Category Archives: Faith

Contemplative Springs of Hope

An interactive journaling, contemplative prayer, poetry, and artwork exhibition: created and curated by Molly Ovenden.

Molly Ovenden is a prolific typewriter poet, visual artist, creative mentor, who loves sharing journaling prompts in order to get closer to God as a spiritual practice.

Welcome to “Contemplative Springs of Hope.”

Thank you so much for being here!
I’m so delighted to get to share Beauty and Hope, through art, poetry, and contemplative reflections, with you from wherever you are around the world.

Breakers, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
Aha!, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
Turquoise Sunshine, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
When Evening Comes, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
Ephemeral Iridescence, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
Yellow, You Get Me, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
Sunshine & Sherbet, an original painting by Molly Ovenden
Peach Fuzz & Fire, an original painting by Molly Ovenden

Featured Artwork

“Breakers” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“Aha” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“Turquoise Sunshine” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“When Evening Comes” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“Ephemeral Iridescence” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“Yellow, You Get Me” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“Sunshine & Sherbet” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

“Peach Fuzz & Fire” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

(Note: You can watch the above 25 seconds of quick, time lapsed walkthrough to get a glimpse of the feel of the exhibition here.)

With prayerful joy, Molly shares “Contemplative Springs of Hope” as an offering of creativity and Beauty–as an arrow of Hope that point to Jesus. No matter your faith background, she hopes that you take a moment to pause and reflect on the paintings and the poems.

Perhaps you will become aware of something sacred in your life. Maybe you will notice a fresh experience of Holy Spirit presence and guidance. You might even feel a well of Hope bubbling up as a living spring as you contemplate what’s before you in this gallery.

Visio Divina is an Ignatian spiritual practice of finding God and the sacred in art and in nature by contemplating on the visual. It’s a practice of invitation to slow down, to really look and look again, and to notice what you see, visually as well as in your being–emotionally, as memories or thoughts well up.

No matter what you experience, how engaged you are here, or what you get out of the art, poetry, and prompts, Molly hopes you will feel full of Hope when you leave this space.

(Note: You may choose to experience the gallery exhibition in a slower pace than the time lapsed video earlier. You can watch and pause this video here with the chatter and bustle of Sunday morning gathering and giddiness.)

What is VISIO DIVINA?

Click here to find out more of how to engage.

When we look at Art, often within one to two seconds we’ve decided, “I don’t get it. I love it. I don’t like it. That’s cool. I like it. I hate it. I don’t understand art.” And whatever declaration we make about the piece, we simply move on without much thought.

In school we tend to experience and learn about Art (if we learn about Art, at all) in its parts and pieces: elements and principles. We learn to label color, line, texture, pattern, balance, contrast, and we practice treating Art like we do in Biology while dissecting frogs. 

Here are all of the pieces taken apart…but, what do we do with them? How do we put them back together? What am I meant to do? How do I create and notice beauty with all of…this mess?

Art may be a source of discouragement or hurt for you. You are invited.

“Artist” may be a title you courageously call yourself. You are invited.

Poetry may be a mystery that baffles and distances you. You are invited.

“Writer” may be a title you comfortably use to identify yourself. You are invited.

Maybe you used to love art or words, but an important person in your life–a parent, a teacher, a close friend–laughed at you, said your words were crap, or that being creative and expressing emotions was a waste of time…or, even just plain wrong.

Maybe you know Art is Beauty and you co-create with the Creator of the universe. You’ve studied it, been published, shared your creative work regularly–received positive responses from your collectors and readers…and you’ve found that Art is part of who you are.

But, what if you responded “Yes” to this invitation to search for the sacred and connect with Our Heavenly Father through Art and Beauty in Nature? What if you began to see Beauty as an Arrow of Hope, pointing to Jesus? What if you paused for a couple of breaths to notice God in Art?

Visio Divina is a contemplative prayer practice from Ignatian Spirituality which invites the viewer of art to ponder and dwell with a piece of art for a bit longer than normal. It’s an invitation to notice and experience the sacred, the divine, to see our Creator God in the art. And, it’s an invitation to wait on Holy Spirit to reveal something fresh to us through Beauty–in Art, in Nature. 

“Breakers”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
10 x 10 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Breakers”

“Breakers” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

Something I love about this painting is…the way the negative white space holds the wave droplets of blue from the bottom right square scrape. This is one of my “Scrapings” and one of the things I love about this process of painting is how unpredictable it is. It’s always a practice of freedom from control and perfectionism. This favorite part of mine is there only because I let go of control. I love the squelch of acrylic paint and how it squishes and then when I lift off my scraper, there’s some cool pattern left over.

