Use creative writing and art to express your feelings without the need for face-to-face interaction to explore and manage a dispute or upset in an important relationship.
What you’ll need: Paper or card, scissors, glue and pens
What’s it for?
This activity explores self-discovery by reflecting on 'what we might say to someone if we are unable or unwilling to do it face to face'. Providing room and distance between the person and the problem can enable perspective and reflection time.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Have you ever been so upset and angry towards a friend, peer or family member that you have found it hard to know what to say or do?
Perhaps you have responded inappropriately in the heat of the moment and this has only created negative feelings in the relationship?
Instead of allowing ill feeling or upset, how about using this creative activity as a way of sharing your feelings through words, images and art to allow yourself a 'cooling off period' and a clearer perspective of the situation
Either use a blank postcard or create your own by cutting out a large rectangular shape of paper and then backing this on cardboard so it is more stable
Leave one side blank for drawing on and the other side can be lined for writing
Reflect on a person or situation where you feel or felt angry, upset, disappointed, frustrated or sad
Now spend a few minutes thinking about what happened, how it feels or felt and what you would like the person or situation to know in relation to your experience and emotional responses
On the blank side of the postcard, create a visual representation of how you feel or felt about this moment. If you want you can be as free as you want to be by using your imagination and making full use of colours and the space on the page
On the lined side of the postcard, try to put into words what you might like to say to the person or how you might confront the challenging situation
If it is difficult to write in sentences about how you feel or felt, perhaps you can put a few key words down first then build these into fuller written expression
Once you have finished your postcard, then look at both the picture side and writing to explore your emotions further
How does it feel now you can see an image and words relating to the challenging situation or person?
Now spend some time thinking about how you can begin to work towards a resolution
Extra Activity: If you have more to share and express this could be elaborated and developed into a story or diary entry focusing on the themes that have been brought up in this Postcard Resolution activity
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
Did you feel more comfortable sharing your emotions by putting them down in words or drawings?
Do you think the two complimented each other towards the resolution?
How did it feel to reflect on the person or situation that upset or frustrated you?
Did you find it easy or challenging to come up with a resolution?
Do you think that this activity might help with further confrontations in regards to a person or situation?
Conclusion:
This activity provides an opportunity to express feelings in 2 types of creative art forms that can come together to compliment each other towards finding a resolution to difficult life situations and experiences.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising? What can you take away to make you feel better about yourself from this activity?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Sarah Kong © April 2021
Creative Arts Used: Art and Creative Writing
Psychological Areas Explored: Anger, Resilience, Relationships, Emotional Wellbeing and Self-Esteem
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These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
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