Real Positive Change: Creative Renewal for Women

About Real Positive Change: Creative Renewal for Women

Where women of faith discover how creativity and mindful awareness work together to renew the mind and bring peace to the soul. Together we'll explore how creativity and mindful awareness work hand in hand with faith to help us slow down, notice what's happening within us, and respond with wisdom instead of reaction. Through thoughtful conversations, simple creative practices, biblical encouragement, and practical tools, you'll learn how to calm an overwhelmed mind, process life's challenges, renew your thinking, and experience God's presence in everyday moments. Whether you're an artist, a journal keeper, a caregiver, or simply someone longing for a more peaceful and intentional life, you'll discover that creativity isn't just about making beautiful things—it's a pathway to reflection, healing, and spiritual growth. If you're ready to renew your mind, bring peace to your soul, and experience real positive change, you're in the right place.

Publisher

Cathy Freeman

Category

arts · education · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Oct 2025

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

54 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026

   Episode 54 - What we learn from Mother Nature's Rhythm

   Visit my website: https://tinyartvillage.com (https://tinyartvillage.com) What If You Don't Have to Figure Everything Out Today? Have you ever had one of those days when your mind feels like a browser with 47 tabs open? You're thinking about something that happened yesterday. You're worrying about something that might happen tomorrow. You're trying to remember what you forgot to do today. And somewhere in the middle of all that, you're supposed to be enjoying your life! Sometimes I think our minds deserve a little vacation from themselves. But when life starts changing, those 47 tabs can quickly turn into 147. Maybe a relationship is changing. Maybe your family dynamics are different than they used to be. Perhaps you're facing a decision, dealing with an unexpected situation, or trying to figure out what what this new season of life is going to look like. Suddenly, there are so many things to think about. You might is running a stream of questions like: What should I do?
What happens if I make the wrong decision?
How is this going to work out?
What if things don't turn out the way I hoped? We think about it while we're getting dressed. We think about it while we're driving. We think about it when we're supposed to be relaxing at the end of the day. But the worst part is when we even wake up in the middle of the night and our minds immediately pick up right where they left off! Why we do that? I think part of it is that we want to feel secure. We want to know what's going to happen so we can prepare ourselves. The mind naturally seeks to solve problems. And when something changes, we lose some of that familiarity. We don't know exactly what to expect, so we start looking for answers. We think that if we can just figure everything out, we'll finally feel better. But what happens when there aren't any answers yet? You may be in the middle of a situation that is still unfolding, Perhaps the decision that needs to be made isn't yours to make, or non of us turly knows what will happen tomorrow. the future simply isn't clear! We can spend an awful lot of emotional energy trying to solve things that aren't ready to be solved. Have you ever thought about that? We could be so busy trying to figure out tomorrow, we can miss the peace and the possibilities that are available to us today. So today, I want to explore a different way of approaching those seasons of change. Right now we are in a season of Change. Fall is a beautiful time when we find relief from the hot seasons of summer and a last horrah before the cold of winter sets in. I like to think of it as Mother Natures celebration, acknowledgement and gratitude of what has been growing and developing during the year before she prepares to go inward and rest for a season. The trees burst into color like confetti as they begin to release their leaves. The gardens begin to quiet. The days grow shorter, and the whole world seems to slow down a little. Nature doesn't seem to panic because everything is changing. She doesn't try to hold on to every leaf or insist that summer must last forever. Instead, there is a rhythm to it all. A time for growing, a time for blooming, a time for releasing, and a time for rest. And I wonder if there's a little wisdom in that for us. What if, instead of spending all our energy trying to figure out what's changing and what comes next, we took a moment to acknowledge how far we've come? What have we learned this year? What have we nurtured and helped grow? What have we discovered about ourselves through the things we've experienced? And perhaps just as importantly, what might we need to release, set aside, or stop carrying with us? Did you catch that? Let me repeat…what might we need to release…set aside, or stop carrying with us? Perhaps these moments of uncertainty is God’s guiding wisdom of letting us knwo that it is time to let go and stop carrying all of the past with us. And relax because we don't need to have every answer right now. He has that covered. Maybe, like nature, we need to recognize that there are seasons when we're meant to