In this Music Monday episode, we explore what it really means to “stand in the light and be seen as we are” — not someday when we’ve fixed all our flaws, but right now. Inspired by Jordan Smith’s powerful anthem "Stand in the Light."

We’ll dive into how showing up authentically, even while we're still growing, leads to deeper happiness, stronger relationships, and greater creative freedom. You'll learn how embracing vulnerability (with wisdom and context) helps people love and understand the real you.

We’ll also talk about:

• Why standing in the light doesn’t mean oversharing

• How to show up differently depending on the relationship

• What kinds of opposition keep us hiding — and how to move through it

• And how to shine even through the storms.

This episode is an invitation to show up with courage, clarity, and character — and find joy in the light.

Link to Song: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDrOVOoTjRU

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

What do ferns, coastlines, and your inner life have in common? In this reflective episode, we explore fractals—those endlessly repeating patterns in nature—and how they mirror the patterns in ourselves. Through science, story, and original poetry, we uncover how the smallest choices, habits, and emotions ripple into our larger lives. Plus, we take a fresh look at happiness as a fractal: not something distant, but a pattern of micro-joys that build a beautiful whole. If you're craving a blend of wonder, introspection, and gentle insight—this one's for you.

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

On this Constitution Day, host Brian Barlow explores one of history’s most powerful acts of creation, not just the founding of a nation, but the courageous life of Susan B. Anthony. In a time when women had no voice in politics, Anthony dared to create change: through speeches, partnerships, organizing, and one audacious vote that challenged the Constitution itself.

This episode unpacks how Susan B. Anthony didn’t just fight for a better future — she created it. Learn how she built movements, endured resistance, and found happiness not in outcomes, but in action. Her story is a reminder that joy comes from building something meaningful — even when the odds are against you.

✨ “I pray every second for a heart to do the work and a soul to feel the joy of doing it.” — Susan B. Anthony

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

Welcome to Happiness Through Creating! This week I’m kicking off something new:

Music Mondays — where I share a song from my Becoming Playlist and connect it to the science and principles of happiness through creation.

Today’s track is “How They Remember You” by Rascal Flatts — a powerful reflection on legacy, character, and how we show up in the relationships that matter most. It’s not about fame — it’s about impact.

Using this song, I explore 4 powerful forces of opposition that every creator faces:

1. Doubt

2. Distraction

3. Delay

4. Distortion

Whether you’re creating art, a business, or meaningful relationships, you’ll face opposition. But the joy of creating isn’t in perfection or praise, it’s in becoming who you’re truly meant to be.

Link to Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwRSZnUzSfk

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

In this episode of Happiness through Creating, Brian explores a profound idea from the German thinker Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: how the way we see ourselves and others can shape who we become. Brian reflects on Goethe’s quote:

“If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he is what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."

He discusses how it applies not only to our relationships with others but also to our relationship with ourselves. By shifting our perspective and seeing both ourselves and others through the lens of potential, growth, and possibility, we can create the conditions for true happiness — not in arriving at perfection, but in the journey of becoming.

This episode includes practical steps to help you treat yourself and others with grace, see your potential, and embrace the ongoing process of becoming who you're meant to be.

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating, host Brian Barlow dives into the transformative power of improvisation, not just as an art form, but as a mindset for everyday life.

Drawing on his experiences as a musician, entrepreneur, parent, and coach, Brian shares how learning to “improv” can unlock deeper joy, creativity, and presence—especially in the face of life’s unexpected challenges.

Discover why improvisation isn’t about winging it or letting go of preparation, but about releasing fear and embracing the moment as it is. Brian reveals how improv can be a constant practice that enhances happiness, strengthens relationships, and fosters resilience.

🔑 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why you're already improvising every day (and how to do it more intentionally)
• How dropping fear-based emotion (the "E") from “improve” helps you live more fully
• How improv is an expression of your Creative Operating System
• Why improv doesn’t replace preparation—it redeems it
• How living with improv wisdom leads to greater connection, courage, and joy

If you’re ready to stop resisting life and start dancing with it, this episode will inspire you to show up not just physically, but fully.

🎧 Listen now and start living life like the improviser you already are.

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating, we explore the powerful lessons behind the story of Apollo 13, a mission that went from a planned moon landing to a life-or-death rescue in space. What can this iconic NASA moment teach us about creativity, adaptability, and the power of insight?

You’ll discover how the Apollo 13 team used opposition, collaboration, and constant insight loops to overcome impossible odds—and how those same principles apply to your own creative journey. Whether you're facing setbacks, pressure, or uncertainty, this episode is your reminder that failure isn’t the end—it’s often the beginning of your most remarkable work.

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠⁠

In this episode, we explore how creativity and choice are key to building a joyful life. Inspired by the powerful message in Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten,” I reflect on how we can shift our mindset—and how this particular anthem encourages us to embrace change, let go of old roles, and step into authorship of our own lives.

We’ll talk about the idea that character isn’t just something you’re born with—it’s something you build. Whether you're starting over, questioning your path, or simply feeling stuck, this episode offers a reminder that your next chapter is still yours to create.

Tune in for a fresh perspective on personal growth, self-agency, and the happiness that comes from living intentionally as a creator of your own journey.

Find me at:

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating, we explorehow Character fuels meaningful creation, and how it connects to Tal Ben-Shahar’s S.P.I.R.E. model of whole being. Learn how to use the Insight Loop (Assess → Adjust → Act) to strengthen your character across the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional dimensions and keep your creative energy aligned, purposeful, and powerful.

Find me at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/briancbarlow⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠

In this powerful episode, we dive into the incredible true story of Wilma Rudolph — a young girl once told she would never walk, who defied all odds to become the fastest woman in the world. Her journey from polio and poverty to Olympic gold is a living example of how character, iteration, and resilience drive the creation process.

Through the lens of the Creator’s Pyramid, we explore how Wilma used her setbacks as fuel, insight-looped through failure, and harvested strength with every step. If you're facing opposition or doubt today, this episode will inspire you to reconnect with your own creative operating system and rise.

Because like Wilma, you were born to create, even when the world says you can’t.

Find me at:

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LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancbarlow/⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.creatorsopposition.com/⁠