485 - A 3 Question Year-End Reflection to Awaken Your Creative Spirit - Creative Pep Talk

Summary

Podcast Summary: Creative Pep Talk - Episode 485

Title: A 3 Question Year-End Reflection to Awaken Your Creative Spirit
Host: Andy J. Pizza
Guest: Sophie Miller
Release Date: December 25, 2024

Introduction: Embracing the Creative Season

In this special year-end episode of Creative Pep Talk, host Andy J. Pizza teams up with guest Sophie Miller to guide listeners through a reflective journey aimed at awakening their creative spirits. Drawing inspiration from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," they introduce the concept of the "Creative Carol," wherein three symbolic ghosts—Creative Past, Creative Present, and Creative Future—bring forth journal prompts designed to inspire introspection and rejuvenation in one's creative practice.

The Creative Carol: Guiding Ghosts and Reflective Questions

1. Ghost of Creative Past

Timestamp: [09:24] – [12:10]

Question: What problem are you facing in your current creative season that once was a dream goal from the past?

Sophie Miller's Reflection:
Sophie shares her struggles with podcast sponsorships, initially a dream that evolved into a complex facet of her creative work. She expresses frustration with managing ads, lamenting how what once was an aspiration has become a source of stress. She poignantly states:

"I can get really grumpy and overwhelmed about managing all of the different aspects. And so this was a good prompt for me to remember. Like, this is a real gift."
[09:35] Sophie Miller

Andy J. Pizza's Reflection:
Andy relates by discussing his transition from supportive roles to handling the technical complexities of podcasting. He candidly admits to his ongoing challenges with email management and public speaking anxiety, highlighting how these "challenges" were once dreams he aimed to achieve:

"Being the person that's now like in this really complicated podcast system... the creative side has been connected to writing, which has been good."
[14:23] Andy J. Pizza

2. Ghost of Creative Present

Timestamp: [19:00] – [35:50]

Question: What's something happening in this creative season that you really don't want to miss?

Sophie Miller's Reflection:
Sophie discusses her commitment to immersing herself in the intuitive and artistic phases of her creative process. She plans to prioritize visual art creation by setting aside logical and financial concerns, aiming to enhance her creative flow:

"I want to spend the next few months in the intuitive, creative space making visual art in the way that doesn't make sense."
[20:25] Sophie Miller

Andy J. Pizza's Reflection:
Andy expresses his desire to cherish the current family phase, inspired by his children's diverse pursuits and personalities. He emphasizes the importance of being present to draw creative inspiration from his experiences as a parent:

"If I remember to like be open and to not kind of like be stuck in my head... it feels like all kinds of things are possible."
[32:27] Andy J. Pizza

3. Ghost of Creative Future

Timestamp: [27:53] – [36:35]

Question: If you really lean into this creative season, what could it make possible?

Sophie Miller's Reflection:
Sophie envisions profound personal and creative growth by fully embracing her artistic endeavors. She believes that deeply engaging with her creative season could lead to producing work that is both personally fulfilling and impactful for others, particularly "weird kids" who feel underserved by mainstream culture:

"I might make one of my favorite things I've ever made... something for all kids to enjoy, but especially the weird kids that maybe don't feel like stuff's made for them."
[26:35] Sophie Miller

Andy J. Pizza's Reflection:
Andy shares his transformative experience adopting a growth mindset amidst various challenges. By staying present and open to new possibilities, he feels a sense of limitless creativity and inspiration, fostering a collaborative spirit in his work:

"When I am that kind of present, I have this insane growth, mindset shift that I feel. I feel like limitless."
[33:08] Andy J. Pizza

Creative Call to Adventure: Symbolizing Intentions

Timestamp: [36:35] – [47:29]

To solidify their reflections, Andy and Sophie introduce a tangible method to carry forward their creative intentions: selecting symbols or tokens that represent their newfound insights and aspirations.

Sophie Miller's Symbol:
Inspired by Spirited Away, Sophie chooses a bracelet symbolizing her commitment to deeper intuitive creativity. She likens it to how the protagonist carries a sparkly hair tie as a memento of her spiritual journey.

"I'm going to get myself a bracelet that reminds me... to remember what I felt during this reflection."
[38:16] Sophie Miller

Andy J. Pizza's Symbol:
Andy selects his walking stick—a gift from Sophie—as a symbol of limitless possibilities and future adventures. He envisions it adorned with medallions over time, each marking significant creative milestones:

"This walking stick is a reminder of all of the future adventures that are there to be had... it has no marks on it yet. It feels like a marker of time and possibility."
[40:36] Andy J. Pizza

Conclusion: Sustaining Creative Momentum into the New Year

Timestamp: [47:29] – [45:08]

Andy and Sophie encourage listeners to identify their own symbols or words that encapsulate their creative intentions. They suggest practical steps such as using holiday ornaments or personal tokens as yearly time capsules to remind oneself of the creative journey and growth achieved.

Sophie emphasizes the importance of these symbols in maintaining a connection to one's creative purpose amidst life's busyness:

"Make that a holiday decoration... a one-year time capsule."
[45:08] Sophie Miller

Andy echoes the sentiment, advocating for visual reminders that inspire continuous reflection and creativity throughout the year:

"It's a really good feeling... to feel like there are so many possibilities."
[34:35] Andy J. Pizza

Looking Ahead: Community and Support

Before wrapping up, Andy and Sophie announce an upcoming Creative Pep Rally Zoom Meetup scheduled for January 26, 2025, aimed at fostering community discussions around reconnecting with one's creative spirit. They invite listeners to join and engage with fellow creatives to apply the insights shared in the podcast directly to their practices.

