Adult Coloring Books: Giving you a 'child like' state of mind
(WEAR) - Laura Spragg is crazy busy, she's a nationally known podcaster, a work from home mom, and she homeschools. Her "Life in Purple" podcast producer wanted her to add coloring to her crammed calendar. At first, she revolted. She said, "She's like, Laura, you need to do this! And I'm like, why? I don't have time!'" But when challenged to do it for episode research, Laura relented. At first, she found the process tedious. Her producer, again, stepped in and told her, "Laura, you don't have to be perfect, this is just releasing." Laura said she's glad she got the coloring nudge. "I'm almost addicted to coloring because of the results and what's happening. My mind feels freer." The business woman and motivational speaker struggled with depression for many years and has ADD. She's worked through and around both, but she thinks coloring will help her maintain her self care, and keep her centered. When she settles in, Laura sings, hums and even prays out loud. She said, "When I start coloring, and talking to God and asking him to guide me." Psychologist Doctor Michael DeMaria has used art therapy thirty years. He is thrilled to see a form of it make it into the mainstream. "These adult coloring books help people come into the present moment. They literally tap into a different part of their brain which helps the entire body relax and in that way it's very self soothing," DeMaria said. DeMaria said they help us be child like, not childish, and there is a big difference. He adds coloring taps into our curiosity and imagination. He said that in a culture obsessed with fast technology, that's important. "There's a huge desire and need for people to be creative, to express themselves and again, it's simple, it's effective and it's fun," DeMaria said. For Laura, it's now a need. To force her to slow down, and find a flow. She's telling her thousands of listeners to find the time. She said, "Just five minutes a day, even. I would challenge, make the challenge for yourself to sit down, do it!"
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