If your “fresh start” is already wobbling… you’re not broken. You’re human.

In this lighter, permission-giving episode of Art Journaling for Calm & Self-Care, we take a soft look at the moment when motivation dips, routines unravel, and that inner critic gets a little too chatty.

We’ll start with a short grounding breath to help you comeback into your body (no forcing, no fixing). Then we’ll move into a playful, satisfying paper practice designed to release pressure and reset your nervous system — without needing to “do it right.”

Today’s page is intentionally temporary.
Because sometimes the point isn’t making something to keep… it’s making space to breathe.

Art prompt: Create two quick pages on separate sheets of paper (not in your journal). One you’ll tear up or crumple as a physical “release.” The other you can tuck it into your journal afterward if you want — like proof you showed up.

What you’ll leave with: a calmer body, a kinder inner voice, and a tiny reset you can repeat anytime.

If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal and the Joy of Journaling Circle.

⁠⁠⁠A Garden for the Soul Journal⁠⁠⁠ – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care

⁠⁠⁠The Joy of Journaling Circle⁠⁠⁠ – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery

Note: This podcast offers creative self-care and is not a substitute for therapy. If you need additional support, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Background music:

"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature" by Tung Lam (Pixabay)

“Meditation – Meditation Music” by Ievgen Poltavskyi, HitsLab (Pixabay)

When the outside world is too much, this is a gentle wayto come back to yourself.

In this episode, you’ll take a quiet pause from the noise and heaviness—just long enough to catch your breath and feel a little release. I’ll guide you through a short calming practice, then a simple art journaling page to help you set the emotions aside for a moment… not to ignore them, but to give yourselfsome room.

No art skills needed. Just a pen and paper.

You’ll need: paper + pen/marker (optional: color)

Gentle note: This podcast is for supportive and educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for therapy or medical care. If you’re struggling or feel unsafe, please reach out to a licensed professional or local support resources.

If you’d like more support, check out my meditative artjournal and the Joy of Journaling Circle.

⁠⁠⁠A Garden for the Soul Journal⁠⁠⁠ – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care

⁠⁠⁠The Joy of Journaling Circle⁠⁠⁠ – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery

Background music:
“Meditation – Meditation Music” by Ievgen Poltavskyi, HitsLab (Pixabay)

Sometimes you’re ready to move forward… but an old feeling takes over — and your body tightens, freezes, or goes into overdrive.

In this episode, you’ll try a gentle, nervous-system-friendly art journaling practice to help emotion move without overanalyzing or forcing a breakthrough.

You’ll be guided through a short grounding meditation and a simple page called Anchor & Release, followed by calming reflection questions to help you feel a little more spacious afterward.

What you’ll need: paper/pen/marker, and optional watercolor (or any color you love).

Prompt: “What’s asking to move today?”

Listen, breathe, and make one small page for release.

If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal and the Joy of Journaling Circle.

⁠⁠A Garden for the Soul Journal⁠⁠ – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care

⁠⁠The Joy of Journaling Circle⁠⁠ – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery

This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.

Background music:

"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).

"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)

When overthinking kicks in, it can feel like your mind grabsthe steering wheel — and your creativity (and calm) disappear.

In this episode, you’ll try a simple art journaling practice designed to help your nervous system soften and help you shift from control into gentle flow.

You’ll:

• Understand why "control" shows up when we feel anxious or overwhelmed
• Try a short grounding meditation (creativity as a stream)
• Make a Loosen Your Grip page using loose lines, intuitive shapes, and optional color
• Leave with a tiny reset you can use in daily life: "Flow, not Control"

You'll need paper + pen/pencil (optional color)

Prompt: Write one line on your page:

• Today, I'm loosening my grip on. . .
• No plan. Just begin.

If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal and the Joy of Journaling Circle—links are below.

⁠A Garden for the Soul Journal⁠ – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care

⁠The Joy of Journaling Circle⁠ – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery

This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.

Background music:

"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).

"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)

If the new year (or any new season of life) brings pressure, mixed feelings, or a loud “should” voice, this episode is a soft place to land.

In just a few minutes, you’ll create a simple two-part artjournaling page:
What I’m releasing… and what I’m choosing.

No big resolutions. No pretending you’re excited. Just a gentle reset that helps your nervous system unclench and gives you one supportive word to carry forward.

You’ll need: any paper + any pen/marker (optional: 1–2 colors)

Today’s prompt: Draw a line down the page. On the left, write what you’re releasing. On the right, write what you’re choosing. Circle one word you want more of—and make it visible.

Reflection:

• What shifted in your body while you made this page?
• What’s one tiny step that matches what you’re choosing?

If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal and the Joy of Journaling Circle—links are below.

A Garden for the Soul Journal – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care
The Joy of Journaling Circle – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery:
This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.

Background music:

"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).

"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)

If the holidays feel difficult this year—lonely, exhausting, complicated, or heavy—you’re not alone.

In this episode of Art Journaling for Calm & Self-Care, Barbara offers a gentle space to be honest about what you’re feeling and create a simple art journaling page that supports your nervous system.

You’ll choose one prompt:

• "If I’m honest, the holidays feel like…”
• “What I wish I could ask for (beyond stuff) is…”

…and then soften the page with color and kindness.

If you’d like a little more support as you practice, here are a couple of gentle places to continue:

• A Garden for the Soul – my meditative art journal

• The Joy of Journaling Circle – a nurturing community for calm & creative self-care
  

Inside the Joy of Journaling Circle, I’ll post a Holiday Honesty check-in where you can share one word for how this season feels and one small kindness you’re offering yourself in the next 24 hours.

Disclaimer:
This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, I encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.

Background music:
“Meditation Relaxing Music” by Dana Music (Pixabay).
“Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature” by Tung Lam (Pixabay).

Christmas is less than two weeks away—and if life feelsloud, messy, a little out of control, and you’re craving even five minutes of calm, this episode is for you.

And if you’re listening at another time of year, you’restill in the right place. Chaos doesn’t wait for a calendar.

In From Chaos to Calm, we’ll slow down just enough tocatch your breath, soften your nervous system, and let some of that swirling stress land on the page instead of on your shoulders. You’ll be guided through a gentle art journaling prompt that helps you release what’s heavy and comeback to a steadier, quieter center—one simple mark at a time.

If this episode helped you shift from chaos to calm—evena little—here are a couple of ways to keep going:

📖 A Garden for the Soul Journal – My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care

✨ The Joy of Journaling Circle – A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery

This podcast is here to offer gentle ideas for art journaling and self-care. It’s not therapy and it’s not a replacement for professional support. If you’re having a really hard time, Iencourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical provider who can walk alongside you.

Background music:

"Meditation Relaxing Music" by DanaMusic (Pixabay).

"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature" by Tung Lam (Pixabay)

Does your brain love to speed up right when you’re finallyready to rest?

If your mind feels like it’s juggling 37 open tabs—conversations, to-dos, worries, and “don’t forgets”—this episode is for you.

In this gentle, guided session, we’ll use art journaling togive some of that mental noise a softer place to land. You’ll move through a short grounding practice and then create a simple “mental container” on the page that helps you:

• Empty a few of those thoughts onto the pageinstead of holding them all in your head
• Draw a visual boundary that says, “This isenough for today.”
• Notice what’s loudest in your mind right now.

You don’t need to be “artistic” to do this. A pen, a bit ofpaper, maybe some colored pencils or crayons, and a few minutes of willing attention are enough.

This is a great episode to return to on nights when yourthoughts won’t settle, or anytime you notice your mind spinning and need a gentle reset.

Grab your journal or a scrap of paper, get comfy, and let’screate a little more space inside your mind—one page at a time.

If this episode helped your mind slow down even a little, here are a couple of ways to keep going:

📖 A Garden for the Soul Journal - My meditative art journal to gently support your creative self-care

✨ The Joy of Journaling Circle - A nurturing community for art journaling, calm, and creative self-discovery

Background music:

"Meditation Relaxing Music” by DanaMusic (Pixabay).

"Relaxing Music: Beautiful Nature by Tung Lam (Pixabay)