Scribbling? Yes, scribbling. Give any young child a pen/crayon/pencil and they instinctively and unselfconsciously begin to make marks. They scribble. My three tips for dealing with Stress and Anxiety on — or off — the job are: Scribble, Scribble, Scribble! As an arts-based therapist I know the power of using our hands and materials to move difficult feelings out of the body and onto a piece of paper where we can see them objectively and have choice about what to do with them. The method is quite simple: take any piece of paper (this includes the back of an envelope) and a pen, pencil or crayon. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to feel where and how you experience the stress/anxiety in your body. Then scribble like the house is on fire, while breathing deeply. Stop when you’re scribbled out. When you are done take a deep breath and leave your tension on the paper. Scribbling is a great way to vent fears, anxieties, anger and frustrations. If you are still feeling pent up emotion, tear your paper into little bits. Discard these bits while saying an affirmation such as: I let go of (name the difficulty) now. As we embark on this journey together, it’s essential to remember that the path to creative freedom is often filled with twists, turns, and unexpected pauses. By reconnecting with that instinctive joy of scribbling, we can begin to peel away the layers of self-doubt and perfectionism that have wrapped around our creative spirits. Each mark we make is a step toward reclaiming our authentic selves and rediscovering the boundless possibilities of expression. Together, let’s embrace the messiness of creativity and allow our inner artists to flourish once more. The adventure is just beginning, and I’m thrilled to share it with you.