Phenomenological approach: uncovering the (in)visible

What is my lived experience like?

A layered sequence of unfolding choices — full of detail, sensations, reactions, expectations and disruptions. So much is happening unnoticed. Today, I want to share an approach we use in expressive arts sessions to help notice the unseen.

After engaging in creative activities during a session, we take time to reflect on the process. There’s often a strong urge to interpret the artwork immediately, but rushing into meaning can limit us because our first thoughts follow habitual patterns. Caught in these patterns, we see what we’re “programmed” to see and miss important details. We often believe we’re taking in the full picture, but in reality, we’re not.

This is how our selective attention works. For example, if I ask you to look around the room and remember all the red objects (your attention is now fixed on red), and then I ask you to name the green ones you saw. You likely missed many, if not all, green objects. Just like we overlook green objects when focused on red, we filter life through our mental "stories" — habits, beliefs, and assumptions we’ve developed over time. We have automatic ways of making sense of things, and those are often the same stories that keep us stuck.

To discover the unknown and gain insight, we take a step back and use a phenomenological approach. We go back "to the things themselves" (Edmund Husserl) and examine the creative exploration. The phenomenological lens offers a way to observe the experience as it is, “stay on the surface” of the experience, and meet the process without rushing to conclusions.

What does it mean to "stay on the surface"?

Imagine taking a magnifying glass and travelling back in time to retrace your creative process to see how the final work came into being. We look closely at how things unfolded:

• What decisions were made, in what order?

• What worked, what didn't?

• What influenced the process?

When analysing a piece, we attend to its technical details — colours, shapes, textures, pauses, tones, roles, and structure — trying to describe rather than explain.

By seeing things phenomenologically, we examine experiences "as they are", and notice previously unseen connections and our "blind spots."

Recognising surprises always makes a big difference! When something turns out differently than we expected, it shows us our assumptions and fixations, opening the door to new perspectives.

As a fun activity, try reflecting on your day and recalling things that surprised you. Examine the surprise: What exactly is surprising? Why is it surprising? What led to this moment? Is there anything to learn from the surprise? Have fun 🎉

👀Share in the comments what helps you to find "blind spots"

. . .

Thanks for reading. Share your thoughts or questions in the comments — what resonated with you, what didn't? Your input helps us grow together.

Considering trying out Expressive Arts? Reach out to me for one-on-one or group sessions.