BLOG 4: Trick or Treat
Happy October friends! This week I painted a friendly ghost to get into the Halloween spirit.
By being able to select my own occupation for this assignment, I was able to exercise my self-determination and autonomy. Although it was difficult to make a decision at first, it was empowering to be able to choose the occupation of painting rather than having a different occupation assigned to me. Painting over the last few weeks has continued to allow me to practice autonomy by presenting multiple decisions. Specifically, I get to first decide what I am going to paint as a whole. I then get to choose which colors I want to implement into my piece. Throughout the painting process I ask myself questions like, “How large should I make this shape?” “Do I like the way the colors work together or do I want to add in another?” The reading explains decision making as a process to explore challenges and creativity (Parnell, Whiteford, & Wilding, 2019). Painting has become a very creative outlet for me to practice both self-determination and autonomy, without feeling like there could be a risky outcome.
In addition, I believe that strengthening my autonomy has also improved my motivation to paint. Each time I paint, I become more comfortable with trying new ideas. I am never fully confident that I am going to love the final result, but I have noticed an increase in the desire to participate in painting because of the calming effect it brings me. Motivation cannot appear out of thin air, but I know for me personally that I feel more motivated to carry out specific occupations when there is a positive outcome that is attached. Self- determination, motivation, and autonomy are three components that serve one another through occupation.
Tracey Parnell, Gail Whiteford & Clare Wilding (2019) Differentiating occupational decision-making and occupational choice, Journal of Occupational Science, 26:3, 442-448, DOI: 10.1080/14427591.2019.1611472
Hi Krista, I love your little ghost! Thanks for pointing out that self-determination and autonomy don't stop with just the selection of the occupation, but continue as we explore the different aspects of the occupation we chose. Your example of choosing different subjects and colors is similar to how I have to make decisions about what songs to work on and how to choose what techniques and lessons I will be working on each week. I know that painting is not one of your core occupations (yet!), but how do you think you would manage if you couldn't run anymore? Would being an OT and psych major help?
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