Ever wonder why your studio feels… suspiciously quiet?
Like things are finally working—but instead of celebrating, you start spiraling?

Welcome to the Alignment phase of the CREATE Spiral.

In this episode, I break down the strange emotional landscape of finally clicking with your voice—and why that ease can actually feel more unsettling than resistance. You’ll hear why this moment of calm might be the biggest sign that you’re doing it right.

We’ll talk about:

• The inner voice that whispers “This is too easy—what’s the catch?”
• Why your brain interprets ease as danger
• How alignment isn’t a plateau, it’s a powerful shift in momentum
• What changes (and what doesn’t) in your studio when you’re in this phase

And most importantly—how to trust this part of the journey without self-sabotaging your way out of it.

Your Episode Map:

[01:25] What alignment actually is—and why artists feel so uneasy here
[03:27] The eerie quiet of self-trust (and why it feels off)
[05:35] Your voice gets the mic for the first time
[07:41] You still feel discomfort—but you’re not layering judgment on top
[09:11] “Growth = struggle” is a lie we need to unlearn
[10:23] What alignment looks like in your studio day-to-day
[13:06] The question to ask when you feel ease: “Is this what I want?”
[15:15] Why it feels like things are falling away—not being added
[17:24] Craving chaos? You might be ready to expand
[18:32] Alignment = your voice getting stronger
[21:32] You didn’t get lucky. You got aligned.

Words worth pinning next to your easel:

• “This isn’t a plateau. This is what it feels like when you’re no longer working against yourself.”
• “The quiet is your voice finally getting a turn at the mic.”
• “You still feel discomfort. You’re just not spiraling from it anymore.”
• “You didn’t lose your edge. You stopped fighting yourself.”
• “You’re not stuck—you’re integrating.”

What to Bring Into the Studio With You

• Notice what’s not there: fewer cranky voices, less panic, more space.
• Reframe the weird quiet as a sign of progress—not a problem to fix.
• Pull out your last few paintings—look for patterns, not problems.
• Let it be enough. This phase doesn’t need a breakthrough to be valuable.

Do you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?

If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.

Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.

Thanks so much!

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