By Dannah Gresh, Founder of True Girl
Coloring isn't just for pre-schoolers anymore! From grocery stores to amazon.com, these books seem to be everywhere. And for good reason! They don't just give you something creative to do. The meditative act of coloring a page creates a sense of inner peace. And that's something many tween girls (and their moms) are looking for in these anxious days.
And yes, there's research to prove it works. One study revealed that cancer patients experienced less stress, anxiety, and addiction when they supplemented treatment with art therapy. Another indicated that coloring complex patterns reduced stress for students.
Here are three reasons coloring is so calming:
- It takes your focus off yourself! Whew! In our self-esteem-obsessed culture, it sure is easy to think of yourself too often. You don't think less of yourself, but you do think of yourself less often while you're tapping into your inner artist! Since so many tween girls find that self-consciousness is at the root of their anxiety, this is one practical way to find relief.
- It's a low-stakes way to be artistic! No one will care if you color outside the lines or wish you'd used a different color. Because coloring is a low cost way to express yourself, you can always start over on another page. There's a lesson in that! And one that could actually help you and your daughter process mistakes of a bigger kind, whatever they may be.
- It's an opportunity to put your focus on God's Truth. With many coloring books that offer Bible verses or biblical concepts on their pages, you can turn your heart to Scripture memorization or simple meditation on Truth. This will pack the power punch of taking your focus off yourself and putting it where it should be: God!
Coloring is not a fool-proof method of mindfulness and stress reduction, but it does work for lots of people. If your daughter is struggling with anxiety, it's worth a try. That's one reason I created a boxed book set for moms+daughters to explore the topic of beauty. (It's an area where lots of us experience anxiety!) True Girl: Discover the Secrets of True Beauty is a boxed set that includes True Girl Mom-Daughter Devos and True Girl. Together you can cement the truths of that book and provide an opportunity for your to talk through the topic of beauty with your daughter. It’s not just a box of books, but a connecting experience for mothers+daughters through weekly coloring meditations. Together you’ll go on a journey to meet with your Creator and learn to see yourselves through His eyes.
Use the coupon code truebeauty to save 10%.
(Offer good through 10.31.22)
My past twenty years of studying at-risk teen and tween behavior has over and over again led me to good news: girls who are exposed to an age-appropriate, Bible-based understanding of beauty and fashion between the ages of 8-12 tend to be less likely to engage in early sexual activity or have body image issues. They are also more likely to have healthy friendships, excel academically, and become positive social contributors in their communities, all while expressing their beauty and value appropriately.
It’s not rocket science. It is social science paired with a whole lot of prayer and Bible study. We can change what tween girls see when they look in the mirror by changing what’s inside their hearts.
This is the heart behind True Girl: Discover the Secrets of True Beauty!
Our True Girl theme verse:
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32
Mom, the best way to teach your daughter to live like an authentic True Girl is to live like an authentic True Woman. And to do that, you've got to get your life lined up with the Truth of the Bible. Listen to Dannah Gresh every weekday on Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth's Revive Our Hearts podcast. The program features biblical teaching, interviews that offer godly advice, and other opportunities to abide in God's Word.
TRUE GIRL IS A MINISTRY OF PURE FREEDOM, A NON-PROFIT 501C3 THAT RELIES ON DONATIONS FROM FRIENDS LIKE YOU.
