Creative Wellness Letters - You're not behind 🌱

Hi Reader, 

Whether it’s been full of unwanted chores, creative-related tasks that will lead you somewhere exciting, or purely fun stuff, I’m guessing you might think that summer has gone too fast. (Especially those of you who are also educators - August can feel like one giant Sunday night.) “Cram everything into a limited amount of time” is definitely a familiar feeling for me, in summer and otherwise. You, too?

Last week I had a great conversation with yoga teacher and wellbeing advocate Paola Brignoli about compassionate productivity. One of the questions she asked me was about how to reframe the feeling many creative entrepreneurs have that we’re constantly behind in our work, and how to change our relationship to time.

You can watch the video to hear my full answer (around 17:20), but the short version is that time and the idea of being “behind” is just a construct, and we get to decide to give ourselves permission to not feel behind. Of course, this is a (probably lifelong) practice.

If you're feeling behind right now, I want to offer to you that we don’t have to attach negative judgment to our timelines.

It just might mean that things are going more slowly than you want them to, reinforced by so many societal messages that reinforce the expectation that things will go fast (don’t get me started on “overnight success”), so it's really easy to feel like we're behind in comparison to others’ perceived accomplishments.

Instead, maybe we can allow the idea that things might happen more slowly, and maybe that's okay?

You can remind yourself that, yes, you are making an effort, yes you are doing your best.

Time can be your friend, or at least just something neutral, rather than an enemy.

There's a Chinese proverb that I put in my very first blog post in 2016, back when I had just started writing about creativity. It was right after the first time I ever shared one of my compositions with other at a composers, so the next step was starting to share this stuff on the internet. This felt like a fitting way to start my blog:

Did I wish that I'd started composing and sharing my music and really owning being a composer before I was 33 years old? Sure. But if I hadn't started, then I never would have continued. I never would have made an album, and wouldn't have this growth and experience to draw on in my work as a creative coach, which enables me to help others grow in their creative processes.

We have to accept that where we are is where we are, and that's perfect. 

Start from where you are right now. It's literally the earliest option.
 

(Unless you know something about time travel that I don't - do tell!)

In 5 years, what will you be glad you started today?

If you’re stuck in low power mode lately, and can’t figure out what that is, try asking yourself these questions:

• Where can you find hope?
• Where can you find inspiration?
• What feels good?
• What feels fun and exciting?

Move toward that, whenever and however you can, even if it’s unexpected or “unproductive” - you never know where those creative sparks will take you, and Future You will be glad.

So, tell me, what are you working on right now that you’re excited about? I love hearing about what you're up to!

Stay well, my friends - I'm always rooting for you. My inbox is always open, so please feel free to reach out if I can help in any way. 

I always love hearing from you!

Have a lovely week! ⁠

Rebecca

• The summer zine from Starhaus Psychotherapy is a fun visual experience, and check out their other seasonal zines for ideas of caring for yourself throughout the seasons.
• How to Embrace "Dopamine Dressing" - I'm a fan of using clothing as self care and as creative practice - it can reflect how you feel, or how you want to feel!
• I had a really fun conversation with Candace Shaughnessy on the Opera 'N' Coffee podcast recently, about compassionate productivity, finding time for creativity, and lots more - listen in here! Even if you're not a singer, Candace shares lots of valuable info on arts entrepreneurship. 

• E33: D'Ana Joi Spencer on Being A Multipassionate Creative Entrepreneur

If you’ve ever been frustrated by the pressure to “choose one thing” in your creative work, this episode is for you! I had a lovely chat with D'Ana Joi Spencer, a multi-passionate, educator, community builder, and content creator who believes having many passions is a gift, not a burden. She teaches creatives how to make friends with focus, overcome overwhelm, and step into their Multi-Passionate Mastery, a message that I really resonate with.

We share a passion for relaxation as the way to restore your creative spark, and celebrating all of the beautiful ways that our various experiences come together to make us who we are, make our creative work what it is, and enable us to support others - the important stuff. As a fellow multi-passionate musician and creative person, I felt really validated by this conversation, and I hope that you will, too!

• E50: Working Through the Resistance to Finish Creative Projects

Join us in Compassionate Creativity Coworking Club 

(Your first session is free to try!)

Book a free discovery call to learn more about coaching and get a mini-session

Coaching Offerings:

• Rise Above the Overwhelm: laser-focused 1-time sessions

• Creative Season (3 month package)