The meaning behind the title is…my parents and I went to an RV marina resort in central Minnesota when I was about 10-13 years old. It was called “Breakers.” I learned to fish out there on Lake Mille Lacs and I loved staying in our Airstream trailer and doing stuff by the water. Breakers are the waves that break against the land. You can see the whitecaps (which is partly played out in the white negative space of this piece) of the breakers and it just reminds me of happy summers with my mom.

“Breakers”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
Riding edges of water

smooth glass mirrors
seagulls flitter disturbing
calm into waves

walleye leap munching,
surface ‘squitos hover,
perch feast bubbling,
humid mayflies dance,
northern pike fighting,
slimy leeches slither
calm into waves

foamy white ripples
eagles rest observing
active waters cascade

sapphires ebb to wake
loons laugh beckoning
calm into waves
into crashing breakers’ spray

Riding edges of water

Try this:
Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Breakers.”

Which part are you drawn to most: The straight, clean edge of the top squares? Or, the uneven edge of the bottom squares?

God, why might this stand out to me today?

How do you respond to this collection of blues?

God, what might You want to say to me about this color?

Thank You, God, for being with me in this moment of reflection.

“Aha!”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
9 x 11 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Aha!”

“Aha” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? Once I’d held up the matt to “find” the painting, I had a physical reaction, like a gasp–like an, “Aha!” moment of joy and discovery. It’s called what it did to me and for me.

Something I love about this painting…is how many colors are used without being muddy. I love the deep blue at the bottom next to the turquoise. I love the metallic shimmer throughout. I love the warmth of peace. I love how the white actually participates within each square–not just as a backdrop. I love how it still makes me gasp with joyful realization long after I created it.

“Aha!”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
I’ve been waiting
I’ve been wishing
I’ve been exploring
I want that moment
To come in surprise
To shock me alive
To ignite my soul
–without any warning!

I’ve been praying
Through cloudy nights
I’ve been pleading
Through foggy days
I’ve been waiting
In Hope until morning

“Aha!”

When my eyes brim
From tears as Beauty
In sunrise blazing peachy-blue
And I praise
In a gasp of solitude.

Try this:
Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Aha!”

Which square are you drawn to? What do you notice about how the colors mix together?

God, what might You want to say to me about this mixture of colors?

How does your response to the negative space (where paint isn’t) differ from your response to the positive space (where paint is)?

God, what might You want to show me through my response?

Jesus, thank You for being with me in this moment of prayer.

“Turquoise Sunshine”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
11 x 9 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Turquoise Sunshine”


“Turquoise Sunshine” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? Haha–isn’t it obvious? Just kidding! This angle of scrapes lends itself to suggesting movement–but, a very slight and gentle movement. It’s this same kind of impression I feel on a cool, summer day with sunshine streaming through the shade of some old tree–the light changes–and so do the colors and leaves.

Something I love about this painting…is the gentle movement. I really love it. I love the puffs of white that subtly make them selves known, like clouds on a blue sky canvas of summer sunshine. I also like how clean it feels. And although the yellow use here is mainly like lemonade, I love the little blip of egg yolk in the upper left edge of the piece.

“Turquoise Sunshine”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
Sun cream smeared,
–check!
Beach lounger secured,
–check!
Snazziest sunglasses donned,
–check!

Eyes closed in sunshine,
Imagination dreaming peace,
Deep breaths inhaled
–a pause…
Cleansing breaths released.

Sun hat? Shading perfection,
Cool breeze? Gentle direction,
Camera ready? Indeed!
With views sans obstruction.

A moment by the water
Could be turquoise by the sea,
Or simply: an afternoon 
Near my neighborhood pond.
–just sunshine–
And, you and me!

Try this:
Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Turquoise Sunshine.”

What do you notice about the angle of this piece?

God, where in my life might You want to show me a different perspective?

Consider the title or the poem alongside this painting: Can you see the poem happening in the painting? What other stories do you see happening in the painting?

God, what might You want to show me about the stories I tell myself about my life?

Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding me in this time of prayer and contemplation.

“When Evening Comes”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
11 x 9 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“When Evening Comes”


“When Evening Comes” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? In Yorkshire, the latitude is further north than in Minnesota, so the angle of light is different. As an island, Great Britain is surrounded by unique cloud cover. This also alters the quality of light as it dissipates. The rapeseed fields of most delightful yellow thrill my eyes–especially at the low light of sunset. That is the moment I see captured in this piece.

