Years ago, I went to a yoga class and found I couldn't bend or be as flexible as the other participants there. And it triggered a moment of shame for me.

I had to remind myself that if you are beginning a new creative process or project, you are beginning - and that's exactly where you should be!

If you compare yourself with others and allow that to stop you from continuing on, it will cheat you of your own enjoyment and learning.

In this episode, we explore the value of being aware of our own great expectations and how we can set ourselves up for greater enjoyment when we embrace where we are in the creative process.

If you are feeling inspired to deepen your own relationship to creative living, including nurturing your creative expression and being kind to yourself, you can receive direct support, guidance and tools from me inside Flourish: The Art of Creative Living.

It's a program that weaves together supportive practices for creative hearts from all walks of life - whether you're an aspiring creative, a creative professional, or a creative entrepreneur - into one complete tapestry. Along the way, you'll meet an incredible, encouraging community of fellow Creative Hearts, who you can both receive support from and offer support to in return while you explore painting, journaling, photography, writing, mindfulness, and other creative practices to help your craft a life that is deeply fulfilling, meaningful, and true to you.

Registration for Flourish: The art of creative living is now open. You can find out more about it at http://www.nicolanewman.com/flourish. You're also invited to receive my free seven-day Art of Creative Living introductory course, which is a wonderful overview of my approach and gives you tools and practices you can implement right away, giving you a taste of what you'll experience inside the full program. You can find that free mini-course here https://www.nicolanewman.com/flourishwithpainting

I hope you enjoy this episode!

We all have inbuilt ideas about what makes something "good". Whether we have picked up tastes and values from our parents, society, or even scrolling social media, it's easy to believe that one form of creative expression is good and another is substandard. One form is valuable and another is not, but there's always a context that goes along with any creation.

Join me as we explore how challenging and expanding our ideas about creativity actually leads to more freedom and authenticity in our own creative expression. 

If you are feeling inspired to deepen your own relationship to creative living, including nurturing your creative expression and being kind to yourself, you can receive direct support, guidance and tools from me inside Flourish: The Art of Creative Living.

It's a program that weaves together supportive practices for Creative Hearts from all walks of life - whether you're an aspiring creative, a creative professional, or a creative entrepreneur - into one complete tapestry. Along the way you'll meet an incredible, encouraging community of fellow Creative Hearts, who you can both receive support from and offer support to in return while you explore painting, journaling, photography, writing, mindfulness, and other creative practices to help your craft a life that is deeply fulfilling, meaningful, and true to you.

Registration for Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is now open. You can find out more about it at www.nicolanewman.com/flourish. You're also invited to receive my introductory free mini-course, which is a wonderful overview of my approach and gives you tools and practices you can implement right away, giving you a taste of what you'll experience inside the full program.

Thank you for being here. It's my honor to support you in your creative living adventures. Until next time, be gentle with yourself, nurture your creativity and follow your heart. And I hope you have a beautiful day ahead! 

With my warmest wishes, 

Nicola x

Often when we begin a new creative project, we have a vague, or sometimes very upfront, fear of failure attached. We don't want to "get it wrong". We don't want to look like a fool or be embarrassed by what we create. We want people to be impressed! And we want to have the reassurance that it will all work out. 

However, what I've found after years of making things, whether it's been producing documentaries, renovating a house, making a website, writing a book, building a heart-led business, or making a painting is this, you've got to trust the process. But what does that mean - trust the process? 

In this episode, let's explore how trusting the process actually works and how it supports us in our creative lives. 

If you are feeling inspired to deepen your own relationship to creative living, including nurturing your creative expression and being kind to yourself, you can receive direct support, guidance and tools from me inside Flourish: The Art of Creative Living.

It's a program that weaves together supportive practices for creative hearts from all walks of life - whether you're an aspiring creative, a creative professional, or a creative entrepreneur - into one complete tapestry. Along the way, you'll meet an incredible, encouraging community of fellow Creative Hearts, who you can both receive support from and offer support to in return while you explore painting, journaling, photography, writing, mindfulness, and other creative practices to help your craft a life that is deeply fulfilling, meaningful, and true to you.

Registration for Flourish: The art of creative living is now open. You can find out more about it at http://www.nicolanewman.com/flourish. You're also invited to receive my free seven-day Art of Creative Living introductory course, which is a wonderful overview of my approach and gives you tools and practices you can implement right away, giving you a taste of what you'll experience inside the full program. You can find that free mini-course here https://www.nicolanewman.com/flourishwithpainting

Now, I hope you enjoy this episode!

Once we get past our thoughts and our resulting reluctance to begin a new project or creative process, we can embrace mindsets to support us in moving forward and making things happen. And when we do, we can be amazed by what we can create!

In this new podcast episode, I share one of my favourite ways to deal with common obstacles we all face when living a creative life. You'll also hear the story of how I got started as a young artist.

If you are feeling inspired to deepen your own relationship to creative living, including nurturing your creative expression and being kind to yourself, you can receive direct support, guidance and tools from me inside Flourish: The Art of Creative Living.

It's a program that weaves together supportive practices for creative hearts from all walks of life - whether you're an aspiring creative, a creative professional, or a creative entrepreneur - into one complete tapestry. Along the way, you'll meet an incredible, encouraging community of fellow Creative Hearts, who you can both receive support from and offer support to in return while you explore painting, journaling, photography, writing, mindfulness, and other creative practices to help your craft a life that is deeply fulfilling, meaningful, and true to you. 

Registration for Flourish: The art of creative living is now open. You can find out more about it at http://www.nicolanewman.com/flourish. You're also invited to receive my free seven-day Art of Creative Living introductory course, which is a wonderful overview of my approach and gives you tools and practices you can implement right away, giving you a taste of what you'll experience inside the full program. You can find that free mini-course here https://www.nicolanewman.com/flourishwithpainting

I hope you enjoy this episode! 

You can use this beautiful heart-based meditation to gently bring an intention into your heart and infuse it with more clarity, peace and inspiration. Perhaps you want to carve out more time for yourself amongst the demands of daily life, or you're feeling a craving to be able to express your creativity more freely and joyfully. 

Listen to this calming meditation when you want to bring your desire into your heart. Allow your intention to inspire you and draw you forward into the next chapter of your life. You are welcome to return to this meditation any time you need some calm, gentle focus to refocus on what is important to you. 

Please share this episode with other Creative Hearts and help me share tips, resources, and inspiration by reviewing my show on iTunes! You can easily do that by clicking here. Your review will help the show find its way to more people who want to prioritise, nurture and express their creativity and live intentional, creative lives! Thank you for helping me spread the word!

I’m joined by Annie Gichuru, who is the founder of Uplifting Studios, a platform dedicated to supporting migrant women of colour.

As a life coach and the producer and host of Uplifting Studios TV, Annie teaches

how to unshackle self-limiting beliefs. Born in Kenya, Australia is her home where she lives with her husband and two young children.

In this conversation we explore the topic of Creative Legacy and how we can intentionally cultivate creative projects that are meaningful, fulfilling and make a difference in the world. Motivated by those facing the same challenges she faced, Annie believes your future can be one of purpose and impact. Now in Season 3, Uplifting Studios TV is founded on positive storytelling, and showcasing inspiring stories through guest interviews and documentaries.

In this conversation we explore Annie’s personal creative living story, we discuss racism and learning about other people’s perspectives, the process Annie guides her clients through when they are facing limiting beliefs, plus her personal gratitude practice and how she’s simplified it over time, and lots more.

I loved recording this episode with Annie and I’m so honoured to have her on the show. I’m really thrilled to share this one with you today.

Website: https://www.upliftingstudios.com.au/ 

Life Coaching with Annie Gichuru

FREE Mindset Audio Guide: 3 Steps to Unshackle Your Self-Limiting beliefs

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anniegichuru

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upliftingstudiostv/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upliftingstudiostv/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/UpliftingStudiosTV

Join us for a year of creative living in my global creativity school, Flourish: The Art of Creative Living. 

Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is a global, year-long creativity school for Creative Hearts who want to learn how to paint, dissolve creative blocks, build a loving relationship with themselves, cultivate mindfulness and expand their personal creative expression. Explore painting with acrylic, oil and watercolour paints, creative writing, photography and poetry. Flourish includes 12 months in my Creative Hearts Community to foster connection with like-minded souls and access fun-filled live creative workshops, virtual retreats, guest teachers, and monthly community calls.

Find out more and join us here: https://www.nicolanewman.com/flourish/