grow and reach for something new, and seasons when we need to turn inward, reflect, let go and replenish ourselves. Perhaps the counsel we need is We don't have to wait until everything else is done to give ourselves that time. Yes, Creating is a break from the hectic demands and worries of life. But it isn't a distraction from living our lives; it's one of the ways we bring more joy, fresh perspective, and life into them. Just think about it. Nature doesn't stop being valuable when it's resting. A tree without its leaves is still a tree. A garden that isn't blooming is still preparing for what's to come. Its value hasn't disappeared simply because it's no longer producing something we can see. And yet, how often do we measure our own value by what we accomplish, how much we get done, or how well we take care of everyone around us? We can feel guilty when we slow down. We may even feel as though we're falling behind when we take time for ourselves. As humans we are really good at placing guilt upon ourselves. What if we looked to Mother Nature as our example and embraced this beautiful rhythm of life? A time for creating and accomplishing, a time for celebrating and acknowledging the blessings and growth in our lives, and a time for reflecting and renewing ourselves. As women, we spend so much of our time creating things for others, managing responsibilities, and making sure everything gets done. But how often do we give ourselves time to create something simply because it brings us joy? What if we made room in our days to explore, experiment, play, and discover what inspires us? Not because we have something to prove or a finished product to show for it, but because creating is a beautiful part of being human. We don't have to wait until everything else is done to give ourselves that time. Creating isn't a distraction from living our lives; it's one of the ways we bring more joy, fresh perspective, and life into them. I listened to a woman the other day talk about how she struggles with this feeling of FOMO. That is a fear of missing out. She is so worried of disappointing people in her life by not keeping everything up and running…yet she has this horrable nag of FOMO because she loves to photograph nature and she is not out side taking pictures of the beautiful leaves and other glorious events of nature…because she has this nagging feeling that she must be inside producing and taking care of the lives of others. It took her a few minutes to process these thoughts. But she finislly realized that… her love of photographing nature wasn't something frivolous she needed to squeeze in after everything else was done. It was something that brought her joy, helped her notice the beauty around her, and made her feel more alive. She didn't have to choose between being a caring person and making room for something she loved. We don't lose our value when we stop producing, solving, and taking care of everyone else. Therefore, we can stop treating our own creative time…. Our persoal joys as something we must earn by finishing everything else first. These things that are creative to our soul…such as my art are part of the seasonal rhythm. When I'm playing with color and arranging pieces of paper, I'm not sitting there trying to analyze every problem in my life. My attention is on what my hands are doing and what I'm creating. And yet, in that space, my thoughts have room to settle. Sometimes I begin to see things differently. Sometimes I recognize what I need to let go of, or what was never mine to carry in the first place. “Creating gives me space to listen—not just to my own thoughts, but to the quiet promptings of the Spirit. I may not walk away with every answer, but I can return to the changes in my life with a little more calm, a fresh perspective, and a willingness to take the next step.” When I sit down with my paints, papers, and other art supplies, I give myself permission to step away from the demands of the day. I don't have to solve a problem, make a decision, or figure out what comes next. I can simply create. I fall into this natural rhythm as I am playing with color and arranging pieces of paper, of refection on the things that have been happening in my life. I do not go into worry or fear beause my mind is occupied with what my hands are doing and what I am creating. And yet, in that space, my thoughts have room to settle. Sometimes I begin to see things differenlty. Sometimes I recognize what I need to let go of, or what was never mine to carry in the first place. Creating art doesn't make the changes in my life disappear. But it gives me space to listen - not just o my own thoughts, but to the quiet promptings of the Sprit. I may not walk away with every answer, but I can return to the change in my life with a little more calm, a fresh perspective, and a willingness to take the next step. What a beautiful thing to have…to experience. The soul comforting feeling that comes from the Spirit. This week, I want you to notice something you enjoy creating or doing simply for the pleasure of it. Maybe it's taking photographs of the changing leaves, arranging flowers, crocheting, Stitching, painting, or just simply dodling and playing with a few art supplies. Then, instead of waiting until everything else is finished, make a little room for it now. Make a conscious effort to include what brings you joy and a little peace into your daily rhythm.

2. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Episode 53 -Are These Routines Replacing God?- A Personal Story

   Visit Tiny Art Village for more. https://tinyartvillage.com Podcast episode 53 - Are My Routines Replacing God? Is My Work Leading Her Away? Have you ever learned something that helped you, something you wanted to share with others, but then found yourself wondering if you were really doing the right thing? I have. For years, I have studied and practiced different approaches to understanding the mind, our thoughts, our emotions, and the way our bodies respond to stress. I learned many helpful techniques that clears our mind and balances the nervous system. I have been trained in process that help people recognize their thought patterns, work through difficult emotions, and find a little more peace in their everyday lives. And I feel passionate to share what I was learning. I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe our Savior has the power to heal us. For years I was told to separate my work from my faith. But that did not seem possible to me. My faith is me. I could think of my work as a profession like a dentist, or a doctor. Until I would sit in a Sunday meeting and hear these words that I too believed. Jesus Chrsit can heal us. No sooner would I hear those words then my doubts would begin to flood my mind. What if all these things I have studied and taught are just a distraction from the healing power of Christ? What if I am encouraging people to do things for themselves when what they really need to do is turn to Him? I would settle my doubts and move forward, but every once and a while these questions would grab my mind. Am I doing the right thing? Am I supposed to be teaching these things? I would call a close friend or two. Each of them reassured me that what I was sharing had great importance in peoples lives. I would listen to their words which helped me settle my mind again. This roller coaster of confidence and questions has been going on for over 25 years. Earlier this summer a beautiful young woman in our church shared her testimony. She talked about experiencing anxiety, offering a prayer, and then feeling peace. As I listened, I felt the truth of what she was sharing. I believe prayer can bring us peace in ways that are difficult to explain. I believe our Heavenly Father hears us, and I believe the Savior can reach us in the middle of our struggles. But her experience also brought my own question back to the surface. I know prayer can bring that kind of peace, so why do I feel such a strong pull to teach women about their thoughts, their emotions, and the little things they can do to care for themselves? Why the art? Why the breathing? Why the journaling? Why teach someone to recognize a thought pattern and learn a different way of responding? Why not simply tell them to pray? A few days later, I was driving home after dropping off my son, and I began talking to Heavenly Father. It wasn't a formal prayer. It was more like a heart-to-heart conversation. I told Him how much I wanted to know the truth. I wanted to understand whether the things I had spent years learning and sharing had a place in the work I felt called to do. Was it really important? I felt like I had followed a path He had opened up for me…was that correct? Or, was I simply doing something I thought was important. I desparately wanted to stop this roller coaster ride of questioning myself. I could have called a friend, but I didn’t want to hear reassurance from a friend. I wanted to know for myself God’s thoughts and if I was listening correctly. I wanted the a sure for myself. When I arrived home, I went about my ordinary tasks. Before long, it was time to get ready to pick up my son. Now I decided to leave the truck parked outside of our front gate. I didn’t want to struggle with our dog who would make an attempt to excape every time it was opened. Our driveway is a long gravel driveway that curves back and forth up a hill for about a quarter of a mile until you reach the house. I quickly grabbed my purse and filled my arms with everything I needed to take. I am not one who likes to take several trips back and forth…so I loaded myself down in an attempt to save myself a few trips up and down the hill. I started walking. I wasn't more than twenty steps from the house when I felt my load slipping. I knew I needed to stop and rearrange everything before I dropped it all. Once I had things organized again, a thought came to me. Check your purse for the electric gate opener. Well of course it’s in my purse…why wouldn’t it be. I have learned over time, that when I feel a prompting, I have learned to pay attention. So I stopped and searched my purse. No gate opener. I figured I must have left it on the bed when I came home and set my purse down. So I turned around and headed back up the hill. Entered the house and went straight to the bedroom. I checked on the bed. Nothing. I thought that is strange It has to be here, I haven’t gone anywhere else and I used it to open and close the gate when I arrived. I retraced my steps and looked around the house, but I couldn't find it. Have you ever looked for something that seems as though it should be right in front of you, but for some reason, you just cannot see it? That was me. I knew it had to be there…I was just having troubles seeing it. I walked back and forth through the house three times, looking everywhere I could think of. Still nothing. By this point, I was getting concerned about being late to