Mosaics. Kidneys. Journaling. How I've Always Found My Way Back
When I was a little girl, my favorite activity was making mosaics.
The German kindergarten I attended (the US version of preschool) had these hexagonal, dinner-sized plates that we could fill with tiny colored tiles. I can still feel the rush of choosing the colors. The quiet thrill of arranging them. The deep satisfaction of discovering new patterns inside the shape.
Every time there was a new harmony. A new combination that felt interesting. A new way to create beauty.
Everything in my 4-year old little self was glowing. I loved it.
Looking back, I can recognize that this is my earliest memory of being in flow.
The world around me disappeared.
Time seized to exist.
I was in a state of complete concentration and presence.
Years later, during my post-bacc pre-med program at Columbia, that same instinct resurfaced. Instead of just reading and highlighting the textbooks on anatomy, I would paint colorful diagrams of the organ systems to help me study. I vividly remember illustrating the kidneys and how transforming them into something beautiful helped me truly understand them.
If i'm honest, those years in a highly competitive environment like Columbia were insanely stressful for me. I'm not a competitor by nature and my spirit often felt deflated. It was withdrawing into my “creative study sessions” — those flow states — that were essential to my well-being and my resilience that got me through the finish line successfully.
Now as an adult woman who has become firmly grounded in her creative practice, I know:
Flow has always been medicine for me.
The feeling of being fully absorbed, of organizing complexity into harmony, of spending time with myself –painting, tinkering, journaling– are essential for being healthy and successful. They are the key to self-connection, to feeling clear and vibrant.
As I was reflecting on my own journey, I began to wonder… how often do we dismiss the things that put us into flow as “just hobbies” or “things we do if we have extra time” (aka never) instead of recognizing them as medicine?
→ Medicine to regulate.
→ Medicine to process, shed light, and clarify.
→ Medicine to feel present and alive within yourself.
As adults — especially capable, driven, busy adults— we often trade flow for just one more thing on our to-do list.
And honestly, I get it. I make this trade myself often still. Not having enough time isn't an excuse. It's real. I know how busy you are, because I am, too.
But, here is thing: You still have choice. You can shift your priorities. You can move out of the rat-race habits that keep your mind spinning and your body exhausted and make time for flow, for joy, for self-connection.
Here are three questions for you to explore:
What did I love doing as a child that made me lose track of time?
When was the last time I experienced true flow — and what was I doing?
Where in my life am I craving more immersion, creativity, or presence right now?
Sometimes, the most powerful shifts don't come from pushing harder. They come from sitting down, picking your colors — or your words — and letting yourself create.
If you'd like to go deeper into this kind of reflective, creative exploration and gift yourself an hour of flow, I'd love to invite you to join me inside Journal With Me.
Details:
Tuesdays at 12 noon EST/ 9am PST
Feb 24, March 3, March 10, March 17
The investment is $77 for the full series.
I hope you join us!
Have a beautiful day
Caroline
