Ep.38. Build a Relationship with Your Creative Self
Welcome to another episode of "Nic and Beth’s Creative Chats" with your hosts, Nicola Newman and Beth Cregan!
Today, we're on a journey to uncover ways to nurture a deep and meaningful relationship with your creative self. Nicola and Beth open up about their personal reflective practices, anchors, and the daily rituals that keep their creativity flowing. They share how journaling becomes a supportive companion in their creative processes from morning pages to evening reflections.
This episode goes deep into the significance of values and core desires, serving as the guiding compass that shapes and evolves your creative journey over time.
We'll also dive into mindfulness practices in action – from gardening to sketching, along with Nic's 'Intuitive Pause', designed to ground you in the present moment. Anticipate a delightful blend of laughter, inspiration, and practical tips to elevate your creative living adventures.
Episode Show Notes
Topics Discussed:
Beth Cregan's Reading:
Completed "The Plot Whisperer” by Martha Alderson (2011)
Moved on to "Boundless Creativity" by Martha Alderson (2020).
Discusses the book's focus on structuring creative projects with a beginning, middle, and end.
Mentions the impact of the book on her children's book project.
Nicola's Reading:
"The Book of Joy" by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Watched "Mission Joy" on Netflix, a documentary inspired by the book.
Discussion Topics:
Reflective Practices:
Journaling as a key reflective practice.
Morning pages and evening reflections.
Personal stories of journaling impacting daily life and creativity.
Developing a Relationship with Creative Self:
Importance of retreats in enhancing creativity.
Discussing three main aspects: Reflective practices, anchors, and mindfulness.
Beth and Nicola share their experiences and insights on these aspects.
Anchors in Creative Life:
Role of values and core desired feelings as anchors.
Personal anecdotes about aligning daily life with these anchors.
Discussing practical elements of self-care as anchors.
Mindfulness Practices:
Various mindfulness practices and their impact on creativity.
Sharing personal experiences and strategies for mindfulness.
The intersection of mindfulness with creative activities.
Closing Thoughts:
Emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and self-compassion in creative endeavours.
Encouraging listeners to apply discussed concepts in their own creative lives.
Key Quotes:
"When you sounded surprised about your years, I'm trying to think back to when I remember doing it as a regular practice and I think it would be at least 15 or more years ago. Now it's, it's as regular a part of my day as brushing my teeth."
~ Beth Cregan
“Morning pages is a hugely popular practice and it's something that I've done over the years and found that's a wonderful way of kind of planning my day. I use it as a planning tool.”
~ Nicola Newman
Links and Resources:
“The Plot Whisperer” by Martha Alderson
"The Book of Joy" by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
“Boundless Creativity" by Martha Alderson
Lady Elliot Island Art of Creative Living Retreat Information
Let’s Connect!
Share your retreat experiences or plans with us on Instagram at @write.away.with.me and @nicolanewman_
Subscribe to our podcast for more discussions on creativity!
Next Episode Preview:
Stay tuned for the next episode where we'll explore the theme of ‘Creative Loneliness’.
Acknowledgement of Country
I’d like to pay deep respect to the Juru people of the Birri Gubba Nation as the traditional and ongoing custodians of the land where I record this podcast today and acknowledge their incredible, strong and ongoing connection to the lands, waters and community.
I thank them for the custodianship, care and love they have given to this area, extending from the countryside right out to the Great Barrier Reef. I love seeing the green sea turtles in this region and knowing they have been cared for by the Gudjuda Rangers. I thank the Elders, past and present and the entire Juru and Bindal communities for the valuable and generous contribution they make to our region.
~ Nicola Newman
I’d like to pay homage to the traditional and ongoing custodians of the land on which I live and work, The Bunerong people of the Kulin Nation. I feel tremendously grateful for their strong culture of storytelling and the spirit of place I find in my favourite place to write, Rickett’s Point. This part of the bay is a haven for bird and marine life - blue wrens, parrots and black swans. I thank the Elders, past and present and the whole Wurundjeri community for the valuable and generous contribution they make to our region.
~ Beth Cregan
We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded. And we extend a special welcome to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who may be joining us today.
Always was, and always will be Aboriginal Land.
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With my warmest wishes,
Nicola
About the Hosts
Nicola Newman is a creative business coach, award-winning artist and creative living mentor. As host of The Art of Creative Living Podcast and founder of the Creative Hearts Community, Nicola’s passion is inspiring and supporting Creative Hearts to build loving relationships with themselves, express their creativity, trust their inner wisdom and carve out a life that’s personally meaningful and fulfilling to them.
She offers multiple resources for educating, inspiring, and supporting Creative Hearts. You are invited to take her free Creative Archetype Quiz, join her free Art of Creative Living mini-course, sign up for her Inspiration Letters and nurture your creativity through her online courses, coaching programs and retreats.
Nicola’s creative business coaching is tailored to support sensitive, heart-led creatives to develop, grow, and expand their creative offerings. Her approach is to embrace gentleness, playfulness and self-care to navigate self-doubt and instead cultivate deep self-trust so you can truly enjoy the creative process, bring together your body of work, make money doing what you love and leave a creative legacy you’re proud of.
Beth Cregan
Fourteen years ago, Beth Cregan, an experienced teacher, combined her passion for creativity with her love of writing to launch her business Write Away With Me. Since then, her high energy workshops have inspired thousands of young writers to find their voice, stretch their writing skills and connect with their inner storyteller!
Beth presents writing workshops for young writers and adults alike, both in Australia and internationally, as well as professional development workshops for teachers and school communities.
Her first book, Time to Write: A Powerful Writing Practice for your Classroom published by Amba Press ( 2021), recognises that writing is a dynamic, essential life skill. It’s packed full of strategies, resources and hands-on activities to bring writing to life in our schools!
Beth lives in Melbourne, Australia and when she is not writing or teaching, you’ll find her reading, painting, rummaging in her veggie garden or hiking in a forest somewhere, hugging trees.
For more information about working with Beth, visit: Write Away With Me
Connect with Beth Cregan on:
Instagram: Write Away With Me
Facebook: Write Away With Me
Linked In: Beth Cregan
