Looking outwards

I've noticed since I've been working as an artist, and since I went into Lockdown along with the rest of the world four years ago, that I do a lot of looking inwards, and analysing how I'm feeling, and why I'm feeling things. I'm currently reading a book by a nature diarist who wrote everyday about the world around him, and one of the things that strikes me, is that when you read his words you find out very little about him personally, or how he's feelings. It's all observing the world around him and responding. Learning to live with anxiety over the last few years has meant that my daily diary writing is very inward looking, and I'm not sure that the endless ruminating is helping. There are some days when I just can't help it, but some days, when I feel better, I need to look out and up more, walk to the park, stare out of the window, notice things. I've tried it over the last few days, I've noticed the garden, or the way the light moves round the house. As long with much else I'm working on this year, I'm trying out new things to see what works, and what doesn't.

#anxietyrecovery #artandanxiety #mentalhealthjourney #sketchbooktherapy