Something I love about this painting…EVERYTHING! THe yellow is exactly the yellow of my favourite fields. There’s an indigo-purple-blue situation in the top ⅔ of six scrapes of squares. I love the “sloppiness” of the twilight and how light and shadow interact with the progression of day into night.

“When Evening Comes”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
When evening comes…
Today’s fun must pause:
Resetting.
Returning.
Putting it all away.

When evening comes…
Night’s fears may threaten:
Swallowing.
Isolating.
Mocking insecurities stay.

When evening comes…
Resting Beauty winks indoors:
Basking.
Mesmerising.
Standing in awe, awake.

When Evening comes…
This moment’s choice to follow:
Seeking Truth.
Pursuing Life.
Holding Hope for Day when it’s Night,
Or choosing lesser that leaves one hollow–

When evening comes…
May there be pondering peace
And intentions of gratitude.

Try this:
Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “When Evening Comes.”

What do you notice about the textures the paint makes in this piece?

God, why am I drawn most to this particular type of texture?

Consider the descriptions alongside the piece–what the artist loves and where the title comes from: How does connecting with the artist through her words create meaning as you experience this painting?

God, where might I be longing for connection with someone in a relationship that has gone dark into the evening?

Abba, Father, thank You for loving me as I spend time seeking You now.

“Ephemeral Iridescence”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
10 x 10 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Ephemeral Iridescence”

“Ephemeral Iridescence” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? According to lexicom/com Ephemeral, is defined as “lasting for a short time…(chiefly of plants) having a short life cycle” and iridescence, defined as “Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.” Noticing beauty in nature is really important to me; sometimes it is fleeting, but the beauty in nature is always a gift from God.

Something I love about this painting is…the pastel shades and the way that each of these four squares in this “Scraping” create the white, negative space of the white canvas paper, creating a cross that’s slightly at a jaunty angle.

“Ephemeral Iridescence”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden

trying to catch
a leprechaun
left a trail:
golden glitter
through each hall
then gone

trying to recall
a dream
left a whisper
strange memory
through the mind
then gone

trying to hold
a hope
left a yearning:
yet unanswered
through caverns of grief
then gone

trying to kindle
a friendship
left a sweetness:
imprinted the soul
through lifetimes of love
–a season ephemeral, 
fleeting though valued
–a grace iridescent,
glimmering through raised palms

Try this:
Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Ephemeral Iridescence.”

Which part are you drawn to most: The vertical or horizontal space between squares? Or, the space where the paint is?

God, why might this particular detail stand out to me today?

What do you notice about your emotional reaction to these shades of colors?

God, what might You want to say to me about these colors?

Thank You, God, for being with me in this moment of reflection.

“Yellow, you get me.”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
9 x 11 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Yellow, you get me.”

“Yellow, You Get Me” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? Yellow is joyful, triumphant, light, and fun. I want to be joyful, triumphant, light, and fun! So, I feel like yellow understands who I am and who I hope to be. I hope that it could be an encouragement to others who see this painting.

Something I love about this painting…is the fact that it is yellow. Because I love yellow! I always say that all of the colors are my favorite, but I think that yellow might actually be my favorite. It’s so happy!

“Yellow, You Get Me.”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
In a world
Where Lonely curls
Cosy in at home,
Feigning
Acceptance when
We all feel alone–

In a world
Where risking honest
Words aloud screams
Retreating
Obscurity when
We all feel misunderstood–

It’s a smile.
It’s a nod.
It’s a “hello”
Each today
That dulls in
Streaks of grey…
It’s a welcome home
Greeting, of gratitude
And joyous relief:
“Yellow, you get me!”

Try this:
Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Yellow, You Get Me!”

Which square are you drawn to? Are you drawn to more than one because of how they connect? Because of something else?

God, what might You want to say to me about this collection of shapes?

How does your response to the negative space (where paint isn’t) differ from your response to the positive space (where paint is)?

God, what might You want to show me through my response?

Jesus, thank You for being with me in this moment of prayer.

“Sunshine & Sherbet”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
11 x 9 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Sunshine & Sherbet”


“Sunshine & Sherbet” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? It looks like a glorious summer day with high up, wispy clouds in the all blue and then there’s this bright spot of yellow joy the color of both a sugary lemon sherbet and of sunshine.

Something I love about this painting…that while I tend to go for a warm yellow, this one is much cooler–and, I love the effect. And when I take a moment to really look at this painting, I love how many different combinations of blues and yellows there are without fully making green.

“Sunshine & Sherbet”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
Trampoline imaginings–free!
Those summer days
Way before I reached my teens.

Bouncing to fly–high!
Those summer dreams
Way before youth washed away.

June till August scheming–please!
Those summer ice creams,
Long walks on the beach,
Hiking trails through leafy trees,
Swimming with lake fish
Or, salty creatures from the sea.

Tender dancing–glee!
Those summer firefly nights
Way before autumn beckons
–it’s sunshine and sherbet
Memories to create for me.

Try this:
Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Sunshine & Sherbet.”

What do you notice about the perspective created in this piece?

God, where in my life might You want me to find a new balance?

Consider the title or the poem alongside this painting: Can you see the poem happening in the painting? What other stories do you see happening in the painting?

God, what might You want to show me about the stories I tell myself about my life?

Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding me in this time of prayer and contemplation.

“Peach Fuzz & Fire”
Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed.
11 x 9 inches

Become a Collector:
Click Here to Purchase
“Peach Fuzz & Fire”


“Peach Fuzz & Fire” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection
– Listen here & watch here.

How did it get this title? I love peaches and their fuzzy squish. The edges of each of these squareish scrapes are not sharp–they have a gentle fuzz. The lift-off of paint is minor and creates just an edge of blue, like the spherical, though fuzzed edge of a peach. And, the colors are similar to peaches I’ve enjoyed eating. Oh–and, especially the top right square looks like flames to me!

Something I love about this painting…is that it has orange and peach and dusty mauve colors. They weren’t colors, at the time of painting this piece, that I usually chose to include. But, when someone viewed an exhibit of mine, they shared an observation: Molly, you don’t really paint with orange, do you? I hadn’t realized! So, I started to introduce warmer colors and this is such a fun result! I also experimented by off-setting the scrapes: I love the experience of how the negative space changes.

“Peach Fuzz & Fire”
A Poem By: Molly Ovenden
gushing juices
of fruits in season,
tapping toes giddy
in queues eternal–
that sweetness,
so worth it,
a delicious reason!

oh, to eat them:
these long-awaited
peaches, dripping
tastebud joy.

encircled by friends,
sharing slurps,
laughing stories
around a starry-skied
crackling summer fire
everyone prays
shan’t ever end…

Try this:
Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Peach Fuzz & Fire.”

What do you notice about the textures the paint makes in this piece?

God, why am I drawn most to this particular type of texture?

Consider the descriptions alongside the piece–what the artist loves and where the title comes from: How does connecting with the artist through her words create meaning as you experience this painting?

God, where might I be longing for fire to be rekindled? Or extinguished?

Abba, Father, thank You for loving me as I spend time seeking You now.

Thank you!

I am so grateful that you have taken time to look, listen, contemplate, sit with, reflect on, read this exhibition, “Contemplative Springs of Hope.” And my prayer is that you’d find a moment of Beauty that is an arrow of Hope for you.

Closer, the book

Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers and Thinkers helps people of faith grow closer to God through the acts of writing and thinking, so that they can live full, authentic lives as the person who they are made to be.

Purchase your signed copy here.

The process all started more than ten years before the book was released into the wild.

Listen to pre-launch day reflections here.

I had graduated from college during a recession. I’d started my university education at a time when organizations simply wanted their employees to have a degree in something and I ended with a degree when organizations preferred their new employees to start with at least five years of professional, working experience in the field they were hiring.

So.

I sat at home in my pajamas applying for teaching jobs every day of the summer. I worked for a family member, too, so at least I had a summer income. While I worked I had a lot of time to think about fun things, like actually becoming the writer I dreamed of being. Like actually writing a book. Like continuing to write regularly as I’d been doing while I was a student.

(By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.)

My summer job with family was an assembly line and I was quicker than the machine (yay, me!) and this meant I could write my thoughts and book ideas in a notebook between assembly. Thankfully my boss was a supportive family member (because I got the work done efficiently and quickly — my writing along the way didn’t slow me down).

When 4:30pm hit, I’d clock out and hop into my car, clutching my notes from the day. I’d charge through the door of my mom’s house, still wearing my greasy clothes from the machine shop and I’d plop down at the dining room table with my notebook. I’d spend the next 30 to 60 minutes furiously scribbling all of the thoughts I’d had about the notes I’d jotted that day.

Grab your signed copy of Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers here.

. . . . . . .

By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.
Now you can get your words out from brain to page and into the hands of readers who will devour them, too.

I wanted everything that had been swirling around all day to get on the page. And, I was curious about what might come out.

I had a practice of capturing ideas all day in a scrap of notebook paper.

I had a practice of expanding the ideas every day when I got home from work.

I had a practice of showing up every day as the writer I wanted to be.

Listen to pre-launch day reflections here.

This practice meant that I was available daily for the muse to come and inspire me. In this book’s case, my muse was the Holy Spirit. And, I developed a practice of listening for the Holy Spirit, noticing where God is in my daily life, and looking for what I could learn from God to get closer to Him.

📚You can find a signed copy of my book Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers here.

(By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.)

📚You can find my book on pretty much wherever books are sold. If you enjoy reading my book, please leave an honest review on Amazon: 

📚You can order the Kindle or print version on Amazon. 
The print version is available at the following (& more!) locations, regionally:

🇺🇸US readers order print copies here.

🇦🇺Australian readers order print copies here.

🇬🇧UK readers order print copies here.

Closer is a collection of essays about every day events where I experienced the presence of God and learned to grow closer in my relationship with Him.

The format is simple:
a) Here’s my story.
b) Here’s how you and I, dear reader, are in it together.
c) Here are some questions to think about where you might notice God.
d) Here’s a prompt for you to write YOUR story.
e) Read. Write. Think. Repeat.

Intrigued? Sign up here to get all of the details about this book and how you can get your hands on it.

📚You can find my book on Amazon or wherever books are sold. If you enjoy reading my book, please leave an honest review on Amazon: 

📚You can order the Kindle or print version on Amazon. 
The print version is available at the following (& more!) locations, regionally:

🇺🇸US readers order print copies here.

🇦🇺Australian readers order print copies here.

🇬🇧UK readers order print copies here.

Listen to pre-launch day reflections here.

7 Ways Gratitude Helps Us to Focus

Gratitude keeps us grounded, focused on the present. Being content is being thankful for what we already have. Thanksgiving allows a time of reflection on what’s happened, where we’ve grown, what’s surprised us, we count our life blessings and then we can look ahead with a hopeful attitude.

I can lose perspective when I’m not present here and now. I’m either daydreaming or looking ahead only we leaves me feeling stuck today. Holding past, present, and future up to God means they can all work together and not exist in unhelpful isolation.

Living in the Past
We all can learn from Napoleon Dynamite’s Uncle Rico that living in the past isn’t the best way to live. Being in the past alone can leave us feeling regret and hopeless because of what we didn’t do or something we wish we hadn’t done. Looking back constantly can also be full of fear of what’s coming from our past to bite us or rear-end us like in a car crash.

Living in the Future
But, living in the future isn’t ideal either. When we only look ahead, we’re always not yet there. We haven’t achieved that goal yet. We haven’t become that writer yet. Our goal posts keep moving as we make progress. When we focus on the future, we only see that we’ve not reached the finish line yet.

Living in the Present
Gratitude offers a different perspective. Gratitude allows us to be here today while keeping the tension in check. We can be thankful while holding onto the known of the past and holding onto unknown of the future. Gratitude gives us the opportunity to be a supportive observer of progress and supported holder of hope.

There are undoubtedly countless ways to grow in gratitude. Here are several reflections which I’ve found helpful to I engage regularly to live with gratitude:

Photo by wewe yang from Pexels

For the morning:
1. Today I am grateful for…
I look back at what’s happened recently and I take time to look around me. In the physical, I often notice the good about my home, my job, my family, my health and body. In the emotional, mental, and spiritual I often notice something that feels happy or something I’ve accomplished or how I’m experiencing my relationship with God.

I list 3-5 items or phrases that express what I’m thankful for in the morning.

2. What would make today great?
I consider what I hope to accomplish in the day and imagine what it’d be like if I could show up how I want to. Often my list of “great” comes what I want to accomplish and in some ways it can become a to do list. Other times it includes thoughts about being present or a mindset. We want every day to be great, right? So, I always intend to keep this reflection for items which I have control over.

I list 3-5 to do’s or to be’s in the morning as I look ahead to the day.

3. I’m thankful for these people:
I usually consider this in the morning and lift up 3-5 people that I feel particular gratitude for. Most days it’s my husband in one of the slots and usually it’s my coach, pastor, spiritual director, or friend who has helped me through something or stuck with me in something or for whom I simply feel full of love and gratitude.

