A colleague asked me "what do you do when you lose your groove while graphic recording?" Managing my ‘groove’ or getting quickly back to my creative flow state is key in our work. So it had me thinking, and I would love to hear what others do about this, too 1/

For extra context, all the tech we need for our #graphicFacilitation work is demanding at the best of times, plus the extra pressure to ‘perform’ creatively in much shorter meetings. The work requires deep listening and ultra focus – while staying connected to a bigger field 2/

Managing my ‘groove’ or creative flow when I’m thrown off – is about how I manage my triggers. Many times I'm thrown off by a hurtful comment, a stressful situation, anxiety, or deeper triggers about being seen as “wrong” or ignored. It starts with knowing myself as well as I can

I have a variety of techniques that I am constantly working on, including deep breathing, mindfulness so when I am thrown off, I come back to centre much faster. I’m still a beginner. Breathing, noticing what is around me, naming and touching things to centre me, and meshing

We are our own hardest critics, and it could also be that my in-the-moment-panic/losing my groove wasn’t noticed yet by others

(but sometimes it is)

"Anchor" (or larger) images in a graphic recording poster/chart/image can give a big picture context, too.

When I get thrown off .... more meaningful drawings, less text. Help the pictures say 1000 words

And always, always – remember that graphic recording is about being in relation. Don’t assume and guess - when we can ask for help we should ask. Ask people to help – because when we co create things, they are more meaningful and full of potential we could never do alone.