"We hope to see you there... these have been a great space to discuss the ideas that we're going through on the podcast and apply them directly to your creative practice."
[47:00] Sophie Miller

Key Takeaways:

Reflection is Essential: Regularly assessing your creative journey helps maintain alignment with your passions and goals.
Embrace All Seasons: Each phase of your creative life—past, present, and future—offers unique lessons and opportunities.
Symbols and Tokens: Tangible reminders can anchor your creative intentions and inspire continuous growth.
Community Support: Engaging with a supportive creative community enhances motivation and accountability.

Notable Quotes:

Sophie Miller at [09:35]: "I can get really grumpy and overwhelmed about managing all of the different aspects. And so this was a good prompt for me to remember. Like, this is a real gift."
Andy J. Pizza at [33:08]: "When I am that kind of present, I have this insane growth, mindset shift that I feel. I feel like limitless."
Sophie Miller at [45:08]: "Make that a holiday decoration... a one-year time capsule."

For more insights and strategies to cultivate a thriving creative practice, visit creativepeptalk.com and explore additional resources at andyjpizza.com.

Stay inspired and keep your creative spirit pepped up!

Transcript

Andy J. Pizza (0:03)

On the creative journey, it's easy to.

Sophie Miller (0:06)

Get lost, but don't worry, you'll lift off. Sometimes you just need a Creative Pep talk. Hey, you're listening to Creative Pep Talk, a weekly podcast companion for your creative journey. I'm your host, Andy J. Pizza. I'm a New York Times Best selling author and illustrator and this show is just everything I'm learning about building and maintaining a thriving creative practice. Let's get into it I'm a believer in the idea of dressing for the job you want, not the job you have. And I have applied this to my creative practice too, which means if you want professional results, you need to present online like a pro. And that means going beyond social media and having a professional website that reflects your style and looks legit. I rebuilt my site this year with Squarespace's Fluid Engine and was so happy with how easily I could build my vision without coding that when they approached me to support the show, I jumped at the chance because I love and use this product. So go check it out squarespace.com pep talk to test it out for yourself. And when you're ready to launch your site, use promo code PEP talk all one word, all caps for 10% off your first purchase. Thanks goes out to Squarespace for supporting the show and supporting creators all over the world. I know I'm not the only creative who feels like things are rapidly changing, but one thing that brought me some surprising levels of insight and clarity in this moment was this conversation I heard on the attach your resume podcast with Amanda McLaughlin. She interviews Jack Conte, the CEO of Patreon, and honestly, Jack's unique vantage point as the CEO of what is maybe the top platform at the intersection of creativity and career, AKA Patreon really just opened my eyes. And in fact, I have referenced this conversation multiple times since I heard it. If you want to listen in, just search Attach your resume Wherever you listen to podcasts, I highly recommend it. I can get so busy that I lose sense of the reason why I'm doing anything. I can lose track of why I wanted to make creative work, what it's about, the feeling of it, getting into the spirit of why do I care about this? It's easy to get so bogged down with the to do list and the tasks and the deadlines that I lose sense of what matters to me about making creative work or why I chose to go in this direction in the first place. So are you resting right now? Are you in a moment where you're taking some time off or even just stepping back from your practice for a moment, a day, an hour. If you're in that space, this episode is for you, no matter when you're listening to it. If you're stepping back for any amount of time to find some perspective about your current creative season, try to tap into what is the reason for this season. What am I currently in the middle of creatively and how do I need to lean into it to get the most out of it, to make it the most enjoyable it can be to get the best results so that I don't, you know, just fast forward through this thing and miss out on the opportunity? I think it's really important to step away sometimes. It's not a groundbreaking thought. You probably absolutely agree with that. But when I step away, I like to take some time to reflect and set intentions before I go back. If I do that process well, I start back in a much better place than where I left off. As we wrap up this year, I've been in a place just running wild from one thing to the next. Like mad wrapping presents, wrapping up projects, shopping, hustling, et cetera. All of that stuff and everything in between. I usually, at some point in that mad dash to get through the last part of the year, lose track of what the heck I'm doing, let alone why I'm doing any of this stuff. Like what is the reason for this creative season that I'm in? This episode is set to drop on Christmas Day, so we thought let's not do a Christmas episode per se. We want something more evergreen than that and something that applies whether you celebrate Christmas or not. But let's do a stepping back and getting perspective episode for when you're taking a moment or a break or a weekend or a week or even a sabbatical, maybe even, and give you some questions, some prompts to tap into the moment that you're in so that you can remember and refresh and not just think about the reason, but feel it fresh all over again. So Sophie and I are doing a Charles Dickens inspired Creative Carol episode where the Ghost of Creat present and future each come with a journal prompt question to inspire reflection and insight into your creative practice. Today, Soph and I are going to share our answers in hopes that it might trigger ideas for you. And we will end with a creative call to adventure that you can work on over the next few days where you will find something to take with you from this exercise. So put on your holiday PJs and prepare for a visit from three timeless creative ghouls okay. This is dropping on Christmas Day. This is an episode that is holiday inspired. And we're gonna riff on the Christmas carol, and we're gonna transmutate it into the creative carol.