Happy May, my kaind friends!

How are you holding up this year? When I said, “I wish I could stay home forever,” this isn’t what I meant lol. What’s one word to describe your sanity?

May: The Month of Mindfulness

My process goes as follows: my excitement builds up, I go full force into creative ideas, kicking off projects in superfocus only to burn out shortly after—it’s either do it all or burnout, pretty much. Does that sound familiar? If so, I’m with ya!

My intention this month is to NOT burn out again. So I’m focusing on Mindful Growth for May—I’m letting the universe know that I’m fostering my creative flow :) Last month, I felt like I failed myself. I hadn’t drawn or painted anything, and well… doubt crept in.

Simple Ways to Practice Mindfulness

Let’s practice Mindful Growth. Let’s ease off the pressure from social media and ease into an inspired, conscious state of creativity—whatever “creativity” means to you. Let’s focus our intentions on our personal growth. Let’s celebrate our little wins and set ourselves up for success by getting 7-8 hours of sleep 🤗 lol.  

Some of my Favorite Tools to Start Off With

On the topic of mindfulness, I want to share a couple of my favorite art supplies that help me slow down. Can you guess what they are before reading on? 

If you’ve been a fellow supporter for some time you wouldn’t be surprised to know that my go-to medium is gouache. Especially when I want to work slowly and without a plan in mind, gouache gives me room to be dreamy. 

Another one of my favorites is the Micron pen—the 01 to be exact. I love to doodle and fill the page with stream-of-consciousness doodles. It’s good practice to get more confident with your lines.

Art is a Practice in Mindfulness

Art is a natural way to practice mindfulness. The steadiness of our breath, the conscious direction of our motions, and the overall sounds of creating pull us into the moment. It allows us to be one with the work. To focus on the process rather than the outcome. 

Don’t Overthink It

I’m not saying it’s easy at all. To slow down our busy lives is something we need to learn again and again. It takes conscious energy and checking in with yourself consistently. You deserve to take a deep breath and be present rather than go on autopilot. What I’m really driving at, is that when you become more aware of your presence, your purpose, your thoughts, you are taking steps to change the course of your mental health—for the better.

Conclusion

May is the month for Mindful Growth. Give yourself a few minutes every day to pay attention to what's going inside your head. Do a quick scan of your mind and body to acknowledge how it feels. And create from the heart with tools that help you actively dream. You deserve to experience life. To breath it in. Instead of operating in autopilot.

Every day is your opportunity to build more mental muscle and mindful awareness. Simple, short exercises —like taking a breather—performed consistently over time will help you build mental strength.

Smile more often and see ya in the next one,
— Kai