Creative Mindset

Welcome to the 21-day journaling challenge to reframe your inner critic!

It’s day 1, woohoo!

This is the opportunity to understand yourself better and reframe your inner critic, so it’s not holding you back.  

Listen to this episode to find out what your journaling prompt is today and understand your creativity.  

Then journal for 5 min with me. 

I have a piece of lovely music from Purple Clouds from MintWhale - Melodyloops 

I’ll share some of my thoughts tomorrow. But for now, to your pen and notebook!

Join my free 21-day journaling challenge from Monday 30 May 22 to understand who you are as a creative, what’s holding you back, and how you can reframe that little voice in your head. 

I'll post an episode every day, where you can journal at the same time as me and reframe that inner critic! 

Today, I'm sharing some journaling tips and explaining how this challenge is going to transform your mindset and help you being an amazing artist! If you don't want to miss out, subscribe now!

 Join the challenge for daily reminders: https://www.ajmerlin.com/challenge

Music: Purple Clouds from MintWhale - Melodyloops

Throughout the season, I asked all my guests the same 5 questions. I'm so happy to share theirs answers today with you! 

So if you're read to feel inspired and have a laugh, grab a drink, put your feet up, and enjoy a bit of creative mindset.

Here are the 5 questions they answered:

1. When you look in the mirror, what are the first thoughts that come to mind?
2. What do you think about your career so far?
3. Imagine you’re late for an important interview. You’re stuck in traffic, you can’t do anything. You’re going to be 15 minutes late. What are your thoughts and behaviour?
4. If you could travel back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
5. Share with us one affirmation/mantra/motto that you find useful

If you missed out my guests' interviews, check it out:

• Interview with Shaida Kazemi: How to balance mindset and work on set
• Interview with Catrine Kirkman: Motherhood & Creative Career
• Interview with The Female Film Club: How collaboration and peer support can enhance your creative career
• Interview with Fabrizio Gammardella: The creative process behind an animated short film

Thank you so much for listening to this episode. Creative Mindset is going on  a break for now. Look after yourself and see you soon!

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Intro and outro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer 

 Who procrastinates at the moment? Ironically, I kept postponing recording this episode.

So why do we procrastinate? And how can you get out of that loop?

In this episode, I share 3 tips that will help you overcome your procrastination, understand where you are at, and be kind to yourself - because there is no point being harsh on yourself!

And if you want to go further and stop overthinking, I have a workshop on 27 June "Strenghten your Intuition", where I'll teach you a practical technique so you can connect to your real intentions and act upon them.

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Intro and outro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer
Episode Artwork: Geralt from Pixabay

Today I talk to Fabrizio Gammardella, the writer, director and editor of "A Piglet's tale", an animated short film that's doing really well in festivals right now (12 awards so far!)

Watch A Piglet's Tale trailer

In this episode, we talk about:

• The genesis of the project: writing, pre-production, and why choosing animation
• 08:49 Fabrizio's career as a director and editor, and how it all started
• 12:39 Team work in a virtual world
• 17:00  Fabrizio's mindset during the 4 years of production
• 20:54 Post-production and distribution reality
• 27:00 Family's reaction to a personal project and a difficult topic
• 31:28 Juggling "real-life" work with  a passionate project
• 34:36 What's next

I felt so inspired and energised after this interview, I hope you will too!

AJ Merlin

Join me for two virtual workshops:

• Reframe your inner critic - Wednesday 9 June, 7pm BST with the Female Film Club 
• Strengthen your intuition - Sunday 27 June, 7pm BST  - Book Now on Eventbrite 

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Fabrizio Gammardella 

• Watch Sissy's Dream 
• Check latest info about A Piglet's Tale
• Check out Fabrizio's upcoming short film: Supertramp
• Join Fabrizio's Vegan Facebook Group: Green Food Pyramid
• Fabrizio's website

 Intro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer 

Start the day feeling motivated, inspired, and ready to conquer the world!

This guided meditation/motivational talk will give you the confident boost you need for your day.

It's only 5 minutes, so you can listen to it quickly in the morning before heading off.

At the end of this episode, you will confident, motivated, and relaxed.

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Visualisation music: Tribal Jungle by Eitan Epstein Music
Episode Artwork: cottonbro from Pexels

Disclaimer:
You are entirely responsible for how you choose to understand and use what you hear during this visualisation. We can accept no responsibility for any adverse affects, direct or indirect, that may result from listening to this visualisation. 

Today I talk to Liza van der Smissen, actor and producer, and Nicole Lieberman, producer, and both founders of the Female Film Club, a membership for filmmakers that want to support each other, and look after their mindset.

In this episode, they share:

• their experiences so far in the film industry, 
• their tips about successful collaboration and teamwork,
• how the Female Film Club can help you as a filmmaker,
• their mindset tips for female artists. 

I felt so inspired and energised after this interview, I hope you will too!

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The Female Film Club
Check out their website
Their Facebook group
And their Instagram profile
Check out their new campaign!

Intro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer 

 Today I talk to Catrine Kirkman, a soprano and actress.

We talked about her career in the opera and how she made it, how she juggles motherhood and her work, and she shares some tips about critics, auditions and stage fright.

Warning: We giggle a lot in this episode, so be ready to smile and laugh with us.

Episode Description

• How Catrine became a soprano
• 08.33 How Catrine looks after her mindset
• 10.11 Catrine’s biggest setback and self-sabotage stories, and how she overcame them
• 16.00 Juggling Motherhood & Creative Career
• 26.00 How to deal with critics, auditions, and stage fright

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If you want to learn more about Catrine:
Check out her website
And Her Instagram profile, with her amazing work as a doula

Intro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer 

 Time to go for a walk and reach your  goal.

Your limited beliefs are holding you back. Come and take a walk in this guided meditation to clarify what you want to achieve, learn what is holding you back, and let it go.

At the end of this visualisation, you will feel relaxed, confident, and lighter.

Join me on a walk in a dense forest to release your negative thoughts, release your doubts, and the tension in your body.

This is an opportunity to look after yourself and be in the present moment.

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Intro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer
Visualisation music: Forest Sanctuary by MintWhale
Episode Artwork: Archie Binamira - Pixabay

Disclaimer:
If you have a history of mental illness, then please consult with your health care provider before listening to this visualisation. 

You are entirely responsible for how you choose to understand and use what you see during this visualisation. We can accept no responsibility for any adverse affects, direct or indirect, that may result from listening to this visualisation. 

Last but not least, you will feel really relaxed, so please do not listen while driving or operating heavy machinery.

So happy to introduce my first interview!

I talked to Shaida Kazemi, a talented and experienced script supervisor, working on films, and TV, and commercials. And she's a multi-skilled artist too!

That's why I was really interested to talk to her about her career and see
how she's juggling everything while being very busy on set.

We talk about what it is to be a script supervisor and how to handle the pressure of multi-tasking, how it is important to be unique, especially when you grew up with two different cultures, and obviously, Shaida shares with us her mindset journey and what she learned along the way.

If you're looking for inspiration and a dose of motivation, you're in the right place!

Episode Description

1.23 Who is Shaida and what is a script supervisor
05.29 When Shaida started her creative career and how her family reacted
09.24 How do you juggle your different creative skills
12.16 Shaida's mindful journey and routine
17.36 The obstacles she met along the way and how she overcame them
23.22 How not to kill someone on set and how to resolve conflict

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Intro music: Minimalist Approach by Ihsandincer