Life dreams - heart desires (BLICK-11-EN)

Life dreams - heart desires

Individual work and partner exercise

• Writing pens, Writing paper, Colored pencils, Watercolors, Oil crayons, Felt-tip pens, Drawing sheets, Brushes in different strengths.
• Optional images from magazines that can be used for collages or incorporated into the painted image.
• Scissors, Glue.

The tables must be placed in the room so that each participant has enough space to work well.

15 minutes

To show oneself with one's own expression also needs a portion of courage and perhaps also some overcoming. Therefore, an appreciative and respectful climate is very important in this exercise. Trainers can create such a climate by explaining at the beginning of the exercise that evaluations, whether positive or negative, tend to stand in the way of an appreciative and respectful climate. Why? Because evaluations always depict a hierarchy and solidify it. The point of this exercise, however, is to create as wide a space as possible in which personal expression and creativity can unfold freely.

A vision is a positive dream of the future. For every person, the vision offers a long-term perspective for ideal development. At the same time, the vision is nothing rigid. It may also change over time. In counselling and therapy, problem-oriented considerations have often taken a back seat in favour of more solution-oriented perspectives.

In various forms of psychotherapy and guided meditations, inner images are predominantly used. In this process, inner images have both revealing qualities, in that they point to inner conflicts. But inner images also have, what is much more important in this context, a positive shaping power by representing visions of a better and healthier future.

• Heiko Ernst, Innenwelten, 2011, Klett-Cotta
• David Servan-Schreiber, Die Neue Medizin der Emotionen, 2006, Goldmann Verlag
• C. Simonton/S.M. Simonton/J. Creighton, Wieder gesund werden, 1982, Rowohlt Verlag

Through this method/action, these benefits are achieved:

• Think big! Dissolving the limitations of habitual thinking and viewing of reality.
• Creating awareness of the fact that we create reality with our imagination, our thoughts and our beliefs.
• Development of personal creative expression
• Strengthening the personality through the development of creativity
• Exploring new ways of self-expression and thus showing oneself in front of others as well
• Strengthening the personality

Step 1

The trainer explains that this is about entering a space of imagination and participants are not subject to any limitations in their imagination. Every creation begins with an imagination, a thought, a fantasy......

The real goals in life should be at least in the direction of dreams. Dreaming, then, not as an escape from reality, but as an alignment with what a person deeply desires in his heart. As a preliminary stage of realization.

Step 2

The participants are guided into a calm and relaxed state. Take a few deep breaths. Be completely present. After that we will go on a journey into another dimension, a time between lives. You can imagine it like sitting on a cloud and designing the next 3 lives there. The focus is not primarily on what do I want to have but on how do I want to feel, who do I want to be in these lives. What makes me happy?

• Which 3 lives do I want to create for myself, now that I have the choice?
• There are no limitations set for me
• I can create anything I deeply desire
• I do not have to orient myself to existing realities
• I am completely free

• What am I doing in these lives?
• Where am I located?
• Which people surround me and are with me?
• What is it about this life that makes me most happy ...?

The participants write down their 3 life plans on a sheet of paper. You may go into detail and describe these desired lives in detail.

Step 3

The participants look for a partner of their choice in order to exchange their ideas about the dream life. In doing so, they can deepen their understanding of what the essential "elements of happiness" are in these ideas. Each person is asked to define 3 of these elements and write them down on their sheets of paper.

(e.g. freedom, vastness, sensual experience, colorful life, abundance, being on an island, tranquility, ...)

Step 4

With their dreams and concepts, the participants now go to the painting materials - or notebooks, from which they can cut out pictures that fit their ideas.

A period of at least 1 hour follows, during which they can give shape to their fantasies and heart's desires. They are free to weave words and phrases into the resulting works as well.

Step 5

Now the works are presented and explained individually. Feedback can be obtained if desired. Each picture can also be an inspiration for the other participants. Mindful contemplation and resonance. The diversity of expression is to be appreciated in any case!

Step 6

Conclusion and integration with the following questions:

• What of all this do I already have in my current life?
• What small steps can I take to bring more of this into my life?Vf the line of my dream life?
• What could I change to allow more alignment of dream and life here?

Giving participants the opportunity to still express what they want to take away from this journey or what else they want to say.

Expressing gratitude to all participants for engaging in this exercise and let them travel on with best wishes for their life and the fulfilment of as many dreams as possible

Christine Kaufmann

www.christine-kaufmann-art.coms

Instagram: christine_kaufmann_art

Christine Kaufmann is a psychotherapist, coach and artist, trained in the method of movement analysis/dance therapy. She has been accompanying people to more clarity, presence and creative power for more than 30 years. Individual and group work. Cooperation with public institutions in the field of health, education and integration in Vienna. Further education for teachers and trainers in adult education.

The focus of her work is the use of creative media. People get in touch with themselves, their topics and potentials in a direct way and find their own ways and creative solutions for shaping their lives.

Intensive devotion to painting since 1998 with exhibitions in Austria and internationally.

Creative writing, Visual Arts, Performing Arts

English, German