As a child could you sit there for what seemed like hours colouring in? I know I could. I loved testing myself to see if I could be super careful and only colour within the lines. I loved getting colouring books and new colouring pencils so that I could while away the hours colouring. It’s a really happy memory for me from my childhood and one that I can go back to immediately. It causes me to smile at the way something so simple allowed me to feel so free and peaceful. Now they are my words as an adult because I know I wouldn’t have sat there thinking ‘oh this allows me to feel really free and peaceful’ as a
It’s a really happy memory for me from my childhood and one that I can go back to immediately. It causes me to smile at the way something so simple allowed me to feel so free and peaceful. Now they are my words as an adult because I know I wouldn’t have sat there thinking ‘oh this allows me to feel really free and peaceful’ as a 7-year-old.
Between the lines
So when I recently went off on my solo Moroccan retreat I took books to read, goal setting exercises to complete, a big notebook to write in, and wait for it…..an adult colouring in book. When I saw it sitting in WHSmith at Gatwick airport my eyes widened. It just so happened that a beautiful pack of 24 coloured pencils were sat next to it as if they were meant to be together. Well you couldn’t have one without the other could you? So I carefully and a little cautiously picked up the book and pencils and walked to the checkout. It was only afterwards that I noticed that my adult colouring in book had 50 Mandalas to help you de-stress….it was a sign! On further inspection, it said ‘colouring for mindfulness-zen’. Well, that was it, as soon as the plane took off I was ready with my new shiny pencils and my new book that was going to de-stress me- wonderful!
Attention to detail
As I began, carefully choosing the ‘right colour for the different patterns and areas of the page, I realised I had been transported back to my childhood. I felt calm and as thoughts entered my head, they left as quickly, as I brought the focus back to my Mandala and the care it needed for me to stay within the lines. Attention to detail.
Attention to detail….. This got me thinking…..Would you say you were more inclined initially to be ‘big picture’ or ‘drill down into the detail’? What’s your preference? We all have a preference. Often it’s a case of needing the top line and then the detail, for others it’s about the detail before they step up to the bigger picture. Neither is wrong, although it’s good to know where you might sit before you may want to potentially see where those key people around you, both in a work environment and also a personal one, sit. It can alter the way you communicate for a start. Have you actually ever asked how someone wants or likes to receive information? Maybe they just need the key points, the top line, the bigger picture. For others, they may want you to colour in between the lines whilst explaining the choices you have made with regards to the pencils. Neither is wrong, it’s about being flexible in your approach as the communicator. Understanding your audience (whoever they may be) and adapting the words you might use to deliver your message.
