Drawing Hope: How Creativity Unlocks New Solutions

This month, I want to share something a little different with you. Now, don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this exercise—it holds the potential for some truly great insights. We all know that when life gets overwhelming, it can be hard to even identify what the real problem is. And even when you think you’ve got it figured out, the solution can feel frustratingly out of reach. That’s where this three-drawing technique comes in. It’s something I turn to time and again, both for myself and with my clients, to clear the fog and connect with the idea that a solution is not just possible—it’s right there, waiting for us to uncover it.

We often rely on our left brain—logic, analysis, and methodical thinking. However, today, I invite you to step into the realm of your right brain—the place of intuition, creativity, and wild, beautiful surprises. This is where new perspectives emerge, and solutions that our logical minds could never conceive come to light. The real magic happens when we engage in exercises that connect us to the powerful medicine of hope.

This drawing practice is simple yet profound, and I’m eager to share it with you. I’ve seen firsthand how our unconscious minds, when given the chance to speak through the language of art, can reveal truths we never imagined. So, grab your colored pencils, pen, or anything you have lying around, and let’s see how this might shift your perspective in the most unexpected ways.

Dr. James Gordon, a leading expert in mind-body medicine, has devoted his career to healing psychological trauma. In his book The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma, Dr. Gordon offers exercises that are both simple and profoundly effective in helping us navigate life’s toughest challenges. The drawing exercise we’ll explore today is one of these—an intuitive and insightful practice that anyone can do.

Here’s how it works: Start by closing your eyes for a few moments. Breathe deeply, and tune into your thoughts, your feelings, and the sensations in your body. Once you feel a calm space emerge within you, open your eyes and pick up a blank sheet of paper. 

On the first paper draw yourself—don’t overthink it, don’t worry about how it looks. Just let your hand move freely and let whatever comes up, come up.

Next, on a new sheet, draw yourself and your biggest problem. Allow your hand to flow as you connect with the challenge from a fresh angle. And now, for the final step—this is where it gets interesting. On your last sheet of paper, draw yourself with your problem solved.. What does that look like? Let your imagination take the reins, and depict your victory in whatever way feels right to you.

A few weeks ago, one of my clients tried this exercise. In her first drawing, she depicted herself in the center of the paper, lying down with no energy, completely drained. In the second drawing, where she was to include her biggest problem, she drew herself lying in a forest, surrounded by a large thought bubble filled with heavy, dark rocks. “These are my fears of the future, my worries for my loved ones, the state of the world, the duplicity and hypocrisy, all of the dark stuff,” she explained.

But in her third drawing, something transformative happened. She drew herself blowing air into the bubble, which began to float to the corner of the page, shrinking in size. The wind, weaving through the trees around her, joined in, helping push these heavy stones to the edge of the paper.

Together, we began to unpack her drawings. In the first, she depicted herself as exhausted and immobilized, a clear representation of how stress had depleted her. The second drawing externalized her mental burdens—heavy, dark rocks that weighed her down. By putting them on paper, she initiated the process of confronting and articulating her fears. In the third drawing, the act of blowing a bubble and shrinking the rocks, now at the edge of the paper, symbolized a shift in perspective—a moment where she started to reclaim her power. The wind’s assistance represented, for her, the support of external forces or newfound internal strength, both of which helped lighten her burdens.

As you work through these steps, pay attention to the thoughts and emotions that surface. You might be surprised by the insights your drawings reveal. This exercise isn’t about creating art; it’s about giving your unconscious mind a voice through shapes and colors. The true magic lies in how this process allows us to externalize our internal struggles, creating a bit of distance and enabling us to see things from a fresh perspective. It’s like letting your inner child play while your adult self gains new insights.

Keep these drawings nearby—maybe on your desk—where you can see them often. Let the images work quietly in the background, gradually guiding you toward new perspectives and solutions. Whether insights come quickly or unfold over time, this exercise can help you see your challenges more clearly and might even reveal that what you thought was the problem isn’t the real issue after all. The important thing is to give it a try. That third drawing allows you to move from simply dwelling on a problem to actively imagining its solution. 

Sometimes, the most straightforward tools are the most effective, so let your creativity take the lead and see where it takes you.