Inspirational Creatives

Managing stress, staying focused, and keeping our emotional well-being in check are crucial when you're in the creative field. In this short episode, I dive into my personal journey with meditation and why I think it's a game-changer for many creatives. I share with you three big benefits of meditating regularly. You'll hear how I started my meditation journey back in 2007 with a little gem called Meditation for Dummies by Stephen Bodian. And I also recommend checking out Hurry Up and Meditate by David Michie, if you struggle to make time for meditation. The key here is consistency: even just a few minutes each day can make a huge difference. I'd love to hear about your meditation experiences too so feel free to share your stories and tips by dropping me an email at [email protected] Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

What choices are you making around when you go online? In this short episode, I invite you to explore your internet usage, more consciously, and the impact it may have on your creative output, health and well-being. Hear about my attempts to implement a personal "no internet before noon" policy and how I have found taking offline breaks at weekends to improve focus, sleep quality, and use of time. I invite you to experiment with your own strategies for balancing online and offline time, towards fostering a healthier relationship with technology.  Blog posts mentioned in this episode: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/a-day-without-internet/ https://www.becomingminimalist.com/unplug-please/ Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

Today I celebrate 10 years of the Inspirational Creatives podcast. Launched on 24th November 2014, I reflect briefly on my journey of podcasting so far with some personal anecdotes. This episode also celebrates the launch of part two of a two-part series on 33 ways to live a more prosperous and creative life. The topic for this episode is about making more conscious choices: ones that serve a better version of you. I talk about how we can make more conscious choices around money, and what we choose to consume. I also share some of my personal choices, over the last 8 years, for example, to eat less meat, which is #18 out of the 33 ways. Hear how I gained inspiration from my wife, Sandra, and William Whitecloud, which has led to a daily ritual of making conscious choices from the moment I wake up. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

Do you hold a gym membership? Or do you exercise outside? In this short episode, I explore the idea of reconsidering gym memberships in favour of other health and fitness options including outdoor exercise. Choices around our health can lead to new opportunities and the possibility of making new, and sometimes life-long friends or colleagues. Hear how some of my decisions led to meeting my now wife. I invite you to consider your options and choices; ultimately aiming for a balanced approach to health and well-being and choosing what is best for you. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

Why do we spend money? Why do we own things? You'd be surprised. In today's short episode I explore with you why we buy and the benefits of living with less. Is less more?  And can we achieve more with fewer things and a simpler financial life. In this short season of 33 short episodes, I want to share with you some ideas that I've picked up towards improving our lives as creative beings - to help you boost your creativity. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed with all of the things you need to thing about? Clearing our mind of mental clutter by writing things down can reduce overwhelm and anxiety. And keeping lists can help us to prioritise, make better decisions and use our minds more effectively for other things that matter. In this short episode, I explore with you the pros and cons of keeping lists; both written and digital. And how lists can help us to plan our time. We also explore why creativity is as much about getting things down as coming up with things... Resources mentioned in this episode: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Getting Things Done by David Allen Interview with Charlie Gilkey from Productive Flourishing Ruth Nuss blog In this short season of 33 short episodes, I want to share with you some ideas that I've picked up towards improving our lives as creative beings - to help you boost your creativity. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

What does it mean to be honest in our lives and with our creative work or craft? How do we live with greater integrity and truth? Why aren't we honest with ourselves? In today's short episode I'd like to invite you to think about what it means to you to be honest…. It sounds simple yet I realise how much we tell ourselves, others, and the world, stories: Stories we believe and crazy ideas that we truly believe and fool ourselves about almost anything that appears in our reality. What does it mean to you to be honest I share 5 ideas why a life working towards more honesty, and integrity and can make for a worthwhile journey as a creative. Books mentioned in this episode: Integrity by Martha Beck One Last Talk by Philip McKernan In this short season of 33 short episodes, I want to share with you some ideas that I've picked up towards improving our lives as creative beings - to help you boost your creativity. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

What's the one thing that's important today? Spending time with someone? Working on a creative project? Spending some time alone? Perhaps there's something or somone that needs your focus and attention today. Focussing on one thing that is important to you or your work today can provide us with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment as well as a feeling of progress or moving forward; even when we face setbacks. In this short season of 33 short episodes, I want to share with you some ideas that I've picked up towards improving our lives as creative beings - to help you boost your creativity. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

"Instant gratification takes too long..." - Carrie Fisher Cultivating patience is an ongoing process that can improve your experience as a creative being. In this short episode I explore with you how impatience and frustration can be a good clue we need to cultivate our own patience, which is essential for our creative work. Hear how minor setbacks and failures can be stepping stones towards success. And how every creative project has its own timeline: one that requires patience for the best results. In this short season of 33 short episodes, I want to share with you some ideas that I've picked up towards improving our lives as creative beings - to help you boost your creativity. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast

Your own opinion matters. In this short episode, I suggest that your own opinion matters more than anybody else's opinion; Particularly if their opinion is embedded in criticism. Often criticism or feedback or opinion comes from others unsolicited. It can also come from a place of (their) fear. Despite the unsettling nature of criticism and opinion, maintaining a balanced mindset is critical towards authentically expressing yourself. Whilst it's important to listen to the opinions others, you only need to keep what you believe counts. In this short season of 33 short episodes, I want to share with you some ideas that I've picked up towards improving our lives as creative beings - to help you boost your creativity. Find out more at: www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast