What if the key to unleashing your creativity isn't found in hustling harder but in following the whispers of curiosity that most of us have been conditioned to ignore? Valerie and Mak McKeehan dive deep into how our education system and cultural messaging train us to become prisoners of outcome-based thinking, postponing joy until we achieve some distant goal.

From their earliest days in school, people learn to focus on test scores rather than the process of discovery. This mindset follows us into adulthood, where we become addicted—yes, literally addicted at a physiological level—to the stress hormones that keep us in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction. The most shocking revelation? Joy is actually one of the most vulnerable emotional states we can experience, which explains why our brains often sabotage moments of happiness with intrusive negative thoughts.

For those feeling stuck or uncertain about their creative direction, this episode offers liberating permission to experiment without judgment. Your creativity isn't just some frivolous hobby—it's the gateway to accessing your unique magic. As Valerie puts it: "You are made for what is whispering to you, because the only reason it's whispering to you is because it's in you."

Follow Valerie & Mak on Instagram: @valeriemckeehan and @thatmakguy

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