Inspirit Garden
Through journaling, your heart and creativity, grow & live an inspired life….
Words Matter, so now what?
It all begins with a single word. Maybe you want to connect with someone. Maybe you want inspiration for a journal entry and are doing some personal reflection. Maybe you’re seeking a creative outlet, and the relaxation coloring provides. Whatever it is, heart seeds can help in a variety of ways. If you haven’t already, sign up with your email to get your free digital downloadable pdf heart seed packet and our newsletter.
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
―Stephen R. Covey
Connection with your own heart.
There is something special that happens when we select a heart seed word. There is a flow, a trusting something bigger than ourselves, and a moment of presence. On my desk is a container filled with heart-seed words that I colored and cut. Each day I start by closing my eyes, taking a few long breaths, and asking what word do I need today? For some, it’s a word for the week. I pull a word out, sometimes I giggle and think ‘but of course’ and sometimes it’s not until tomorrow that I understand just how perfect that word for me was. I write the word on my calendar and in my journal.
Connecting with each other.
Heart-seed words are a way for the whole family to connect. Pick a word and ask “What does this word mean to you.” A child might say “I don’t know” which is an opportunity to say, “it’s ok if you don’t know the definition, we can look that up, but what does the word mean to you.” Understanding what children think a word means is helpful in understanding them.
Cultivate empathy.
“Empathy grows as we learn.” – Alice Miller.
Pick a word and ask “How does this word make you feel?” It is interesting and insightful how each person has a different response and reaction to the way different words make us feel. For example; while the word ADVENTURE might conjure up an image of fun travel for someone, another person might hear adventure and feel anxiety
Get creative.
There isn’t one perfect way to color your heart-seed words. In the picture we used ARTEZA water-based blendable TwiMarkers, printed on 110lb cardstock paper. My preference is using cardstock paper to print and color the heart-seed words.
“Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.” —Bruce Garrabrandt
I like cardstock for its durability, watercolor is one of my preferred modalities and I enjoy using several brands, and long before being an ARTEZA affiliate, I have used their products. I am particularly fond of the pens mentioned for coloring and journaling as well as their real brush pens and watercolor colored pencils.
Heads up: Some of my posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission, which helps offset costs. Thank you!