Loving-Kindness Colouring and Loving-Kindness Meditation: Exploring the Effectiveness of Non-Meditative and Meditative Practices on State Mindfulness and Anxiety
Journal of Creativity in Mental Health February 14, 2021 M. Mantzios, A. Tariq, Momina Altaf et al.
Coloring pictures with loving-kindness themes can increase state mindfulness and self-compassion and reduce state anxiety just as effectively as loving-kindness meditation. In a study of 180 university students randomly assigned to either loving-kindness coloring or loving-kindness meditation, both groups showed similar improvements, with no significant differences between the practices. The findings suggest that coloring may serve as a viable alternative to meditation for cultivating loving-kindness, potentially offering a more accessible entry point for people who find meditation difficult.