If you want to feel better - CREATE! 

Are you feeling exhausted in a way that sleep doesn’t fix?

Are you barely productive, and also feel disconnected, foggy, or burned out?

In this episode of Create Today, Beth explores why creativity isn’t a “nice-to-have,” but a biological need for your brain, nervous system, and emotional wellbeing.

As mentioned: When you're ready for guidance with your creativity!

Join the Sylva Sessions Wellness Membership:

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

This episode is a deep exploration of science-backed facts about creativity— as well as an uplifting conversation about how small, everyday creative acts help you feel better — not by fixing you, but by supporting how your brain actually works (for the better!).

You’ll discover:
• Why feeling better is a brain regulation issue, not a personal failure
• How chronic stress reshapes the brain — and why motivation disappears
• What creativity does neurologically to calm the nervous system
• How hands-on creative activities reduce amygdala over-activation
• Why dopamine from creativity is different from dopamine from scrolling
• How creativity supports emotional regulation, resilience, and focus
• Why your brain doesn’t care if you’re “good” at what you create
• The difference between creativity for wellbeing vs. creativity for performance
• Why daily creativity (even a little while) compounds into real change
• How to choose a creative practice that actually helps you feel better

You don’t need talent.

You don’t need more time or money.

You just need permission and commitment.

Creativity isn’t indulgent.

It’s foundational self-care for your brain!

🎨 Mentioned in this episode:
Sylva Sessions
A space for creative wellness, nervous system care, and sustainable creativity
Join the Sylva Sessions Wellness Membership:

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

For Professional Artists - Register for Create-Today Membership!

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/2GB9xYBj/checkout

Email Beth and let’s chat:

[email protected]

The Create-Today Home Page:

https://www.bdi-create.today

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:16 The Search for Wellbeing
03:05 Creativity as a Solution
05:17 The Biological Benefits of Creativity
06:35 Understanding Brain Function and Stress
09:02 How Creativity Engages the Brain
16:38 The Importance of Doing, Not the Result
19:35 Who Benefits from Creativity
21:20 Making Creativity a Daily Practice
27:55 Creativity as Self-Care
30:26 Conclusion and Call to Action

When the World Is in Chaos, Self Care Is How You Can Survive.

The world feels heavy right now.
Breaking news. Extreme weather. Political tension. Constant alerts.


Many of us are walking through our days with a quiet weight we can’t quite name — but we feel it in our bodies, our energy, and our creativity.

In this grounding and timely conversation, Beth is joined by returning guest Lisa Murphy, healthy aging coach and trusted voice in whole-person wellbeing, to talk about what it means to take care of ourselves in a chaotic world. And, how simple things make a difference in how we deal with chaos.

This episode is not about escaping reality — it’s about learning how to live well inside it.

In This Episode, You’ll explore:
• Why the world feels emotionally and physically heavier right now
• How constant stress, news cycles, and global uncertainty impact our nervous systems
• Why “making life easier” is a powerful form of self-care and resilience
• How small, gentle shifts support long-term health
• Why caring for yourself isn’t selfish, lazy, or optional — it’s necessary
• How creativity helps us adapt, and stay human when the world feels harsh

This conversation is a reminder that we don’t survive chaos by pushing harder —
we survive it by caring for ourselves better.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, worn down and dazed by the noise of our world, this episode offers a simple perspective, and a gentler way forward.

Reach out to Lisa Murphy - Get a complimentary session:
https://www.lisamurphyllc.com/

Join Sylva Sessions Wellness Membership with Beth & Lisa:

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

Register for the Create-Today Membership!

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/2GB9xYBj/checkout

Email Beth and let’s chat:

[email protected]

The Create-Today Home Page:

https://www.bdi-create.today

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome - Lisa Murphy
01:57 Discussing the Heaviness of the World
03:26 Impact of Social Media and News
05:59 Coping Mechanisms and Triggers
15:48 Healthy Aging and Self-Care Tips
24:34 Small Joys and Self-Care
25:36 Challenging Conditioning and Embracing Self-Love
27:20 The Importance of Hydration and Nutrition
30:17 Mindful Eating and Awareness
32:39 Incorporating Movement into Daily Life
36:36 Navigating Guilt and Setting Boundaries
41:34 The Ripple Effect of Self-Care
42:52 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
43:11 Learn about Create Today Offerings

Your Creative Fitness is as important as being physically fit. 

