When the world feels heavy, come back to yourself

When the World Feels Heavy, Come Back to Yourself

Dear Friend,

There has been a great deal of unrest and fear in our world lately.

Many of us are watching what’s happening in the United States—protests, violence, division, rising costs of living, political tension—and feeling it ripple far beyond borders. Even here in Canada, the weight of it all is felt. People are tired. Overworked. Worried. And often, by the end of the day, the only thing left is to numb out in front of the TV or scroll endlessly, hoping for relief.

I want you to know—you’re not imagining this heaviness.

I’m a deeply empathetic person (some would say too sensitive), and lately, even the tools that usually help me—positive self-talk, journaling, goal-setting—haven’t been enough. At the hospital, in long-term care, I put on a calm, caring face for the residents, while quietly holding their worries alongside my own. It adds up.

And when it does, I return to creation.

Creation gives us a place to put what we’re carrying.

Here are a few gentle ways to release what’s been building inside you right now:

• Write a limerick about a person or situation that frustrates you.

• Put on music and dance out what words can’t hold.

• Sit, breathe, and listen to calming music on YouTube.

• Or—my personal refuge—open a Visual Diary Journal, a safe space for your thoughts and emotions to land.

When I journal visually, for this situation, I choose one of four approaches:

1. Soothing lines – letting my hand move mindfully to calm my nervous system.

2. Beauty-in-progress – bringing to life a piece I’ve been longing to create.

3. Emotional release – standing at a large canvas and letting everything pour out, no concern for beauty, only release. (You can always paint over it.)

4. Finding beauty – collecting images, colours, and words that make my heart smile and collaging them together.

This isn’t about making “good” art.
It’s about making space.

As chaotic as the world can feel, the one place your power truly lives is within you. You can’t control everything—but you can care for yourself.

And right now, that matters more than ever.

If you’d like gentle guidance, I’ve created something that takes just 10–15 minutes a day:

Creative Calm: 7-Day Art & Affirmation Reset

✨ Intro Bundle – $9 CAD

• Daily art prompt (no experience needed)

• Daily affirmation

• Simple breathing or grounding technique

• Printable Art Journal page

🌿 Full Experience – $17 CAD

• Everything above, plus:

• Daily Spotify playlist

• A short audio Love Note or Guided Stillness moment

• 22 additional printable Art Journal pages

This is a soft place to land.
A way to come back to yourself—one small, creative moment at a time. Click here to learn more about Creative Calm.

Be gentle with yourself.
Take your power back.
The world needs the only kind of special you bring.

With care,
Barbara 💙
#ArtHeals #MoreArtLessStress