pick up my son. I was going to have to figure out how to climb the fence to get to the truck. I'm not even sure why I thought I could climb that fence! But at that moment, it seemed like my only option. And it really was the only option. So I started down the hill again. And then I had another thought. Maybe the opener fell under the chair when you put your packages down. Back up the hill I went. Remember, I was still carrying all the things I had gathered for the trip. I was taking my load up and down that driveway right along with me! I moved the chair. No gate opener. Now what? I had to get to the truck. I was running out of time, and I was beginning to think I really was going to have to climb that fence. For the third time, I started down the hill. And as I walked, another thought came. Keep going. The opener might be lying on the road. I wasn't sure how that could be possible. But I had learned to pay attention to these little promptings, so I kept going. And there it was down at the bottom The gate opener was lying on the road. I picked it up, relieved that I wouldn't have to climb the fence after all. But as I continued down the driveway, I began thinking about what had just happened. I had asked Heavenly Father a very important question earlier that day. And here I was, walking up and down the hill, searching for a gate opener. I wondered, Why didn't He just direct me to it in the first place? Why did I have to go back and forth three different times trying different things to find the keys? And then an answer came to my mind. We were never meant to not try…. to put forth effort. Yes He can and does heal all things. You must do all that you can do, and I will do the rest. I realized that in the journey of us trying….in the process of struggle we learn and grow more. God had answered me before through the words of my friend and other’s but today I needed to experience it for myself. The effort of going back and forth….the exert faith to look in different places…to do all that I could do… I got my answer….every thing we do is important….every action of faith and belief. We are Doing Our Part and Trusting Him With the Rest As I thought about those words, something began to make sense to me. Our Heavenly Father knows each of us individually. He knows how we learn, what we need, and how we come to understand the things He wants us to know. I am a hands-on learner. Sometimes I can hear a prompting and that’s all I need. But this time He answered my prayer in a way that I could not forget. I had asked Him for an answer, and He allowed me to physically experience the answer. I had done everything I knew to do to find that gate opener. I had searched the house, retraced my steps, and looked in all the places I could think of. I had done my part. And then, when I continued forward, I found what I needed. As I thought about this experience, I began to see a connection to the question I had been carrying for years. I now knew for myself that the things I teach are not replacing our faith in Jesus Christ. Every good thing we can do is putting our faith in Him. Think about it. When we sit down to make art, we give ourselves an opportunity to slow down and express what we may not have words for. When we take a few slow, comfortable breaths, we can give ourselves a moment to settle and respond rather than react. When we journal, we can begin to recognize the thoughts that are weighing on us and then become opened to considering a different perspective. These practices don't take the place of prayer. They don't make us our own Savior. And they don't guarantee that every difficult feeling will disappear. They are doing our part of caring for ourselves and others. They are actions of faith in the Savior's help, and trusting Him with what we cannot do on our own. I believe Jesus Christ is the Healer. I now understand clearly that there is value in the small things we do to care for ourselves and move through our challenges. And I don't believe we have to understand every detail of how healing happens before we take a faithful step forward. What About You? I wonder if you have ever found yourself caught in a similar struggle. Maybe you have been praying about a difficult situation, asking God to help you, but you aren't sure what you are supposed to do next. Maybe you are waiting for an answer, when there is already one small thing you can do. Or perhaps you have been trying so hard to figure everything out that you have forgotten you can take a step forward without knowing exactly how everything will turn out. Sometimes our part is to pray and wait upon the Lord because there is nothing we can do. And then there are times when we pray and then go forth and do all that we know how to do. That is what I took away from my experience with the gate opener. And it changed the way I look at the things I feel called to share. I no longer feel that caring for our minds and emotions is taking place of having faith. I can teach what I have learned … I can encourage women to take small steps toward greater peace and understanding. And remind you that you are not doing it all alone. Because our efforts are not a replacement for the Savior. They can be part of how we move forward in faith, trusting Him to guide us, strengthen us, and help us do what we cannot do on our own. And perhaps that is something worth remembering the next time we find ourselves walking up and down the hill, wondering what in the world we are supposed to do next. Do your part. And Trust Him with the rest.

