Wheel of Emotions
Naming How We Feel
Welcome
Hello and welcome to Creativity for Caregivers. I’m glad you’re here. This is our very first edition of this newsletter. An amazing day! Thank you for joining us.
This is my family. My husband, Alper, is an engineer. I’m Emily Lupita, an artist & writer…now a full-time caregiver for our two sons with extraordinary needs. Charlie (left) is six years old and Archie is four. It’s great to meet you!
Check-In
It’s time for our check-in. Checking-in is a way of saying hello to the group, letting your voice be heard by everyone, and sharing how you are feeling. I’ll leave my check-in as a comment as well.
How are you doing today?
Let me know in the comments.
Even if you just want to raise your hand and say, “I’m here.” That’s okay, too. Do what feels best.
Wheel of Emotions
Today’s creative self-care activity is to make our own “Wheel of Emotions.”
Making our own wheel is important because it will help us understand that “words are containers for power” as this week’s wallpaper reminds us. By learning to name our emotions, we can become more aware of how we’re really feeling. And this will help us to take the self-care steps we need.
It’s perfectly okay to be feeling emotions in all areas of the color wheel. We can feel upset and optimistic. We can feel tired and excited. That’s why it’s a wheel and not a straight line.
The first image below is the original Wheel of Emotions first developed by author Dr. Gloria Willcox, and modified many times to fit different uses.
*Click the image to enlarge it.
Let’s use this black & white outline version of the wheel above. Grab a few colored pencils, your watercolors, some markers, highlighters…whatever you have within easy reach. Or use your phone / tablet and digitally color.
Color in the wheel however feels best
Notice the words as you color over them
Now go back and mark the words that most resonate with you - circle, underline, or color those words more intensely
Which words resonated the most with you? How did this activity make you feel? Share about your activity in the comments.
Lupita Artwork
This is the painting I made from today’s activity:
Lupita is leaning against the wheel of emotions and with the slightest move of her arm, she can spin the wheel either way. She’s standing firmly in place and controls the wheel with strength and confidence. She no longer allows others to spin the wheel on her behalf or without her permission. This wheel belongs to her now. And only her.
What I’m Reading & Watching
A few links to things that I’ve found helpful on my journey:
“Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch. I could listen a thousand times.
Carla Rockmore is basically a styling Goddess. I follow her and she brightens my day!
This video from Johns Hopkins, “What is a caregiver?”
Thank you! See you next time. And remember…
Blessings,
~Emily Lupita
Thanks for putting this all together!
Hello! <3 Checking-in this week. I've been feeling excited and a bit nervous about the launch of my newsletter. I'm excited to share my family with you and share some things that have helped me in my creative & caregiving journey. I'm nervous about the same things. Also, I'm delighted that Spring is making brief appearances now.