From Stressed to a Calmer Heart: 5 Step Art Ritual for Serenity

Quick ways to transform Stress into Calm Through Intuitive Art

(I've included this video demonstrating my intuitive journey as I processed my emotions of a special, yet heart breaking day)

Many women feel overwhelmed by daily stress and anxious thoughts. However, there’s a quiet, accessible tool that can turn worry into curiosity, hope, and emotional calm and that is intuitive art. Your first thought may be that you do not have enough time. You do not need large blocks of time. A simple fifteen minutes during the day to sketch, paint, or work with paper can create a quiet place for the mind. These short blocks can help you regain mental clarity and emotional balance.

The Weight of Buried Emotions

Stress isn’t just the burden of an overflowing “to-do” list. It often stems from buried emotions, some of which may never fully resolve in this lifetime. For me, the month of August brings these emotions because it is my daughter’s birthday month. She passed away 23 years ago. She was only 17 when a car accident took her to her Heavenly home.

Over time, the sharp pain has softened, but certain days — like her birthday — still bring a sting of grief that resurfaces despite the years passing.

This year, instead of trying to ignore the day and push through, I turned to my art. I know the power of art to bring peace of mind, so I decided to make a handmade birthday card for her. It would be a simple gesture of a mother's love for her daughter. (See Video Above)

I find that when I am under stress, I tend to hold my breath; but ,as soon as I picked up my( brush, the sadness began to lift. And the more I painted those aggitated thoughts in my mind began to calm helping me to transition from worry and heaviness to a peaceful, meditative state.  

Why Art Works

Scientific studies have shown that creating art has measurable benefits for both the mind and body. Engaging in creative activities:

- Lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.

- Reduces anxiety and symptoms of depression.

- Stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, enhancing emotional regulation.

- The area responsible for rest, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated bringing the feeling of relaxation.

In short, creating art provides the brain with a means to process emotions without words, release tension, and find calm.

Starting When You Don’t Feel Like It

While art can be highly beneficial, it’s not always easy to start a project — especially when you’re not feeling your best. Fatigue, worry, or self-doubt can cloud the mind, making it hard to know where to begin. That’s why having a few go-to project ideas can be helpful.

One practice I use is my Creative Journaling Process, which I call Grow Joy: Creative Reminders: a treasure hunt for words that can gently shift your mental state.

DIY Creative Reminders

1. Name your feelings.

Take a moment to identify the emotions you’re experiencing. Write down thoughts that stir worry, fear, or tension. Simply naming what you feel begins the process of releasing it.

2. Choose affirming words.

I often select from my library of positive statements, which I call Creative Reminders. You might prefer a favorite devotional, a book of affirmations, or any source of uplifting words. Read through the phrases that resonate, then write them down. When one combinds reading with writing at the same time, different parts of your brain are engaged, reinforcing positive thoughts, sharpening focus, and calming anxious feelings.

3. Create an image.

Think of a visual representation of the peace you want to cultivate. Organic shapes, such as flowers, leaves, or flowing patterns, are ideal for relaxation due to our natural connection to nature. The rhythmatic movement of painting or drawing these shapes allows your body and mind to move rhythmically, helping to quiet anxious thoughts and enter a meditative state.

4. Combine words and imagery. 

Integrate your affirmations with your art. You might write a phrase along the edge of a page or weave words into the shapes themselves. This combination of visual and verbal creativity enhances emotional processing and externalizes worries into something tangible, beautiful, and meaningful.

5. Reflect and release.

Once your piece feels complete, pause to notice your feelings. Many women find that even five or ten minutes of this practice shifts their perspective from worry to wonder, from overwhelm to curiosity and hope.

Small Creative Moments Is All You Need.

Being intuitive with your art doesn’t require skill, perfection, or hours of time. Its power lies in its simplicity and accessibility. As you create, your mind processes emotions safely, explores feelings that may be hard to articulate, and restores control and clarity.

Over time, these small creative moments accumulate, providing lasting benefits for emotional well-being.

A Sanctuary in Your Hands

For anyone feeling anxious or weighed down by grief or persistent worry, intuitive art can become a personal sanctuary. You don’t need a studio, fancy supplies, or prior experience—just a brush, a pencil, or even colored markers—and the willingness to explore what your feeling inside.

In that space, you might discover a quiet transformation: turning anxiety into creativity, sadness into expression, and worry into wonder.

What I love about my creative moments, is that I am allowed to be present, to breathe, to create with intention, and to restore my resilience. Every stroke, color, and word is a small act of self-compassion — a gentle reminder that even in our most challenging moments, we can access hope, clarity, and emotional peace.

So, next time your heart feels heavy or your mind is overwhelmed, pick up a tool and create. Even five minutes can lift you from a state of worry into a space of calm, reflection, and wonder.