Giving Color and Shape to Your Emotions

Giving color and shape to your emotions can be a great first step in exploring your inner language of imagery. Consider doing this relaxing and enjoyable exercise to get you started:

Step 1: Write down the below nine emotions at intervals along the left margin of a piece of paper; you can use either a piece of white drawing paper in the size of your choice or 8 ½ “ x 11 “ white multipurpose paper. Crayons are the preferred coloring implement for this activity.

• Happy
• Sad
• Angry
• Afraid
• Playful
• Loving
• Confused
• Depressed
• Peaceful

Step 2: Starting at the top of the list, say to yourself: “The color and shape of ___________ is.” Allow yourself several moments to slowly breathe in and out as you consider this statement. Your color and shape of happy might be anything representational or non-representational - a green sun,  blue wavy lines, a sky blue heart with fluffy white clouds etc.; your inner language of imagery is unique to you - there is no wrong way to do this. Whatever color you are most drawn to when asking this question can be an indication of the color to be used; with that color draw whatever shape most represents for you the shape of the emotion you are trying to express. Continue to do this until you have gone through the list of nine emotions.

This activity can be done in a group or with children. Sharing the finished results of your exercise can help reiterate the individual nature of your inner language of imagery, providing a greater sense of appreciation of your own color and image vocabulary and that of others.