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Episode 52 - Change is an invitation to create something that didn't exist before

   Join me for more @ https://tinyartvillage.com (https://tinyartvillage.com) What If You Created Something New? Have you ever found yourself wishing things could just go back to the way they were? Maybe your family has changed. Maybe your work has changed. Maybe your body has changed. Maybe the people around you have changed—or the way you fit into their lives has changed. And sometimes we spend so much energy wishing we could get back to what was familiar that we don't stop to ask a different question: What if I created something new? Something different from what has been. A new experience. A new rhythm. A new way of doing life. I've been thinking about that lately. Because when something changes, our first instinct is often to figure out how to get it back. How can I make things feel like they used to? How can I get back the excitement, the connection, the purpose, the routine? But what if the goal isn't to get back? What if the invitation is to create forward? You Don't Have to Recreate the Past There is something comforting about what we already know. We know how it worked. We know what our role was. We know what made us feel useful, needed, successful, or secure. So when that changes, it can feel like something has been taken away from us. And sometimes it has. There are things we genuinely have to grieve. But grieving what was doesn't mean we have to spend the rest of our lives trying to recreate it. There may come a point when we can say: “That was a wonderful part of my life. And now I wonder what I could create from here.” And yes, that can be a little scary. But I'm not saying you should replace what you've lost. I'm not saying what you had—or the plans you made—didn't matter. They did. I'm saying that perhaps we can stop for a moment... and think about creating something new. Think About Art This is one of the reasons I love all forms of creating. When you sit down to create something, you start with nothing. There isn't anything there yet. You don't know exactly what it is going to become. And if you're like me, sometimes you start with an idea and end up somewhere completely different. And that's okay. In fact, that's often where the fun begins. You start out going in one direction... then you change something. You add something. You try something you didn't plan. And suddenly, something exists that didn't exist before. You created it. I think our lives can be like that, too. What If Your Next Chapter Doesn't Look Like Your Last One? Maybe you've spent years being a wife, a mother, a caregiver, a business owner, an employee, a volunteer—or simply the person everyone could count on. And now something about that role has changed. Maybe it's because other people have changed. Maybe your health has changed. Maybe your circumstances have changed. Maybe life simply looks different than you expected it would. And instead of asking, “What am I supposed to do now?” maybe we could ask: “What could I create now?” That's a very different question. “Supposed to” can make us feel pressured. “Create” makes room for possibility. Give Yourself Permission to Be a Beginner This part is important. We have gotten ourselves to this point through a lot of trial and error. We learned. We adapted. We became comfortable with the knowledge and routines we created for ourselves. We became accomplished in certain areas of our lives. And then, sometimes with what feels like the blink of an eye, life changes. And suddenly we may feel like we're starting back at square one. But what if square one isn't failure? What if it's simply the beginning of something new? I like to think about it like the pendulum on a clock. It swings from one side to the other. It doesn't stay on one side forever. There is movement. There is an ebb and flow. Maybe life is like that. I've become accomplished in this area of my life... and now it's time to swing to the other side and discover something new. That doesn't erase everything I've learned. I take all of that knowledge with me. I'm just adding something different. And maybe that's the rhythm of life. Learn. Grow. Become comfortable. Change. Begin again. You don't have to know where it is going. You just have to be willing to begin. There May Not Be a Blueprint I think sometimes we get stuck because we're looking for a picture of what our life is supposed to look like next. We make a list. We make a plan. And then we tell ourselves that's what we're supposed to follow. But maybe there isn't one. Maybe this part of your life is yours to create. There really isn't another person whose life looks exactly like yours. Some may be similar. But not identical. So there is no perfect blueprint for what your next chapter should look like. And perhaps that's not a problem. Perhaps that's the invitation. You get to make something that has never been made before. Your version. Your rhythm. Your interests. Your relationships. Your creativity. Your way of spending your time. Your way of contributing. Your way of finding joy. So What Comes Next? If you're in a season of change right now, I want to give you a question to think about. Don't ask yourself: “How do I get my old life back?” And don't automatically assume that these changes mean you've been taken off course. Instead, try asking: “What could I create now that couldn't have existed before?” Sit with that for a little while. Don't rush to answer it. Let your imagination have a little room. Because maybe the next beautiful thing in your life isn't waiting for you to find it. Maybe it's waiting for you to create it. And maybe what comes next won't look like anything you've known before. And to tell you the truth... I think that's exactly what makes it exciting. You don't have to replace what has changed. You can honor it. You can be grateful for it. You can grieve it when you need to. And then... you can pick up the brush—or whatever creative tool works for you—and begin creating again.

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