Day 1
Introducing The Three Phases Of Creative Living
Welcome to Day One of The Art of Creative Living: 7 Day Introductory Course.
I’m so glad you’re here with me on this creative adventure!
Welcome.
We’re going to have so much fun together.
And I want you to know, signing up for this introductory course is a courageous act, on your part. Expressing your creativity and listening to your heart is not usually a high priority in our culture (despite it being path to deep fulfilment, authenticity and freedom).
Ideally, we would all have been taught how to navigate the self-doubt, perfectionism and resistance that pops up during the creative process. Instead, many of us believe we are ‘just not creative’ or that we ‘don’t have time for creative expression.’
Deepening our relationship with our creativity can lead to huge shifts.
Not only in our creative life. But also in our self-worth, relationships, work, spirituality, wellbeing, sense of purpose and meaning – all of it. I’ve seen creative expression support people in so many uplifting, joy-filled and empowering ways.
I LOVE to support folks to deepen their relationship with themselves through mindfulness and creative expression.
Because creative living holds so many gems.
It’s not just about painting (although painting is a wonderful creative practice). During the creative process, you are developing your relationship with yourself. You are deepening your trust in your intuition and carving out time to listen to your own inner wisdom. Which means you can follow your heart and intentionally craft a life aligned with your deepest values.
There are many inspiring programs, products and teachers out there when it comes to being creative. My work supports aspiring creatives, professional artists and creative entrepreneurs and has already touched thousands of people’s lives. But – what makes my approach to creative living unique?
It’s unique for a number of reasons.
Over this 7 Day Introductory Course, I’ll introduce you to some of the most important ones.
From sharing tools to develop self-compassion alongside your creative expression, to a fun-filled acrylic painting date, to creating your own creative map and much more, you’ll receive a wonderful overview of my approach.
Plus, each day you will also receive inspiring small steps you can implement right away to reconnect with your creativity and enjoy the sense of flow and freedom that are oh-so-possible in your creative life.
This 7 day course is an introduction to my work, but it’s just that: an introduction. If you would like the complete experience, come and play in Flourish: The Art of Creative Living, my year-long creativity school.
Now, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the first element of my work…
The 3 Phases of Creative Living: Creative Renewal, Creative Practices, Creative Maps
Let me pause here for a moment, and ask you a few simple questions:
Have you ever tried to reconnect with your creativity – whether it was picking up a paintbrush, beginning a new piece of writing, starting a drawing – only to be so overwhelmed by feelings such as embarrassment, disappointment or fear of the blank page that you stopped right in your tracks – or found it really difficult to carry on?
Have you ever felt a sudden flash of inspiration to make something – perhaps a painting of a scene you love – but found the inspiration dissolved when your skills didn’t match your aspirations and you couldn’t translate the vision in your mind’s eye into reality?
Have you ever felt like you’ve lost your inspiration? Found it difficult to complete a creative project? Been worried about criticism of your work? Wondered where your motivation to be creative has gone or had someone’s ‘constructive feedback’ completely throw you off course and left you doubting your creative ability?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you’ve already touched on why I created the Three Phases. They are an elegant framework supporting the different aspects we need to cultivate if we are to experience joyful creative lives.
Here they are:
Creative Renewal – This is the emotional side of reclaiming your creativity. Here, we let go of old stories about our creative abilities and shine a tender, loving light on our creative past. We uncover attitudes we have absorbed from our family and culture and gently explore creative shame, perfectionism and self-doubt. We give ourselves a sense of safety and surround ourselves with support. Then, with playfulness and curiosity, we set our intentions for the next season of our creative lives.
Creative Practices – This is the practical side of creative living. Developing your skills, learning how to paint with acrylic and oil paints, and using free journaling, collage and photography to support your creative expression. From colour mixing, brush control and painting materials to explorative mark-making and spontaneous intuitive painting, we develop our practical skills with incremental baby steps and lots of playful experimentation.
Creative Maps – Here, we draft the three-terrains of your creative map to guide you through the mountains and valleys of the creative process. Cultivate your inspiration and navigate feedback or criticism as you give yourself permission to create in ways that align with your heart. Let go of comparison and embrace your natural rhythms and timing as you uncover your unique creative path ahead.
Each phase is intricately linked with the others. They are always unfolding – one doesn’t stop and another begins. They are like a tapestry, where each phase is woven into and affects each of the others.
You may like to consider them as different doorways into your creative living adventures. Ways you can develop a strong, loving relationship with yourself through mindful creative expression.
It’s important to cultivate each phase to experience truly sustainable shifts in our creative lives.
We need the emotional support of Creative Renewal to dissolve creative blocks such as perfectionism, procrastination, self-doubt and other emotional patterns we have around expressing our creativity. We need the hands on practical skills of Creative Practices to bring our creative visions to life. And we need Creative Maps so we can find our way through the creative process.
When we nurture these three phases, we experience profound creative freedom.
Today’s Small Steps:
What’s your relationship with each of these phases? Are you comfortable with one, but don’t know much, if anything, about another?
What phase is calling out for love and attention, right now?
You’re welcome to share your experiences, photographs, paintings and questions in our Creative Community. Request to join the Facebook community here — and then click “Join Group.” Myself or my team will approve your request within 24 – 48 hours.
Today, it’s also worthwhile thinking about why you want to embark on this introductory course and your intention behind signing up. How can it benefit you? What can you do to support yourself to show up for it so you can enjoy those benefits?
Until tomorrow … with my warmest wishes,
Nicola xx
P.S. Stay tuned for my #1 favourite tool to deal with creative blocks and the inner critic in your inbox tomorrow. I’m so excited to share it with you!