How To Become Authentic Through Arts

How authentic are you? Is anything holding you back from expressing your true self

I’ve been living for a very long time in a box that was filled with my family, friends, boss, boyfriends, and some other people’s versions of myself.
Over the years a very tiny piece of me left, that was mine. I needed lots of therapy and online lessons to extract what I do have now. I’m not authentic around everyone all of the time (I don’t know if this is even realistic). I do recognize the pattern though and know when I’m not my true self.

I can help you a little to become more authentic through the arts.
I did this exercise in my healing journey too.

You can create three pieces of art in this exercise. It can be a drawing, a painting, a collage, writing… I will leave the technique completely to you as long as it involves a piece of paper and something that allows you to express yourself on this paper.

If you’re familiar with mindfulness and mindful breathing, you can use this during this exercise.

1. In the first work, I’m inviting you to create your essence.
   Close your eyes and try to imagine yourself being connected to your heart. What comes to your mind? Any thoughts, shapes, feelings?
   Whatever you see is ok, it doesn’t even have to make any sense. Now try to put this picture on a piece of paper.
2. In the second one imagine what is keeping you from expressing and living your true self. What are the obstacles that come up for you? Put your vision on the paper.
3. In the third, imagine what you need to heal. Then move this vision on the paper.

Everything you do is right, whatever you draw or create is ok.

I hope it will work for you too. I was following the steps from Healing with the Arts course.

Feel free to share your experience with this exercise or something similar if you have already done this. Was it helpful? What else helps you to be more authentic?