Bev Jessup on The Art of Reset: Journaling & Visual Meditation for Purpose-Driven Women

In a world that constantly calls us to hustle, produce, and perform, many women are quietly craving something else: peace, clarity, and a return to themselves. We don’t always need another productivity app or 10-step plan. Sometimes, what we really need is a gentle reset — a way to exhale and listen to our inner voice again.

For me, that reset came through journaling and visual meditation — simple but profound creative practices that helped me reconnect to my purpose, my values, and even my faith.

Whether you consider yourself creative or not, this is an invitation to explore how journaling and visual reflection can offer calm, clarity, and healing in your everyday life.

What Is Visual Meditation?

Visual meditation is a quiet, creative expression of what’s happening in your soul. It could be painting soft watercolour washes, sketching nature, or layering words and textures in a journal to process your thoughts and emotions.

You don’t need to be an artist. In fact, it’s better if you leave your inner critic at the door. This isn’t about creating something perfect. It’s about noticing what comes up when your hands are moving and your mind is still.

“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

You don’t need a craft room to be creative — just a simple box with a few well-loved supplies is more than enough to unlock your imagination and worship through art.

Journaling as an Emotional Reset

Journaling gives your thoughts a landing place. You can pour out stress, rewrite limiting beliefs, or simply reflect. Pair it with colour or movement, and it becomes a healing practice.

Some days, I write just one sentence. Other days, I spill out pages. Sometimes, I wash the background in colour before I begin — soft blue for peace, bold red when I need courage. It’s not fancy. But it’s honest. And that makes it healing.

I often journal during church. Not because I’m distracted — but because I listen best when my hands are busy. I sketch verses or reflect on the sermon as I create. This is how I worship, process, and pray.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: My Creative Conversion Story

I didn’t come to this practice from a place of calm or balance. I came from burnout.

I was running a speech therapy practice, supporting families, while also managing heavy personal struggles. I was grieving my father’s death. My brother had serious mental health challenges and had attempted suicide several times in just 18 months. I was trying to coordinate his care and advocate for the right support.

And then, my husband collapsed at work. I thought he was having a heart attack. It was the final straw.

I remember staring at my to-do list, feeling like I couldn’t breathe. That’s when I noticed a small bruise on my arm. It wasn’t serious, but it felt symbolic — something breaking through, something unspoken surfacing.

That night, I didn’t turn to a checklist or a training. I picked up a brush.

I wasn’t trying to create. I was trying to cope. I painted murky greys and deep purples. Then, a splash of light blue. It was raw. It was messy. But for the first time in months, I felt something shift. God felt near.

And then came the verse:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

That verse became a lifeline.

I started using my journal not just as a planner, but as a place to grieve, pray, and rediscover who I was. I painted prayers, layered Bible verses, and let the pages hold things I couldn’t yet say aloud.

God met me there — in the quiet, the colour, and the scribbled prayers. That’s why I share this now. Not because I’ve figured it all out, but because I know what it’s like to be broken… and to be rebuilt through grace, creativity, and presence.

A Simple Practice to Try

Here’s a gentle ritual you can try today — no perfection required.

Reset Ritual: 10-Minute Journaling Meditation

Light a candle or play soft music

Choose one word you want more of (peace, trust, courage)

Use colour or shapes to surround the word

Breathe. Write whatever comes — no judgment

End with a short sentence: “Today, I choose peace.”

You don’t need fancy supplies. A notebook, a pen, a splash of colour. That’s enough to begin.

What Happens When You Make Space?

You don’t just create art.
You create room.

Room for reflection.
Room for connection.
Room for God to speak.

Visual meditation and journaling aren’t about escaping. They’re about coming home — to yourself, your breath, and to the One who made you.

When you start showing up to a blank page, you begin to hear your soul again. You begin to feel safe in your own company. You begin to let God into the cracks.

So grab a journal, light a candle, and let creativity become your quiet act of worship.