Through the simple act of watercolour painting, Jaime Townzen discovered “physiological peace” .
A period of caregiving and loss stalled Jaime's writing career, but a spontaneous decision to try watercolour painting during the pandemic provided her with a sense of physiological peace that years of traditional self-care could not reach, while also serving as a bridge to transport her back to writing.
After years of navigating stress and grief, Jaime found that focusing on the process over the product – and giving herself permission to “just do it for the sake of doing it” – completely rewired her body’s response to anxiety.
Jaime found she could use art to:
• Calm her heart rate and return to a normal breathing pattern.
• Silence the “constant hum of anxiety” and the physical shake of stress.
• Find a sense of 180-degree transformation that her previous high-pressure path couldn’t provide.
Jaime’s story is a reminder that creativity isn’t just about making something beautiful – it’s about finding your breath again.
Listen to the full episode of Creativity Found to hear more about Jaime’s journey from pre-med student to published novelist and how she navigates the “creative sandbox” amidst life’s distractions.
