps me realize that Im important, Im of value and I deserve this time. Im able to reflect and ask myself about so many questions that I never took the time for before.I feel Im learning more about myself as I do these pages.I realize that creative is not so much about the end result but about the listening during the process. It feels like play, but at the same time Im equipping myself with an amazing gift, not just for now but to use and be reminded of for as long as I need it. When I feel a low of inspiration, when I need a little pause to reflect, when I feel like I could use a boost of joy, peace or calm, I go to my craft book. I open a random page and I reflect and focus on it. The more detail, the more sensory play, the more I love it and the more it helps me connect within. It brings up memories of how I made it past a stressful situation or difficult moment and it just suddenly builds me up in confidence and courage for what Im going through today.I feel proud and satisfied with beautiful creative artsy work.I allow it to bring me so much depth and wisdom as I relate it to my situation now.I can continue to add little notes to personalize it to what I’m going through right now, today. There’s room for evolving with how I’m changing and growing and what I need at the moment. What I love most about these craft pages is that I have a way to connect with my teen daughter. This is an outlet that we both can enjoy and have fun with together as we grow and progress in our self-care. Its a wonderful, meaningful experience you can share simultaneously. Youre equipping her with a self-care tool kit she can continue to use for life. An outlet for the pains, fears, humiliations, challenges, or disappointments. It helps us to check within, for the strength, wisdom, grace and joy to journey on. Why do I feel that self-care so important?Well, I didnt do too good with it in younger years, sad to say. I had some big issues to deal with in my personal life, as a kid, a teen and a grown adult. And most of my growing up years, I didn’t know how to express any of it. When I tried, it didn’t come out right and I got shut down, which closed me up even more. Thus came some sad results in the form of an eating disorder that lasted for many difficult years, which has affected my health in many ways. Only now do I see the pain and heartbreak that it cost me, when I only needed some outlet, some way to get out my
