Calm and Creative Podcast

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My signature course is currentlyopen for enrollment. Visit below if you are feeling stuck and stressed and would like to learn how to harness the power of mindfulness with watercolors:

https://colorsnack.podia.com/watercolor-meditation

• Overcoming Creative Blocks: Learn about common misconceptions around creative blocks and how to navigate through them to unleash your creativity.
• Empowering Creative Practices: Gain insights into small, actionable steps that can significantly impact your creative journey.
• Watercolor Meditation Course: An invitation to delve deeper into your creative exploration through Volta's comprehensive course designed to fuse creativity with mindfulness.
• Personal Journey and Inspiration: Volta shares her personal story, from business school to embracing art, highlighting the transformative power of creativity in her life.
• Practical Tips for Unleashing Creativity:
  • Start Small: Embrace the power of taking small steps to build your creative habit.
  • Be Consistent: Understand the importance of consistency in nurturing your creative practice.
  • Experiment and Play: Learn to view your creative endeavors as experiments, embracing the joy of discovery and learning.

Join my FREE Creative Wellness Retreat: www.colorsnack.com/retreat

• Personal Meditation Journey

  • Volta discusses her decade-long meditation practice and its initial challenges.
  • Acknowledges the struggle with quieting the mind, especially with anxiety.

• Evolution of Watercolor Meditation

  • Inspiration from painting an Enso Circle, combining breath with brush strokes.
  • Highlights the meditative state achieved through creative engagement.

• Benefits of Visual Meditation

  • Discusses brain science and the impact of creative activities on stress levels.
  • Encourages using visual meditation as an alternative to traditional practices.

• Workshop Experiences and Outcomes

  • Shares experiences from leading workshops for corporate clients and communities.
  • Highlights the calming effects of repetitive mark-making and visual focus.

Join my FREE retreat on Creative Wellness: https://www.colorsnack.com/retreat/

• Link Between Creativity and Calm (00:01:57)

  • Discussion on how art positively impacts mental and emotional well-being.
  • Personal story of discovering watercolor's stress-relieving effects.

• The Science of Art and Stress (00:04:47)

  • How creative activities release happiness chemicals and reduce stress hormones.
  • Studies showing art’s effect on lowering cortisol and enhancing decision-making.

• Overcoming Creative Fear (00:09:49)

  • Encouragement to engage in art without fear of imperfection.
  • The difference between external and internal dopamine sources.

• Fostering Creativity Through Art (00:12:34)

  • Practical advice for starting with simple, accessible art techniques.
  • Engaging in creative self-care to enhance calmness and creativity.

Sweet friend! Join me for a FREE 5 Day Live retreat on zoom.

Here's the link to sign up: https://www.colorsnack.com/retreat/

To grab Volta's free guide to 5 Easy Exercises for Creative Relaxation, visit: https://www.colorsnack.com/calm

To join the free and private Calm and Creative Community, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/804189398089705/

On today's episode, Volta chats with Nichole Lee on the powerful topic of trauma, healing and creativity.

Here are the main takeaways:

• Redefining Trauma: Exploring the varied impact of trauma, big or small, on our lives.
• The Body's Trauma Story: Unpacking how trauma is stored and released physically.
• Beyond 'Big T, Little T': Breaking down the myth of trauma's magnitude.
• Intentional Healing Practices: The power of aligning affirmations with physical activity.
• Empowerment in Therapy: Choosing a therapist or healer for a co-creative healing journey.
• Transforming the Inner Critic: Strategies to turn self-judgment into a tool for growth.
• Finding the Right Fit: The importance of connecting with the right therapist.
• The Healing Experiment: Embracing curiosity and experimentation in personal growth.
• Art as a Healing Tool: Leveraging creativity for emotional and mental liberation.

To grab Volta's free guide to 5 Easy Exercises for Creative Relaxation, visit: https://www.colorsnack.com/calm

To join the free and private Calm and Creative Community, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/804189398089705/

Take-aways from the episode:

• [00:02:09] Overcoming Challenges:
  • Sara shares challenges from art school to balancing family life.
  • Advice on defining 'bare minimum' and self-care to avoid burnout.

• [00:05:24] Rediscovering Creativity:
  • Tips for reigniting creative spark by exploring different mediums.
  • Significance of self-care activities like painting pottery, pickleball.

• [00:07:12] Self-Care and Routine:
  • Emphasis on skincare as self-love.
  • Role of personal care routines in creative mindset maintenance.

• [00:09:20] Finding Time for Creativity:
  • Importance of scheduling 'play time' for productivity.
  • Personal experiences of fitting creativity into a busy schedule.

• [00:19:01] Sara's Podcast - "I Like Art":
  • Introduction to Sara's podcast about art in everyday life.
  • Encouraging creative pursuits regardless of professional background.

• [00:21:27] Final Thoughts and Resources:
  • Information about Sara's studio tour and contact details.
  • Introduction to Sara's newsletter 'Sending Flowers'.

This episode with Meredith Arthur is a profound exploration of the intersection between mental health and creativity. It provides invaluable insights for anyone struggling with anxiety or looking to understand the complex nature of creative minds better.

To grab Volta's free guide to 5 Easy Exercises for Creative Relaxation, visit: https://www.colorsnack.com/calm

To join the free and private Calm and Creative Community, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/804189398089705/

Show Summary with Timestamps:

• [00:01:36] Meredith's Revelation: Her journey to discovering she had generalized anxiety disorder at 39, highlighting the physical symptoms and the birth of Beautiful Voyager for overthinkers and perfectionists.

• [00:05:42] Therapy's Role: Meredith talks about her experience with therapy, emphasizing the need for approaches beyond traditional talk therapy for anxiety disorders.

• [00:09:21] Creativity as Healing: Discussion on the significance of creativity in understanding and healing mental health issues. Advocates for embracing experimental and non-judgmental approaches in creativity.

• [00:11:03] New Book Insight: Meredith shares her work on a new book aimed at providing a toolkit for those newly diagnosed with anxiety disorders.

• [00:22:43] How We Feel App: Introduction to a free app designed to improve emotional literacy and self-expression regarding feelings.

• [00:26:54] Personal Coping Mechanisms: Meredith shares her strategies like changing physical temperatures and setting mental boundaries to manage anxiety.

Hello, and welcome back to the Calm and Creative Podcast. I'm your host, Volta. In this episode, we delve into a simple yet profound practice – choosing a "Word of the Year." This practice is a way to set your intentions and guide your actions throughout the year. Let's explore how to select a word that resonates with your soul and propels you forward in your creative and personal journey.

Download the fillable PDF worksheet to discover your Word of the Year: https://colorsnack.myflodesk.com/kl00ge5nv8

Show Notes:

1. The Essence of a Word of the Year:

   • Diving into what it means and how it can shift your focus and intentions for the year.

2. Reflection and Aspiration:

   • Reflecting on past experiences to inform your choice.
   • Aligning your word with your core values and aspirations.

3. Selecting Your Word:

   • Tips for finding a word that truly speaks to you.
   • Making your word a cornerstone of your daily life.

4. Tips on how to keep up with your Word of the year.

To grab my free guide to 5 Easy Exercises for Creative Relaxation, visit: https://www.colorsnack.com/calm

In this episode I dive into the topic of embodying your future self.

I came across this idea by reading the book - Be Your Future Self Now, by Dr. Ben Hardy ( I highly recommend this book).

I share some vulnerable stories and how I am learning to become my future self in the present moment and trusting myself to take bold action.

Thanks for being here, sweet friend!