In Episode 110 of Create Today with Beth Buffington, we explore a powerful shift: creativity isn’t a luxury or a hobby—it’s essential mental fitness.

In a world filled with breaking news alerts, political noise, extreme weather, and the constant pressure of perfection on social media, your nervous system is under daily strain.

This episode explains how everyday creative acts can become a scientifically backed way to restore calm, focus, and emotional resilience.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why creativity is a form of mental fitness, not just self-expression
• How simple creative acts trigger dopamine and support motivation and hope
• The role creativity plays in calming the nervous system and lowering stress
• How art pulls us out of fear-based thinking and back into the present moment
• Why creativity helps protect your brain from burnout, anxiety, and overload
• How everyday art supports emotional resilience during uncertain times
• Actionable, realistic ways to add creativity to your daily life (even when you’re busy)
• Why you don’t need talent—just curiosity and permission

This episode is an invitation to step away from the noise of the world and reconnect with something steady, human, and healing—your creative instinct.

✨ Creativity isn’t about making something impressive.

✨ It’s about making yourself feel strong and whole again.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or creatively disconnected, this conversation will remind you that joy, calm, and clarity are still accessible—one small creative moment at a time.

Join my Sylva Sessions Creative Wellness Membership:

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

Register for Create-Today Membership!

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/2GB9xYBj/checkout

Email Beth and let’s chat:

[email protected]

Tutorials and other resources at Create-Today:

https://www.bdi-create.today/almost-free-resources

The Create-Today Home Page:

https://www.bdi-create.today

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction to Creative Wellness

00:27 The Impact of Modern Life on Our Attention

01:38 The Power of Creativity for Mental Fitness

06:05 The Science Behind Creative Practices

10:30 Creative Services and Memberships

12:31 Building a Daily Creative Practice

13:27 Tips for Consistent Creativity

19:49 The Importance of Play and Experimentation

21:05 Conclusion and Encouragement

Curiosity is a SUPER Power you can use to be happier, healthier...and SMARTER!

Knowing how to use curiosity as a creative tool — is a super power for your brain.


In this episode, you will explore the neuroscience of curiosity — and why wonder builds creativity, resilience, and wellbeing.


Stay to the end for 7 simple ways to live a more curious life starting today!

Curiosity isn’t just a personality trait — it’s a brain-reshaping force you can harness.

In this episode of Create Today with Beth Buffington, we explore how curiosity fuels your brain, your creativity, and your overall wellbeing.

You’ll learn why curiosity helps you learn better, feel better, and stay creatively alive and joyful — at any age.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why curiosity softens rigid thinking and opens creative pathways
• How curiosity helps your brain connect ideas in unexpected ways
• The neuroscience behind curiosity, dopamine, and learning
• Why scrolling and quick dopamine hits stimulate the brain — but doesn't help it grow
• How curiosity builds neural pathways tied to memory, adaptability, and emotional resilience
• 7 simple, realistic ways to live a more curious life (starting today)

You’ll also discover how curiosity supports long-term wellbeing — not just momentary motivation — and why it may be one of the most underrated tools for creative and emotional health.

✨ Plus: You’ll realize that curiosity offers the benefits of dopamine with long-term payoff — not burnout.

Join my Sylva Sessions Creative Wellness Membership:


https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

Register for Create-Today Workshops!


https://www.bdi-create.today/workshop-events-calendar

Tutorials and other resources at Create-Today:


https://www.bdi-create.today/almost-free-resources

The Create-Today Home Page:


https://www.bdi-create.today

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction to Curiosity
01:43 The Power of Curiosity
03:45 Curiosity in Creative Problem Solving
08:34 Neuroscience of Curiosity
11:26 Healthy Dopamine vs. Fast Dopamine
14:52 Practical Tips for a Curious Life
20:08 The Importance of Curiosity Today
21:28 Your Invitation to Be Curious This Week

E108 The Story of So Loco - Why Women Need Scream Pillows
(and Creative Ways to Release What We Carry)

Get ready for a powerful, honest, and unexpectedly joyful conversation about creativity, emotional health, and why sometimes… you just need to scream into a pillow.

In this special episode of Create Today, Beth is joined by Laura Pagley and Sandra O’Neil, founders of So Loco, a women-led brand rooted in empathy, emotional wellbeing, and community. ✨

In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why creative release is essential for emotional health (and not something to feel ashamed of)
• The story behind the So Loco
• How creativity helped Laura and Sandra survive toxic work environments and reclaim their joy
• Why confidence isn’t a prerequisite for creative courage
• How imposter syndrome shows up — even for successful creatives
• The importance of community, compassion, and not carrying life’s weight alone
• How creative ideas evolve slowly — and why that’s a good thing

This episode is for you if:
• You’ve ever felt emotionally overloaded
• You’ve questioned your confidence or creative path
• You’re craving permission to release, rest, and reconnect
• You believe creativity can be a form of self-care and healing

How to Find So Loco and their products:

Laura Pagley & Sandra O’Neil — Founders of So Loco

Website: www.getsoloco.com

Instagram: @get_soloco

Facebook: So Loco 

LinkedIn: So Loco

Offerings at BDI Create.Today

Join Sylva Session Wellness Membership
https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout
Register to the Create-Today Workshops!

https://www.bdi-create.today/workshop-events-calendar
Register for “Learn the Art of Procreate”

https://www.bdi-create.today/courses
Tutorials and other resources at Create-Today:

https://www.bdi-create.today/almost-free-resources
The Create-Today Home Page:

https://www.bdi-create.today

As always, thank you for being part of the Create Today community. Stay creative, my friend.

What if just a few minutes of creativity a day could shape your future happiness, health, and resilience?

In this episode of Create Today with Beth Buffington, we explore the powerful idea of creative deposits—tiny, consistent creative actions that quietly compound into long-term wellbeing for “future you.”

You’ll discover:
• Why small creative habits matter more than occasional big projects

• How creativity today supports tomorrow’s emotional health, stress reduction, and resilience

• The neuroscience behind creative consistency and brain wellbeing

• How daily creativity creates an upward spiral of mood, motivation, and mental clarity

• Simple, low-pressure ideas for creative deposits you can start today

• Why consistency—not talent—is the real secret to creative wellbeing

• How present-you can actively support the wellbeing of future-you

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for “more time” or “more inspiration”—and start building your wellbeing through creativity that fits into real life.

✨ Your future self will thank you.

Join my Sylva Sessions Creative Wellness Membership:

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

Register for Create-Today Workshops!

https://www.bdi-create.today/workshop-events-calendar

Tutorials and other resources at Create-Today:

https://www.bdi-create.today/almost-free-resources

The Create-Today Home Page:

https://www.bdi-create.today

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction to Creative Deposits
00:41 The Power of Small Creative Actions
02:02 Understanding Creative Deposits
04:19 The Science Behind Creativity
07:31 Benefits of Creative Deposits
09:29 Implementing Creative Deposits
12:28 Creative Consistency and Community
17:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To Succeed —You need to understand YOUR past, present and future spirits.

Creativity isn’t just self-expression—it’s a powerful path to health and happiness.


In this special holiday episode, Beth explores how understanding your creative
past, present, and future can change how you feel—and how you live —and how you succeed.

Learn more about how you can CREATE-TODAY: https://www.bdi-create.today/

Your creativity is powerful: What if one of the most effective ways to feel healthier, happier, and more successful is to better understand yourself—who you’ve been, who you are now, and who you’re becoming?

