174 - Creatives: How to Create Without Force (Why Discipline Stopped Working For You)

For most of my life, I didn’t know how to answer the question “where do you belong?”Growing up between Taiwan and Canada, I always felt somewhere in between. Not quite Western enough in Canada, and not quite local enough to be purely just a "Taiwanese"I kept searching for the right country, the right place, the right people that would finally make me feel at home. And for a long time, I was very lost.This week on the podcast, Josh asked me a set of questions I couldn’t have answered in my early 20s.Here's my interview with Josh, author of From an Island to an Island, about culture, identity, what home means to me now as a Taiwanese Canadian living in Taiwan.More about Josh:Book: From an Island to an Island - Buddy Slowly Finding His WayJosh's Instagram: @buddyoverderDIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

I have a confession to make. Even as a life coach, I don't have my life all figured out.For a while, I've been hiding parts of myself that I didn't want others to see. My insecurities, career and financial challenges, and the reality that even in my 30s, I still feel like I'm starting over.And the more I tried to hide these parts of myself, the more disconnected I felt from who I really am and the work I do.Until recently, something shifted.In this episode, I'm sharing an honest life update, what finally pushed me to stop hiding, and the 3 stages that helped me face my reality, own my insecurities, and start taking back my power.DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

What if just 15 minutes every morning could completely change the way you think, feel, and show up in your life?In this episode, I share a simple morning practice that has genuinely changed my life and the way I see myself. I'll walk you through my 3-step process to become more aware of your thoughts, intentionally train new beliefs, and start cultivating your OWN mind instead of constantly being influenced by what everyone else is doing. DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

What if the secret to stopping binge eating has NOTHING to do with food, willpower, or self-control?In this episode, I share why traditional habit hacks often don't work, the connection between binge eating and your emotional needs, what's REALLY keeping you stuck in the same patterns, and powerful shifts to help you break free from binge eating and overconsumption habits.Sign up for FREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastDIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

You can't always change your environment or avoid difficult people.So how do you regulate your nervous system when changing your circumstances isn't an option?I share two simple practices that help me return to calm from within: working with your breath and creating a protective energetic boundary. These tools have helped me navigate difficult relationships, stay grounded, and respond from a more regulated place.DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

As a life coach of over 6 years, I share how I think about the difference between healing and becoming, why therapy and life coaching aren't actually in conflict with each other, and how to know what kind of support is right for the season of life you're in.If you've ever wondered whether you need therapy or life coaching, this episode is for you.We explore the role of healing past experiences, what it means to move from healing into thriving, and why the goal isn't just to process your past—but to become the person you want to be.DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

If you've spent years trying to heal, grow, and become a better version of yourself, but still feel like something isn't clicking, today's conversation is for you.I break down 3 reasons why traditional self-improvement advice may not be working for you, especially if you're highly sensitive, creative, or neurodivergent. You'll learn the hidden assumption driving most personal growth strategies and the powerful shift that changes everything. DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

If you have an ADHD or neurodivergent brain, the problem may NOT be because you're not resting enough. There's a reason why you're constantly feeling tired, overstimulated, or like you brain can never really turn off.In this episode, I share 3 powerful shifts that have completely changed my relationship with rest, energy, burnout, and including why "doing nothing" isn't always the answer.DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

If you’re a creative who knows you’re meant to create but keeps escaping your own creative work, this episode is for you. I share why hard discipline no longer works, how your environment is shaping your behavior more than you think, and the one shift that can make you actually want to stay to build and create again. DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube

Access workshop HERE in video format.DIVE DEEPER: Work with ShirleyBook Discovery SessionFREE Somatic Meditation: Heal & Move On From Your PastMasterclass: How to Build Discipline with LoveFOLLOW:IGSubstackYoutube