"We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down." Kurt Vonnegut

Have you ever been scared to leave your comfort zone? Does the idea of taking a creative risk or starting on a new venture make you nervous? I think we can all relate to that feeling. But in this episode Paula talks about the importance of taking creative risks in order to discover your full potential, and also about the benefit of finding the people who will help nudge you "out of the nest" the next time you want to try something bold and daring in your creative life!

"Do not seek praise. Seek criticism." Paul Arden

Criticism can be a intimidating prospect for an artist. But constructive criticism is actually a very valuable tool that can help us to develop and mature in our creative fields. If you've been a little scared to seek out constructive criticism or feedback, you don't have to be any longer! In this episode Paula walks through 5 really basic steps that will help you develop a safe, positive, and actually useful network of constructive critics, so that you can use their feedback as a part of your everyday creative process!

"I think that you've got to make something that pleases you and hope that other people feel the same way." Thomas Keller

As long as artists are producing work for other people's enjoyment and consumption, there will always be a need to find the balance between making things that we expect others to appreciate and creating work that speaks to our soul. In this week's episode Paula talks about the importance of remaining true to yourself and your passions in your creative life. It is a simple truth, but one that every artist needs to rediscover at some point in their journey. So if your art is starting to feel more like work and less like a labor of love, this may be exactly the reminder you need to bring your passions back to life!

"Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday." Ray Kroc

Many people dislike the idea of creating on a deadline. The time pressure that a deadline creates can often feel like a major hindrance to the creative process. But in this episode Paula spends some time diving into the benefits that deadlines can bring to our overall creative life, and helps to frame them, not as a problem to avoid, but as a challenge that should be embraced.

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"You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club." Jack London

In this episode Paula talks about the difference between passive creativity (that waits to be inspired before it begins to create) and active creativity (that deliberately seeks out inspiration so that it can create). She also goes over 5 basic tips to develop a more proactive creative process, so that you can build a stronger creative habit.

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"It seems to be one of the paradoxes of creativity that in order to think originally, we must familiarize ourselves with the ideas of others." George Kneller

Has a piece of art or a creative work ever inspired you to go out and make art or create something new of your own? Have you ever wondered why? In this episode Paula spends some time exploring what it is about art that inspires us to go out and create, and discusses why a steady diet of artistic consumption is so important for a healthy and productive creative life. 

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"Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes." Oscar Wilde

Have you ever felt like your creative life was cluttered with the abandoned and half-finished pieces from your past? Are you holding onto projects that you KNOW you're never going to finish? In this episode Paula talks about the power of letting go and getting rid of the creative clutter in your life, so that you can make room for the things that actually excite and inspire you!

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"One sure-fire way to stay creative: force yourself to learn something new." Harvey Mackay

In this episode Paula welcomes the amazing Wendy Tri, and they talk about dance, choreography, softball (because Paula can't dance), and how important it is to push yourself to constantly learn and expand your creative skills. If you feel like you're in a creative rut, this episode will encourage you to recharge your creativity by challenging yourself to learn something new.

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"Big ideas come from the unconscious… But your unconscious has to be well informed, or your idea will be irrelevant. Stuff your conscious mind with information, then unhook your rational thought process" David Ogilvy

In this episode Paula and her guest Michael Casill talk about the process of writing music, where they find their creative inspiration, and how they recharge when their creative process goes stagnant. If you've ever felt "out of ideas" or just creatively deflated, this discussion about finding and feeding your creative energy might be just the inspiration you need to go back out and rediscover your creative joy!

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"The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before." Neil Gaiman

Paula and her guest, Ashley Horton, talk about what it's like to be a "naturally" creative person and the joy that creativity can bring. They discuss the fun and the challenges of pursuing a creative career, and talk about how vitally important it is to support people's creative side both personally and professionally. 

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