In this holiday-inspired episode of Create Today, Beth shares how creativity supports emotional wellbeing, confidence, resilience, and meaningful personal growth. This reflective conversation helps you reconnect with your creative identity—not as pressure or productivity, but as a form of self-care and self-trust and paths to your goals.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
🌿 Why understanding your creative past builds confidence and emotional resilience
🧠 How reflecting on small creative wins improves mental health and self-worth
💛 The connection between creativity, happiness, and long-term wellbeing
⏳ What guarding your creativity may be costing your health and joy
🎯 How turning dreams into goals creates momentum and reduces overwhelm
🚫 Five common mindset traps that quietly block success and fulfillment
☕ A powerful visualization: meeting your future self and learning what truly matters
✨ Why creativity is not extra—it’s essential to a balanced, healthy life

This episode is a gentle invitation to slow down, reflect, and choose a more nourishing creative path forward— to a better you.

00:00 Welcome and Holiday Reflections
01:13 The Influence of 'A Christmas Carol'
07:07 Exploring Creativity Past
17:16 Embracing Creativity Present
22:56 Envisioning Creativity Yet to Come
33:53 Meeting Your Future Creative Self
36:40 Final Thoughts and Holiday Wishes

Offerings at BDI Create Today


The Create-Today Membership & Coaching:

https://www.bdi-create.today/membership_coaching

Register to Create-Today Workshops!

https://www.bdi-create.today/workshop-events-calendar

Register for “Learn the Art of Procreate”

https://www.bdi-create.today/courses

Tutorials and other resources at Create-Today:

https://www.bdi-create.today/almost-free-resources

Mini Creations That Calm Stress

Feeling overwhelmed or mentally exhausted?
What if calming your stress didn’t require hours of meditation or expensive solutions — just a few creative minutes?

In this episode of Create Today, Beth Buffington explores how tiny creative acts can gently calm your nervous system and help you build real emotional resilience.

Stress doesn’t usually arrive all at once — it accumulates quietly in the body and mind.

In Episode 105, Beth shares how mini-creations — small, pressure-free creative moments — can help interrupt stress, settle anxious thoughts, and restore a sense of calm.

This episode is a reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be big to be powerful.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Why daily stress often lingers in the nervous system
• What emotional resilience really means (and what it doesn’t)
• How brief creative activity can help lower stress hormones
• Why creativity works even when you only have a few minutes
• Simple, approachable mini-creation ideas anyone can try
• How small creative moments help retrain your stress response over time
• Why creativity is one of the most accessible forms of self-care

Timing of this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Creative Stress Relief
02:14 The Power of Mini Creations
04:45 Understanding Resilience
06:46 Scientific Backing of Creativity
10:54 Practical Mini Creation Ideas
20:31 Long-term Benefits of Mini Creations
22:17 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Create-Today Offerings:

This episode is sponsored by Sylva Sessions, the Creative Wellness Membership.
Sylva Sessions is a supportive space where creativity and wellbeing meet.
We explore how creativity supports emotional health through the 3 C’s:
Core Care – movement, nourishment, rest
Creative Care – creativity as a tool for calm and resilience
Community Care – connection that strengthens wellbeing
Sylva Sessions meets twice a month to reflect, share, and practice creative wellness together.

Here’s the link to join Sylva Sessions:

https://www.bdi-create.today/offers/TYb6qQtg/checkout

Create-Today Membership & Workshops 

https://www.bdi-create.today/

Discover more creative excitement is available now —and next!

Learn more about being healthy and happy using your creativity!
Visit:https://www.bdi-create.today/

If you’ve ever felt stuck, tired, or creatively drained — this episode may be the simplest, most useful creative reset you try all year.

You'll discover how just 10 minutes in nature can shift your mindset, refresh your energy, and open space for breakthrough ideas.

🌿 In this episode you’ll discover:
• Why walking — even just a few minutes — activates divergent thinking, giving you more creative ideas than sitting ever could.

