Flow Over Perfection: What Watercolor, Yoga, and Aging Have in Common

There’s a moment in watercolor painting when you realize you’re no longer in charge.

You’ve mixed the colors. You’ve touched brush to paper. And then—if you let it—the water takes over. The pigment spreads. Something unexpected happens. If you try to control it too tightly, the painting stiffens. If you loosen your grip, it comes alive.

That moment came up again and again in my recent Sexy in Your 60s podcast conversation with lifelong friend and artist Wendra Lynne—a conversation about creativity, yoga, reinvention, and what it really means to stay alive and engaged as we age.

From Control to Presence

Many of us were raised to believe that doing things well meant doing them perfectly.
Getting it right. Pushing through. Holding it all together.

But somewhere in midlife and beyond, that approach starts to feel… exhausting.

Wendra spoke about intentionally choosing faster, more intuitive forms of art—like watercolor sketching—because going too slowly allows the mind to take over. Judgment creeps in. Self-doubt gets loud. The joy drains out of the process.

Yoga, she explained, works the same way.

Movement first.
Breath first.
Then—only then—stillness.

The goal isn’t mastery. It’s presence.

And that’s where flow begins.

What Aging Gives Us

One of the quiet gifts of aging is that we become more willing to let go of who we thought we should be.

Wendra reflected on how confidence has deepened with time—not because she suddenly knew everything, but because she trusted herself more. She no longer needed external validation in the same way. She could choose projects that mattered, create in ways that felt authentic, and allow her work to evolve.

This isn’t about dramatic reinvention.
It’s about gentle shifts:

• listening more closely

• letting curiosity lead

• choosing alignment over approval

That, to me, is wisdom.

Flow Is Also Nervous System Care

Practices like painting, yoga, writing, and mindful movement do something subtle and powerful. They help the nervous system settle. They support what we call neuroregulation—the ability to move out of chronic stress and into a steadier, more grounded state.

When I used that word during the podcast conversation, Wendra laughed and asked if I’d made it up. I explained what it meant—and she immediately recognized it. She’d been practicing it all along through breath, movement, and art. She just hadn’t had language for it.

That moment stayed with me. So many women are already doing what supports their well-being. They simply haven’t been taught the words for it.

Letting Go of Perfection (In Small Ways)

One of my favorite takeaways from our conversation was this:

Don’t aim for the masterpiece.
Aim for five minutes.

Wendra approaches yoga this way. She doesn’t promise herself an hour. She promises herself five minutes. Often, it turns into more—but the pressure is gone.

The same applies to creativity, movement, and self-care.

You don’t need a new identity.
You don’t need a new plan.
You don’t need to get it right.

You just need to begin—gently.

A Simple Invitation

If you’ve been feeling stuck, disconnected, or overly self-critical, try this:

• Take a walk and notice color.

• Rearrange one corner of a room.

• Stretch for five minutes.

• Pick up a pen or brush without a goal.

Not to produce anything.
Not to improve yourself.
Just to be present.

Because flow doesn’t come from trying harder.
It comes from loosening your grip.

And in this season of life, that may be one of the most powerful shifts we can make.

About Wendra Lynne

Wendra Lynne is a visual artist, author, and illustrator whose creative work spans painting, teaching, and storytelling. Her career has taken her across the U.S. and internationally, and she continues to explore creativity as both personal practice and shared experience.
🎨Learn more at bywendra.com

Continue the Conversation

If this reflection resonated, you may enjoy my Sexy in Your 60s Starter Guide—a gentle resource for women who want to feel more grounded, energized, and at home in this season of life.