Sometimes I spend a moment in the evening to thank God for the conversations that happened throughout the day with certain people. Whether morning or evening or throughout the day, noticing the people in my life in the here and now helps me. Acknowledging them points me toward progress made that they’ve helped me though and points me toward hopeful future with them in my community.

You might even consider writing one of these people a note or postcard to send in the mail. Or, perhaps a text or phone call would be better. Sometimes taking a moment to make a personal connection helps us experience more ingrained gratitude and passes on a feeling of thanksgiving to those whom we’re thankful for.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

4. Awesome things that happened today…
Usually I’ll reflect on this in the evening, but sometimes I’ll start in the morning to reflect on the previous day. I list 3-5 things that happened in the day that were a surprise, a relief, a moment of joy, an accomplishment, a gift.

Sometimes it’s amazing or awesome or really cool because it was a hard thing I was trying to achieve (like drinking more water than coffee or having a hard conversation with someone that resulted in a better situation) and it’s sometime awesome because I got to be with a person or was surprised by noticing God in a situation even when I wasn’t intentionally reflecting, but being present in the here and now.

5. How could I have made today better?
I usually list 2 things each night that I could have done better. It’s amusing how over time I can see the consistent struggle to run more frequently, do more yoga, eat healthier, go to bed earlier.

Like #2 with what we can do to make today great, this one is also a focus on things that are within the realm of our control where we’d like to improve. Noticing the regularities allow us time

Photo by Arina Krasnikova from Pexels

6. What did I learn today?
Looking at what I’ve learned allows me to realize that yes, indeed, I have made progress. My own tendency is to look so far ahead in the dreamland of “Wouldn’t it be cool if?!” if I’m not taking intentional action and noticing what progress I make.

A head in the clouds in fun for a time, but it’s not a healthy place for me to live as it’s a seed for despair when I only consider the lack of what hasn’t happened yet, since I dream of that which isn’t reality.

As a lifelong learner, I also want lifelong learning for others, so at the end of the day, I hope you’ll reflect. Whether it is “I learned that something is wrong with the toilet” or “I learned that I need to learn x” or “I learned how to plot my novel” each of these measure progress and paint a picture of transformation.

7. Where have I experienced God today?
This allows me to pause and spend time breathing, praying, asking God to reveal Himself to me. Even if this is a mere moment, I think spending a moment is better than never. I do this throughout the day and have had seasons of setting an alarm or calendar notification every couple hours to help me re-focus.

Some people would describe this as a time of contemplative prayer or an examen to reflect on consolations (all of the good, life-giving, invigorating things) and desolations (all of the bad, life-draining, wearing-out things).

If faith is important to you, I’d encourage you to do this each evening before bed and ask God to show you where He was at work over the last 24 hours. Even if faith isn’t important to you, I’d encourage you to consider where you noticed anything spiritual happening. Who knows what may come to mind?

How would you feel if you decided that TODAY is the day to become the writer you’ve always dreamed of being? Grateful?

Book a call with me to see if 1-on-1 time with a creative writing coach is your next right step.

How to Become an Audacious Writer

Audacious is a big word, one synonymous with outspoken, sometimes intimidating people. Yet, it’s also often synonymous with success, courage, seeing massive dreams come to fruition. Audacious, as defined by dictionary.com, means, “extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless: an audacious explorer.“

Those of us who’ve sat back and observed someone instead of taking action ourselves, we’ve have felt intimidated, offended, demoralized when watching someone with the audacity to succeed in doing the things we want to do (and usually not as well as we know we could do them). Yet, I didn’t take action. Other times, I’ve felt that I couldn’t measure up to achieve what I saw others doing.

When I finally resolved to take audacious action:
in spite of feeling afraid,
in spite of worrying about what people think of me,
in spite of knowing how to fully do what I want to be able to do,
I felt more like myself.

How do I become an audacious writer?
1. Write and share words even when I feel fear.
2. Write and let go of others’ thoughts about me.
3. Write and keep writing even when I don’t know how to finish or where I’m going.

Here are three lessons I’ve learned about how to become an audacious writer.

How to Become an Audacious Writer

Lesson #1:
Fear Doesn’t Have Power to Hold Me Back, Unless I Give it Power.
Fear can be loud, dark, blaring, and in your face. It can chase you. It can whisper in your ear. Fear can be very persuasive.

But, fear has no power unless you give it over.

For me, fear has a very real spiritual aspect to it. Because I believe that Jesus is who He says He is in the Bible, giving into fear holds me back from receiving love, and I’m just not into that.

So, I know that I can take action in spite of the fear surrounding me because I know that I am loved. When I doubt that I am loved and accepted, cracks begin to form where fear can seep in and scare me off from completing my writing task. This gives fear permission to have power to push me down.

I will write and share words even when I feel fear.
Fear is part of reality. How I react to feeling fear determine whether I give it power over my life. The difference between feeling afraid and being afraid is massive.

When we feel afraid, it’s a condition outside of ourselves that we can choose how we respond in the midst of it.

When we are afraid, however, it’s a characteristic of our identity. While conditional, it is part of who I am. “I am afraid.” Being afraid means stopping in our tracks. Phrases like ‘paralyzed by fear’ cause us to take no action and live in a state of fear.

Simply feeling the fear is an awareness of the fear, but because it’s not part of our identity, we don’t have to respond to it. It has no power, because I’ve not attached it to my being.

As a result, I write words and I share them. Yep, there’s a ton of stuff that feels scary to me. That will likely always be the case that things feel scary, but it doesn’t always have to be the case that they really are scary.

So, while the unknowns, the doubts, the uncertainties can feel scary, I choose to write the words and get them out and not allow fear the delight of holding me back from becoming the audacious writer I’m made to be. I hope the same for you, too.

Lesson #2
Fear About What Others Think of Me is a Waste of Time.

It’s true that I actually spend more time worrying about myself and what I’m meant to do that I do thinking about other people. It’s selfish and normal and, dare I say (yes, I dare because I’m an audacious writer) freeing!

Most of us are stuck in our own minds. This is a topic for another post series, but the reality is that usually people simply aren’t as hyper focused on you and your choices as you are with your own.

When this comes to how to become the writer you’re made to be, allow yourself the ability to get words out. If people are concerned with or by your words, there’s an opportunity for a conversation where you can get to know each other more.

If you’re committed to being an afraid writer who doesn’t write, but simply thinks about writing, people will think of you the same amount that they will if you actually take that audacious step to get your words out, but they won’t have the opportunity to know you in the same way.

Sharing your words is an invitation.

I will write and let go of others’ thoughts about me.
When I write, I am being myself. I am a writer. I am a writer who writes thoughtfully. I am a writer who submits and publishes regularly. I am a writer who encourages and empowers others to become the writers they’re made to be.

The reality of publishing through contests, open calls for submissions to magazines or podcasts, traditional publishing methods means that there is a limited amount that can be published within each issue or episode or print catalog.

The reality of publishing means that sometimes your work doesn’t fit at this time for the publisher, purely from a logistics standpoint. Magazines, for instance, often have themes for each issue. If January’s theme is animal rescue stories and your overcoming cancer story gets rejected, it isn’t necessarily that the publishers think your story is garbage. It just doesn’t fit at this time.

Of course sometimes it can refer to the quality of my submitted work, but one way to ensure my work is of highest quality as possible is to…write! And, keep writing and let go of others’ thoughts about me.

I want to think this part goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. When I say I’m letting go of what other people think about me, I don’t mean that I can write mean things about people or lack regard for upholding someone’s character or reputation or that are outright mean. What I mean is that I’d rather write my words than not write words in case maybe somebody might not like them (because not everybody will always love everything you or I write–we’re too different to all love the same things).

Lesson #3
Fear of Not Knowing How to Do What I Want to Do Doesn’t Have to Hold Me Back.
When I was a kid I developed this messed up belief that turned into a massive fear I lived many years with. If I can’t do something perfectly the first time something is wrong with me and I shouldn’t try to do it.

This just isn’t true. If I’ve never done something before, of course I don’t know how to do it and of course I won’t be able to do it perfectly. Also, only God is perfect, so me trying to do things perfectly isn’t helpful.

When I’ve allowed the fear of not yet knowing how to do something hold me back, I’ve let go of the power of learning and education. I believe that we all have the capacity to learn and we can observe this human quality as we watch babies learn to walk and listen to them learn to talk. They aren’t afraid of making mistakes or scared because they don’t know how to do something yet. They just do the thing.

I will write and keep writing even when I don’t know how to finish or where I’m going.
It’s a choice to keep putting one word in front of the other. When I plan my writing with exact precision, I can get stuck and prevent creativity from flowing if as I write my ideas morph or change all together.

At the time of writing this (November 2021), I’m in my first draft of a novel. I know vaguely how it will end, but I really have no idea how it’s going to get there. I don’t know–yet–how to weave my main characters’ stories together into a cohesive narrative. I don’t know how to work with a particular editor, yet. I don’t know yet what the best method of publication for this story is yet.

Instead of stopping in fear before I even start the story, I’m committed to writing and allowing myself to learn and discover along the way. This adds fun to the process of creating, but it also allows freedom for me to meander and glean everything I can along the way.

When we do this, I think it makes us better writers, too. We’re not locked into the way it’s always been done. We’re not paralyzed and prevented from any forward motion. We can move forward with imperfection and it’s the process that’s most valuable.

As a creative writing coach, I’m committed to helping people become the writers they are made to be and I do that through courses, community, and coaching. If you’d like to learn more about how to become an audacious writer, I’d love to speak with you. Book a Discovery Call today.

Should you write, paint, or teach? Why I’m doing it all!

Who am I?

I am Molly Ovenden, a writer, visual artist, educator, and creative coach thought partner, based in northern Minnesota. Creativity has always been a part of my life, but after moving to England in 2010, I felt compelled to take creativity more seriously.

After seven British years, I returned to Minnesota in 2017 with a bearded Englishman carpenter for a husband, dual citizenship in the U.S.A. and the UK, and a renewed confidence in my identity in Christ as a daughter of the King of kings who is deeply loved by my Heavenly Father, and as a writer and artist who has valuable words and beauty to share with the world. I have continued to pursue a creative life, which, as of January 2021, has become a creative career.

Molly proudly posing in from of the feature wall of her exhibition
at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery in Grand Marais, Minnesota in December 2019.

What inspires me?

Beauty in Nature

I’m fascinated by color, line, and light, and my paintings are often an exploration of how these elements all interact with each other. I love the freedom of experimentation since I cannot be in control of what actually occurs. I work mainly with acrylic paint, watercolor and felt tip pen and I am learning to experiment with an even wider range of materials, such as coffee (yup, you read that right–it’s not just for drinking in this gal’s studio!), and various recycled materials for collage and mixed media pieces.  

Sharing Stories: yours & mine

As a writer, I also value telling stories. Not only am I intentional about how I title each painting, I love to write stories, fiction and true. Capturing what I learn from God through everyday life, I tell stories through devotionals and personal essays. The concept of how humans simultaneously live their own vibrantly intense lives intrigues me, too, so that idea is the source of my current novel and short story projects. 

My Students

I teach online community education classes on creativity, writing, and art. My students are a constant source of inspiration. Their questions and enthusiasm propel me into consistent creativity, learning from them as well as being challenged by their different ways of thinking.

Why start a blog? 

I am learning to love sharing my own story! As a five on the enneagram (a personality , I’ve lived in unhealthy mindsets of being overly private and hoarding the information, experience, ideas I have. Often I’ve lived in fear and scarcity–although I can live like it’s the reality, it doesn’t have to be my reality (or yours!) and I’ve realized that the more I share of myself, my creativity, what I’m learning, the more I experience abundance and overcome fear.

What will I write about?

  • What I’m learning:
    • as an artist through exhibiting and sharing my artwork in exhibitions, cafes, galleries, and online.
    • as a writer, and tips, ideas, inspiration for your own writing life.
    • in my spiritual life from God and from others around me.
  • What books I am reading, how I’m growing, developing, and healing as a lifelong learner.
  • What I’m writing, drawing, painting, and otherwise creating and where you can find it.
  • How I make creativity a habit, how I grow as a creative person, and ideas of how you can stay in creative growth, too.
  • What I’m doing for self-care, from healthy eating to marathon training to sleeping well.

Why do I want to write a blog?

I’m a writer! I want a platform to share my writing journey. I’ve learned so much from hearing about other people’s processes and I want to give back in hopes of helping someone who’s where I have been.

  • I want to share to encourage you toward personal growth.
  • I want to inspire you to try new things and to live a creative life.
  • I want to overcome my own fears and maybe, help you do the same as I share my transformation story and process.
  • I want to create with regularity and consistency to stay accountable by sharing what I’m working on with you.
  • Ultimately, I want to tell my story to bring freedom and hope to you in the midst of living your own story.

I’m thrilled you’re on this journey with me. Leave a comment below and let me know what you’d like help with: What keeps you from pursuing creativity in your life?