• How exposure to nature acts as a gentle “reset button” for your brain, restoring attention and mental energy so creativity can bloom.

• Emotional and mental-health boosts from being outdoors — lower stress, improve your mood, provide clearer focus and breakthrough ideas.

• Why a 10-minute nature “reset break” can interrupt stuck or repetitive thinking and expand your mental field — making room for fresh, unexpected ideas.

• Five practical ways to integrate short outdoor sessions into your creative life: micro-nature breaks, mindful walking, nature-inspired prompts, creative incubation, and idea retrieval rituals.

• A guided 10-minute “Outdoor Creativity Reset” you can do with Beth— today.

Whether you’re a painter, writer, creator, entrepreneur, crafter, or any type of creative —this episode shows you how to tap into nature as your easiest, most trustworthy creative collaborator.

✨ Want ongoing support for your creative wellness?


Check out Sylva Sessions, our twice-monthly membership — a gentle, soulful space designed to help you nourish your creative spirit, care for yourself, and build community with like-hearted artists and makers.

Link to register for Sylva Sessions: 👉 http://bdi-create.today/sylvasessions

Or go to https://www.bdi-create.today/

00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Creative Blocks
00:48 A Metaphor for Creative Blocks
02:56 The Power of Movement and Nature
06:13 Scientific Evidence Supporting Nature Walks
09:47 Personal Experience: A Walk with Bentley
13:29 Practical Tips for Creative Walks
16:54 Guided Creative Walking Meditation
27:37 Conclusion: Embrace Nature for Creativity

Your Brain on Creativity: The Stress-Relief Paths You Should be Using - with Guest Diane Dreher

When life feels heavy, hectic, or overwhelming — your creativity show you paths to solve problems and find answers.

In this heartfelt conversation with psychologist, author, and coach Diane Dreher, we explore how art, writing, movement, meditation, and inner work become powerful tools for self-care, mental health, and deep well-being.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• A glimpse into Diane’s new book “Pathways to Inner Peace” with an explanation of the 9 pathways you can use through your creativity to create opportunities, find balance and reduce stress.

• Creativity isn’t a luxury. It’s a vital self-care resource for emotional health, resilience, and inner peace.

• How creativity helps release stress, process emotions, and restore balance when you feel depleted.

• The surprising ways creative expression builds self-esteem, clarity, and a sense of purpose — especially when combined with mindful practices.

• Practical ideas and gentle exercises to weave creativity into everyday life — even when time, energy, or motivation feels thin.

• How integrating creative care + self-care + inner growth supports not just your art, but your mental and spiritual health (the kind of care Diane calls “personal renaissance”).

If you’ve ever wondered if your sketches, journaling, or little creative experiments “really matter” — this episode will show you: yes. They matter deeply.

They might even be what saves you.

✨ Ready for ongoing support for your creative wellness?

Check out Sylva Sessions, our twice-monthly membership is a gentle, soulful spaceto help you nourish your creative spirit, care for yourself, and build community with like-hearted artists and makers.

👉 http://bdi-create.today/sylvasessions
Or go to https://www.bdi-create.today/

Find out more about Diane Dreher:

Amazon link to Diane’s new book “Pathways to Inner Peace”
Diane’s Website: https://www.dianedreher.com/

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:08 Diane's Journey and Renaissance Inspiration
03:09 The Concept of Calling and Creativity
04:44 Challenges and Overcoming Adversity
12:26 The Role of Nature and Creativity
15:49 Morning Rituals and Meditation
21:21 Building Confidence and Overcoming Obstacles
29:03 Discovering Your Calling and Creativity
29:33 Managing Stress and Finding Solutions
32:00 The Power of Community and Connection
33:50 Introducing 'Pathways to Inner Peace'
34:13 Nine Pathways to Greater Peace
35:05 Mindful Presence and Simple Practices
36:58 Building Community Through Micro Moments
39:21 Meditation and Mantra Practices
40:42 Kindness, Purpose, and Intuition
48:14 The Pathway of Joy and Happiness Habits
52:22 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude