031: Using your creative gifts for yourself
So many of us use our creativity to help people in some way: to help people feel less alone, to bring people joy and to make the world a brighter place. But how often do you do that for yourself? That's what we're diving into today!
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and happy Wednesday! So I've been thinking lately, so many of us use our creativity to help people feel something. And to help people in some way. To help people feel less alone, to bring people joy, to make the world a brighter place than how we found it. But how often do you do that for yourself? I mean, there is so much out there about using your creativity for good, but how often do we forget that the good also applies to yourself? It's a bit like how we're socialized as women. To take time for everyone else, to give a helping hand whenever we can, and to always put others before ourselves. To the point that it's ingrained in us from an early age that doing things for ourselves is selfish. We hear so much about not pouring from an empty cup, yet we're taught to give everything of ourselves away. The saying about the cup can go against everything we've been brought up believing.
And the same is true to how we approach creativity. Creativity is a gift, but you don't have to just give it all away to other people. There is so much magic in creativity. There's so many profound ways it can be therapeutic and life-giving, but how often do you give that to yourself? So today I want to ask you, How can you use your creativity to give something to you? When was the last time you created something just for yourself? When was the last time you used your own creativity to heal yourself? When was the last time you used your gifts to bring the same joy you bring to other people to you? If it's been a long while, or if you don't think you've ever approached it that way, how can you flip the script? Take these questions with you today and see what comes up for you, because you are just as important as all the people you help and all the good you seek to put in the world. You are just as worthy, and you get to keep some of that magic for yourself too. So while it might feel intimidating, while this might be the first time you've done it, and while it might feel a bit selfish. Really lean in and see how you can use creativity for yourself. I'd love to know your thoughts.
I'm over at MegKissack on Instagram, or you can email me at meg[at]thathummingbirdlife.com. And until tomorrow, remember, everything changes when you believe you matter.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP PODCAST!
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own dreamshitter, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
030: Your passions don't have to make sense
Part of the magic of being a multi-passionate person, is that when you put all of your interest, hobbies and passions side by side, they create this completely unique and wonderful, history. And maybe them not making sense is the whole point.
Episode transcript:
Hello, Daily Peppers, and a very happy Tuesday to you. So if you've been around here a while, you'll know that I love a good plan. I have Post it notes in every colour. I could talk about strategy until the sun comes up, goes back down, and then goes up again, and I can happily get lost in planning for hours. And I know I'm not alone in this, but while that's great for getting shit done, sometimes it's not so good for your passions. Part of the magic of being a multi passionate person is that when you put all of your interests, hobbies, and passions side by side, they create this completely unique and wonderful history. It's like they come together, breadcrumb by breadcrumb, to create a trail that no one could have planned out. And the trail is so fascinating because to anyone else, it simply doesn't make sense.
And maybe some days, it doesn't even make sense to you. And that's kind of the whole point. Now I'm a huge advocate for finding the overarching theme of your passions and seeing how they can play a bigger part of your life. But when you apply logic alone and force things to stand neatly in a row, it can take away the very essence of the things that make them passions in the first place. I love this quote from Austin Kleon. He writes, it would seem that one way to help the weirdos is to help them show their value, to put themselves in marketable terms. But there is a terrible possibility that in doing so, you can ruin what is so valuable about them in the first place. So today I want to tell you, your passions and interests don't need to make sense standing next to each other.
They're not the chorus line for some super orchestrated musical. Instead, they're more like a hodgepodge of all your favorite characters from wildly different books. Don't try and logic your way into finding new passions. Instead, follow your curiosities, pick up the breadcrumbs, and see where they lead. Some things you just know. This is your intuition, and while you might not see the bigger picture right now, it's generally worth following. A huge part of being creative is connecting the dots and spotting patterns between seemingly unrelated things. So if you think about it like that, following your curiosity, even though sometimes that'll lead you to following some random rabbit holes, which I find are the best ones, you're only feeding your creativity, and that is a good thing.
So instead of judging yourself on where you feel called to explore, just go explore. Part of the life and part of the magic of being a multi passionate person is feeling like a kid in the candy store. There is so much to learn and there's so much you could do. But one of the most common traps we fall into as multi passionate people is not allowing ourselves to feel like that or thinking it's wrong that we feel like that in the first place. So go give yourself permission to be that kid in the candy store. Maybe you'll stumble upon the things you need to stumble upon. And while you can't predict where you end up on a post it note or in hours of rigorous planning, chances are it will be a 100 times more exciting than any strategy you could come up with. So go follow your curiosity and have a wonderful day.
Episode transcript produced automatically by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
029: Look for the evidence
If you're looking for evidence that you should just stop and not bother, again, you’re going to find it. But here’s the really important thing: that doesn’t mean it’s actually there, or it’s real.
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
THIS WAY FOR MORE REBEL-ROUSING!
028: Go do the nice thing
Have you ever wondered why you put off doing things you’re really looking forward to, or things that you know will make you feel better? I think there is some weird logic to it all, which I'm sharing today.
Episode transcript:
Hello. Hello, Daily Peppers. It's Friday, a very happy Friday to you. So there's something I've been thinking about lately, and I've been wondering if it's just a me thing. And if there's anything I've learned in the past 5 years of running that hummingbird life, it's that everything we experience is pretty universal, and we're never on our own no matter what the experience is. So I thought I would share. Have you ever wondered why you put off doing things you're really looking forward to or things that you know will make you feel better? For example, you've got a really great book that you're really looking forward to reading to, but you just can't seem to pick it up. Maybe it's been on your bed stand for quite a while.
Or you've got a project idea that you're getting borderline obsessed with, yet you find yourself pursuing Pinterest or stuck in the planning stage instead of just getting stuck in and started. And it doesn't even have to be about anything as big as starting a new project. It can be trying a new recipe, watching a film you've been looking forward to, or just taking a bit of time for you and just watching the world go by. And it's not like these are things that we don't want to do. We do want to do them, yet we start making excuses. We start thinking of all the reasons we should put them off. Instead of doing the things we want to do, we fill ourselves full of stuff we don't really want to do while we're trying to work out why we don't want to do it, which is a bit downright bizarre if you really think about it and a bit meta. But I think there is some weird logic to it.
I think we can become so stuck in the idea of something having to be a certain way that we fear that it's not gonna meet reality, so we'd rather pretend it didn't exist. I've been there, and I think we've all been there. I bet you can think of one thing you've been wanting to do that you haven't done in a while right now. I know I have. I have a really hard trouble getting myself to have a bath, which is ridiculous if you think about it. I know it makes me feel better, but trying to get myself to do it is damn hard work. So my pep talk for you today is that sometimes you just have to go and do it. Forget the excuses.
Forget the expectations. Forget the crap you've been doing instead of the thing you actually wanted to do. Find a day that works for you and put it in your journal and treat it like a doctor's appointment. The things we want to do matter just as much as the boring, mundane things in life we have to do regardless, and they matter more if you ask me. So this weekend, just go and do that thing. Give yourself the time, give yourself the space, and just do it, because you never know what might inspire you or what you'll think of and where it might lead you. For me, I'm actually gonna have a bath with a book. It's a luxury I never give myself and I put it off all the time.
So I am saying this as much to myself as well as you. You do deserve it. You do need it, and you just need to do it. Make a plan and put it in the diary or just go do it because often you know exactly what you need. It's just a following through that can be tricky. So do the thing this weekend and celebrate having done it because taking care of yourself can be the most radical thing you can do, especially when the world feels upside down. And if you need some accountability or someone to celebrate with, come and message me over on Instagram. I am at Meg Kissack and let me know what you're gonna do or what you have done. And let's celebrate together. So have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday morning.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP!
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
027: You can handle it
A little while ago I started reading ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ by Susan Jeffers, and I want to share something that feels pretty relevant right now: All fears, no matter how specific they are or what they’re about come down to one thing:
Episode transcript:
Hello, daily peppers, and a very happy Thursday to you. So, a little while ago, I started reading the book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jefferson. And I want to share something I learned that I think feels pretty relevant right now, and it's this. All fears, no matter how specific they are, what they're about, or how deep they are, they all come down to this one thing. The fear of not being able to handle it. So today, I want to remind you that you can handle whatever comes your way. I was talking to a dear friend a while ago about fear and how it's a bit like a catch 22. The thing is, you get more resilient from going through stuff.
Yet because you've gone through stuff, the fear exacerbates because it knows how painful shit can be. But here's something we don't ever take the time to recognize. You are stronger now than you have ever been. You are more capable now than you've ever been. And you have a whole wealth of skills and experience to back that up and to back you up. You can handle things. And the proof is in the fact that you're listening to this right now and that you have handled things. Maybe present, you would have gone back and handled some things a bit differently.
But hindsight is, after all, a strange bastard. Carving your own path is scary. Creativity involves taking risk. And like I say every week on the Courage Makers podcast, creating a life you love takes a shitload of courage. You've got this. You are stronger than you ever thought possible. And you can do it. Even if sometimes you move at a snail's pace with your eyes squeezed really tightly shut, just keep on moving.
Because you can handle whatever the world has to throw at you. I have a feeling you might have needed to hear that today. I know I do. So I hope you have a wonderful Thursday and I'll see you back here tomorrow.
Episode transcription automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women.
If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
026: Sustaining the work you love
If you value your creativity, then you need to take care of it. Ergo, you need to take care of yourself. If you want to continue to do the things that bring you joy, bring your gifts to the world and still enjoy it, you have to be part of the equation.
Episode transcript:
Good morning and a very happy Wednesday to you. We are halfway through the week, it is nearly Friday and we've very nearly made it. So I don't know about you, but as creative and multi passionate people who do our work both online and offline, it can be pretty easy to buy into the myth that you need to be some kind of creative machine. It's this idea of needing to be producing amazing work constantly, effortlessly and tirelessly. You then need to spend a good chunk of time getting that work seen and then marketing yourself to the point that sometimes it feels just gross. You feel like you can't stop because the people you look up to and compare yourself to aren't stopping. And it's the feeling of needing to create and repeat without the thought of a break, while believing that the minute you step away, people will forget about you, you'll get creatively blocked and it will be all for nothing. Well, that is just bullshit.
Breathe, my friend, because it just isn't true. The people who are touting that stuff, chances are they're also the ones that glorify burnout as a badge of honour and think that making yourself physically ill is part of the cause, which it isn't and it doesn't have to be. And those people are not our people. Our people are the ones who are value driven and all about shining brightly in the world while keeping your own light lit and putting yourself out there into the world in a way that feels good. It's about doing things differently. Because if you value your creativity, then you need to take care of it. Ergo, you need to take care of yourself. You need to give yourself space, time and energy to reinspire yourself, feed your soul and just be you.
If you want to continue to do the things that bring you joy, bring your guests to the world and still enjoy them. You have to be part of the equation. And sustainability has to be a big part of that conversation if you want to keep going. And taking a break from the work you love is how you sustain doing the work you love. Because you cannot just live from passion alone. At some point you need to take responsibility of your gifts and give them what they need to grow. Sometimes that's time and space, sometimes that's adding different flavours of creativity to your life. And sometimes that's carving out a set amount of time to feed your soul.
So maybe you don't need to be doing more or being more right now. Maybe you don't have to be planning. Maybe you actually need to give yourself permission to take a break. Taking a break is good for your soul so you can feel more you you can evaluate and reflect and work to create a life you love and so that you can be your wonderful authentic self. I know the word authentic gets chucked about a lot these days but I think it's still really important. So here's to working consciously so you don't burn out and here's to doing the work that only you can do in a way that works for you and here's to working in a sustainable way and knowing that looking after yourself isn't selfish but essential. So go look after you and if you need a sign that you need to be more gentle and compassionate with yourself right now, this is it. I am definitely going to be taking it easier this week myself and I encourage you to think about doing the same too.
So have a think and I look forward to seeing you back here bright and early tomorrow. Have a fabulous day.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP PODCAST!
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own dreamshitter, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
025: Why competition doesn't exist
If you’re online it's seemingly impossible not to find people who are relatively similar to you and start comparing. But here's what you need to remember...
Episode transcript:
Happy Tuesday, Daily Peppers and welcome to another episode of the Daily Pep, the only daily podcast for creative and multi passionate women who want to build a wholehearted, creative and joyful everyday life. If you're online, it is seemingly impossible not to find people who are relatively similar to you and start comparing or to start stalking your favorite writers, artists, creators and compare where they are to where you are. Maybe you're looking at people in your industry, maybe you're looking at people doing things you would love to do. Or maybe you're looking at people who do similar things to you and and instead of taking it as inspiration, you're using them as another stick to beat yourself with. It is so easy to get caught up in all of this. We have all done it and it's not very long before you're feeling completely unmotivated, completely uninspired, and just pretty damn miserable. But here's what you need to remember.
No one can do exactly what you do in the way you do it. You have stories and experiences and memories which are completely unique to you, and you have an understanding of all those things in a way that is also unique to you. You do things in a way that no one else does. And if you think about it like that, there is no competition. Your step two is going to look like someone else's step 45 and someone else's step nine is going to look like your step 109. And that's okay. Everyone has a different starting line. You have no idea what other people's behind the scenes look like.
We are all taking a different route and we all have a different destination and how you choose to get there is 2/3 down to you and 1/3 down to the pure randomness of life. Know that when you're comparing yourself and it makes you question where you're at, you're not building yourself up. You're slowly chipping away at what makes you you. So with that in mind, here are some things I found really helpful. Get some willpower and stop checking on the people you think you're in competition with. Focus on your lane and things might just change quite, quite a bit. 2. Unsubscribe from any emails that end with you doubting yourself.
None of us have time for that shit. Click the unsubscribe button that is mandatory in all emails and just stop. Just take that even out of the equation. Number three Write a list of things that only you've got the experience and understanding to do. Use your creativity to write yourself a letter about what makes you you and pin it somewhere where you can see it. And number four, which is possibly the most important of all, do things that give you light instead of finding things that add to your darkness. You have so much to give to the world, but shit isn't going to come out. If you're waiting for inspiration to show up, if you're unintentionally making yourself feel like shit by comparing yourself, and if you're putting the world on your shoulders, you have something to say, and you have a story that no one else in the world has or gets to tell.
And that is pretty fucking amazing. Imagine what would happen if you focused on that instead. So let that be your thought of the day. I hope you have a fabulous Tuesday, and I look forward to seeing you back here tomorrow bright and early.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
024: Permission to 'mess' up
Fucking up is human, Fucking up is part of the process and Fucking up means at least we tried. Today you have full and joyful permission to fuck up.
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and Happy Monday, and welcome to a brand new week. And today we're just gonna get right in there. So for today's episode, I give you full, joyful permission to fuck up. Why? Because when we go about setting goals, challenges, or even a word of the year, they are exactly that, a challenge. If we could already do it in our sleep with our eyes closed, we would already be doing it. And so much of the time we all forget that these things are just hard. They challenge us to look at our old patterns, look at the habits we've formed, consciously or not, and just find new ways. But you can't just expect yourself to set a new habit or word of the year and be a champion by day two.
It just doesn't happen like that. When you do expect that, you just set yourself up for failure. Doing things differently takes courage. It takes courage to remember why it was important in the first place. It takes courage not to quit halfway through and revert to old ways. And it takes courage to want a better life for yourself and go out and get it. And doing things differently means you're always gonna fuck up at some point or another. We all do.
It's a human thing, not a sign of individual failure. It's a human thing, not a you thing. Whenever you start something new, there has to be room for wonkiness, for adjustment, and just to have the space to explore new ways of doing things without judgment. Because if there isn't, you're never going to get to where you want to go. I know that sounds harsh, but it's true. But if you can acknowledge from the get go that it's all a bit of an experiment and it's going to take trial and error, then you're in a much better place to begin with. It's a bit like being at the starting line with a pair of rocket boots. You might not be as close to your goals as you thought you might be or you wanted to be, and that's okay.
Sometimes it's about getting the wheels turning. It's about getting a bit less rusty and trying to steer. And once you've got the hang of that, it's about getting into the pedals. And then when you've got the hang of that, it's about getting the seat height right. So if you've done even one thing to get your wheels turning, then it's a success. And if you haven't, then you still have time. Because fucking up isn't code for giving up. Fucking up doesn't mean you don't have what it takes.
Fucking up doesn't mean that you're a failure. But what fucking up does mean is this. It means you're trying. It means you're giving it a go, no matter how scary it feels. It means you're human and you're experimenting. And it means you're daring to dream of a life that is more fulfilling and in alignment with who you are. So let's raise a glass, and it's a glass of hot chocolate for me to fucking up. Because fucking up takes real courage.
Because it means you're doing the thing. And that shit is scary. See you back here tomorrow for some more Rebel Rousing and have a fabulous start to your week.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
THIS WAY FOR MORE REBEL-ROUSING!
023: On finding your calling
Today’s episode comes from some life advice I received from a very strange place. If you’ve ever thought about your purpose or your calling, this is the episode for you.
Episode transcript:
Hello, Daily Peppers and welcome to another episode of the Daily Pep. I hope you're having a fabulous day so far. If you've just woken up, welcome again to the world. And this is going to be one of the weirdest episodes so far. Just going to give you a heads up that you might finish this one thinking, yep, Meg has finally lost it. Or you might think. Quite inspiring. Thank you.
Wherever you fall on the spectrum, thank you for being here. Because today I've got a funny story that's not kind of a story to share with you. So since I have been around online, on the Internet about 2014, I have not been shy of my love and adoration of the rapper Mack Le. Now you might know him as the person along with Ryan Lewis behind Thrift Shop. However, to me, he is one of my ultimate creative heroes. He has remained independent throughout his career. He has had one hell of a personal journey to get to where he is in terms of battling with sobriety and just making sure that his work always aligns with his values. And he's just, for me, one of my all time greats.
A lot of his music has got me through some really hard shit and I've had the privilege of seeing him live in London and Vegas and oh, I could do that every night of the week. But that's not the point of today's episode. I'm not just going to rant about how much I love Macklemore. So that's a bit of context every so often. Not as often as I'd like. I have a dream where me and Macklemore are just hanging out. We do some pretty inane shit. To be honest.
It's pretty mundane. For example, I've had dreams where we're hanging out before one of his gigs and we're just going to the corner shop and getting a Snickers and a packet of crisps and we're just chatting about life. And a couple of months ago I had a dream which had a bit more meaning to it. In my dream, we're obviously on an escalator, why wouldn't we be? And we're going through a train station and I just asked him for some life advice. I tell him, you know, you know, we're just talking about how real fear is about creative work, about. About finding your purpose. And I say to him, well, if. What life advice would you give me? And today I just want to share that advice with you because I think it is just so valuable.
Okay. Yes, it came from my weird ass dream about Macklemore but I think it applies to all of us. So let's just kind of put that bit to aside, if you can, for a second and I'm just going to show you the advice. So I literally woke up from that dream, was like, holy fuck. And I just emailed it to myself. So I've got it on. I've got it forever. His advice was this.
If you love what you do, if it helps other people and you feel you have to do it, then this is your calling. Keep going until you get there. And the reason I'm sharing this with you is because I have a feeling you might need to hear it today. So once again, for the people at the back, if you love what you do, if it helps other people and you feel you have to do it, this is your calling. Keep going until you get there. And if I could add one minor thing, if it fills you on a soul level as well, this is your calling. So couragemaker, keep going. You heard it from me via Macklemore.
In a dream. Shit's got weird. But just in case you needed to hear that encouragement today, just. Just keep going. And maybe if you don't know what your calling is, you haven't found that. Maybe think of it as a Venn diagram. Explore what you love doing, what helps other people and what things you feel that you have to do on a soul level. And just explore that.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP!
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
022: Stop waiting for the muse
Waiting for the apple to hit you on the head might have worked for Einstein, but it’s an easy excuse to put your hands up and absolve yourself from creative responsibility. Today we're diving into the problem with waiting for the muse.
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers. Happy Thursday. So there's this really cheesy scene at the end of A Cinderella Story where Hilary Duff's character and Chad Michael Murray's character finally get together. And she tells him in this big dramatic scene where he runs out of this football match and the epic music starts. She tells him, waiting for you is like waiting for the rain in this direct, useless and disappointing. Then they kiss, obviously. And I think this sums up exactly how I see Sitting around and waiting for the Muse. One of the main trap doors in the world of being a creative person is is buying into this myth that you have to wait for inspiration to strike.
And it is so tempting to think we have to wait for inspiration, but around here we are about making life happen, not waiting for life to happen to us. The thing is, waiting for the apple to hit you on the head might have worked for Einstein, but honestly, it's an easy excuse to put your hands up and absolve yourself from creative responsibility. If you're sat around waiting, you can pretty much do what you like because, well, it's a waiting game after all, right? But the problem with this is not only does it absolve you from all responsibility for creating your work, but it's really fucking convenient because it's relying on things outside of our control. It's like the ultimate cop out. Now, we have all met people who moan about not having the perfect job or the creative opportunity they dream of. And in reality, they're not doing much except for waiting for someone to knock on the door. They moan like it's their favourite pastime. And while sometimes we are those people, most of the times those people just really wind us up.
We can see the obvious. That is you have to take some action. And it's the same with inspiration. You have to take it into your own hands. So go work. Because not only is sitting around waiting for the Muse fruitless, it's also pretty boring. And it's got a way of making you powerless. And that's something none of us enjoy feeling.
So take back control. Go take responsibility for your own creativity. Get curious. Go read about something that's completely unrelated to your field and challenge yourself to find five commonalities. Go rewatch your favorite film and try to identify what it is about it that just pulls at your heartstrings. Go sit at your desk, put on a timer and just make yourself sit there. Like Picasso said, inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. Go do something.
Go do anything. I think that's enough. Pack for today. So see you back here tomorrow.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women.
If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
020: Before you give up, do this
Next time you’re feeling like giving up, please just take a minute to check this one thing. Sometimes when you dig into what’s actually going on, the wanting to give up comes from a different place than you might think.
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and a very happy Tuesday to you. Now, I don't know about you, but some days everything seems like a lot of effort. There are days when it feels like it would be so much easier to give up and pull the plug. There are days, sometimes even weeks or months, when you forget why you do what you do or why you want the things you want, and you just feel like walking away. And before I get into what I really want to share with you today, I want to remind you that we all have those days. No matter where you are in your journey, we have all felt like that one time or another. You might look at your favourite creative heroes, your favorite artists, writers, musicians, and think that they're exempt from this, but they absolutely are not. So now that we've got that out of the way, when you feel like you are this close from throwing the towel in and giving up, I want you to check one thing.
Check that you're not exhausted first. Every single time I've nearly thrown the towel in, it's when I've been absolutely drained. It's been from a place of needing more time and space rather than a genuine lack of enthusiasm for the work. It was like I was just too tired to think of anything but the immediate obvious, which was quitting right then and there on the spot. But so many times I haven't made the link. I think I'm exhausted because I need to give up, but that's not the case. In fact, I think I need to give up because I'm exhausted and I'm just not thinking clearly. And it happens over and over again with the wonderful women I work with.
I'd say around 90% of the time when we dig into what's actually going on. The wanting to give up comes from the exhaustion and the fallout of that. Everything just feels too much. So much else has been going on in their lives and there just hasn't been adequate time to rest and recuperate, and they've just become burnt out. Now, I am not advocating for never quitting. Quitting can be sometimes the bravest thing you can do. It can make space for new adventures. And I am not about holding onto things just because you've got too much pride.
You worry about how it's going to make you look, or, let's be honest, it just hurts your ego a bit. But there is definitely a time to quit and there's definitely a time to rest. And the time to quit is when you have the mental energy to make that decision. It's when you've got the mental energy to take more of an objective point of view and and work out where your heart is. And if you're trying to make a decision but you're too tired to think about it properly, then that is the time to go and rest first. Don't torture yourself spending extra energy that you don't have, thinking about something you won't be able to make a decision on in the first place because you're too damn tired. So the next time you're feeling like giving up, please just take a minute to check in with yourself. What are your energy levels like? Are you taking on too much? Have you been going for so long that it feels like you've forgotten where the brake pedals even are? Or have you been so needed by other people and unable to give things to yourself that there's nothing left to give you?
So, to end today's Daily Pep, here are some words to live by. Never pick an argument when you're hungry, never send the email when you're pissed off, and never make big life decisions when you're exhausted. See you tomorrow.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
019: Treat your creativity like a dog
Ray Bradbury once said that the great secret of creativity is to, and I quote “treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you” Now, respectfully, I want to edit his quote a bit, because I think if we treated our ideas like dogs, I think we would all have a much more wholehearted and creative every day life. Dogs needs regular exercise, appreciation, to feel loved, attention, treats, de-worming, to be treated like one of the family and play. Imagine if gave this to our ideas and creativity.
Episode transcript:
Hello, Daily Peppers, and a very happy Monday to you. It's the start of a new week. Many of us are starting new projects or right in the middle of ones. So I thought I'd start this week off with a quote. Ray Bradbury once said that the greatest secret of creativity is to, and I quote, treat ideas like cats. You make them follow you. Now, respectfully, I want to edit his quote a bit because I think if we treated our ideas like dogs instead, I think we would all have a much more wholehearted and created everyday life because there are so many similarities. Dogs need regular exercise, appreciation to feel loved, attention, treats, deworming to be treated like one of the family and play.
Just imagine for a second what would happen if we gave this to our ideas and creativity. So for this episode, I'm going to break it into five key areas where I think we could really improve our relationship with creativity. And the first one is exercise. Now, dogs never cease to be excited for a walk, even though we do it every single day. Merlin gets so excited when he has his lead on and I grab my coat. He literally puts his nose in the crack of the front door and just waits there and stares at me. It's the same with your creativity. Just like dogs, your creativity needs to be exercised.
And think of it a bit like a muscle, but unlike muscles, you are unlikely to struggle with creative cramp. Maya Angelou once said, and I'm not going to butcher this quote, you can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. The good thing about exercise is there's so many different ways to do it. The most important one is that you just pick one and the fact that you do it regularly and similar to exercise. Play is absolutely vital to both dogs and creativity. And you need play that has no tangible outcomes or expectations and just play for play sake. If I think about the games I play with Merlin, they are the most pointless games in the world.
He derives so much joy from seemingly most just random and simple things, like me throwing a sock in the air so he can catch it, but he fucking loves it. And that is just playing for play's sake. Because not everything you do needs to be Instagram worthy and not everything you do needs to be good. And I'm going to repeat that last bit. Not everything you do needs to be good. So alongside the exercise and play side of things, you've got the food side of things. In order for your creativity to grow and be self sustaining, you need to nourish and feed it. This can include Getting conscious about what you consume, learning new things and skills, and giving yourself things to think about.
It's the idea of what you put in affecting what comes out. So this is where things like your favorite books and finding things that inspire you are really, really important. So so far we've covered exercise, play, and food, but I think there's another one that just doesn't get enough air time, and that is attention and appreciation. There is something about treating our ideas with reverence that just makes a whole lot of difference. Instead of immediately batting your ideas down and finding faults with them, what would happen if you actually wrote them down and took them seriously? What if you gave them your undivided attention? I am part of so many Facebook groups for dog owners, and one of the posts that makes its rounds every now and again is the joy and the importance of giving your dog undivided attention, looking them in the eye and just being there with them. And I mean, when was the last time you did that with your ideas? When was the last time you looked creativity in the eye or made a special effort for your ideas? If you're looking for ways to do this, this could include having some kind of routine and showing up every day like Julia Cameron's morning pages, or even opening and starting that new beautiful notebook that's been sat on your shelf way too long. And the last one is treats. If you've ever had a dog, you'll know that there's some things that just don't happen without a treat.
Whether it's a sausage or a belly scratch, Treats are a pretty essential part of being a dog, and I think it should be for humans too. Well, minus the belly scratch, unless that's your jam, of course. Rewarding yourself is something that I really emphasize to all of my coaching clients. Too often we create the things we set out to do, and instead of stopping to celebrate, we just move the goalposts almost automatically and we are straight onto the next thing. So instead, whenever I'm working with clients to create a project, plan, goals, anything, we're building treats along the way. It's not just about treating yourself when you achieve something, it's about treating yourself for just showing up. So maybe the focus for today is starting with the first of these five things and looking at how you could treat yourself. And remember, it doesn't have to involve food or money.
So these are some things just get you thinking about how to cultivate and nourish your creativity. And perhaps some new ideas about how we treat it and how we respect it. And how we show up every day. I really hope this has been helpful. I know there's been so much in this episode. These are all practices that are really going to help in terms of your own motivation and your process and your inspiration. If you're looking for ways to implement this, you could, for example, take one of the five key themes of exercise, play, attention, food, and treats, and you could literally assign them to a day per week. Or you could just make a list and brainstorm different ways you can do any of these in your life.
Put them in a pot and pick them at random. So that is a lot of food for thought for today. So have a fabulous day and I'll see you tomorrow.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
THIS WAY FOR MORE REBEL-ROUSING!
018: On all or nothing thinking
Next time you’re beating yourself up because you missed a day of a new habit, or you’re tempted to throw a whole painting or a document away because it didn’t come out perfect, or because something didn’t work out the way you envisioned it, I want you to ask yourself this…
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and Happy Friday to you. The weekend is so nearly here. So I've been thinking a lot lately about the different things that hold us back when it comes to chasing our dreams and building a life you love. One of these things, I think is something we can all relate to. Getting caught in the trap of thinking that either we give something our all or we just face the fact that it will never happen. It's a bit like wanting to make art and deciding it's either going to be the best thing ever or you're not going to bother. Or deciding you're going to take up a new type of exercise but you have to do it every single day or it's not even worth it. Or building a new daily habit, missing a day and just throwing in the towel.
And I know a lot of you can relate. We all can. I've lost count of the times I've done it and I want to take a couple of minutes today just to really focus on how ridiculous that is. Allow me to illustrate with a pizza metaphor. Of course. So you're going out for pizza with your friends. You're really looking forward to it. You haven't seen these friends in ages.
And also pepperoni pizza is your favourite. So it's gonna be a good day. Someone comes over to take your order and after you tell them what pizza you'd like, they tell you, sorry, we just don't have any pepperoni left. Do you automatically ask for a side salad instead? Do you storm out of the restaurant? Because, and I'm just saying, if you followed the all or nothing logic to its natural conclusion, that's what you do. Now I know your answer is clearly no. Of course you're not going to ask for the side salad. There are so many other toppings, it's clearly not a huge issue and you can just order a different pizza. Maybe the pizza won't be as great as you hoped, but you're definitely not throwing it in the bin.
And let's face it, if you were to go around throwing an adult sized tantrum every time you ran out of pepperoni, well, life's going to be very frustrating indeed. But that is exactly what we're doing. When we apply an all or nothing mentality to our endeavors, our creativity and our lives, we apply such extreme thinking that either way, we're pretty much going to fall at the first hurdle. And when we do fall, we're going to beat ourselves up and we're less likely to try again in the future. Or if we do we'll maybe it'll take us a long time to even think about trying again, because this thinking doesn't even allow for a millimeter of nuance, and it blocks off so many eventualities that we don't even get to explore. We're not even going to learn the lessons along the way, we'll just write it off as a complete failure. I'm a firm believer that flexibility and adaptability are two of the biggest things we need to work on when it comes to building a wholehearted everyday life. Everything is always changing.
Things never go to plan, no matter how many different colors and variations of post it notes you have. So next time you're beating yourself up because you missed a day of a new habit, or you're tempted to throw a whole painting or document away because it didn't come out perfect, or because something just didn't work out the way you envisioned it, I want you to ask yourself, would you order a side salad or storm out of a pizza place if they ran out of pepperoni? No, of course you wouldn't. So don't get so stubborn in your own all or nothing mentality that you end up settling for the equivalent to life side salad or storm out on your own dreams. Because that is helpful for precisely no one. I hope you have a lovely weekend Daily Peppers I can't wait to see you back here on Monday. And remember, everything changes when you believe you matter.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP!
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
017: When life takes you off course
We start off with a destination in mind, and we start thinking of our route, our game plan and how we’re going to get there. That in and of itself is challenge enough - but what about the unpredictable things that throw us off course along the way?
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers. So recently, one of my favorite TV programs, Race Across the World, has come back for another series. It's a series where people compete to shock horror, surprise, race across the world, but with a difference. You get told a starting point and you're only told the end destination when you get there. You have two months to get yourself to the end destination, but there's no flights allowed and you have to do it with no phone, no Internet, no credit card, and a strict budget which is equivalent to what your airfare would have been. And, also, you can't plan anything like accommodation in advance. For the first series, they all started in London and had to make it to Singapore without taking a single flight. But that's not all.
In terms of the competition, it is not just about getting from point a to point b. They are regularly taken off the path by having to reach five checkpoints along the way, and the checkpoints aren't in logical places. And frankly, most of the time, they are right ball ache to get to. Now you might be wondering why I'm telling you this. Yeah. It's nice you have a TV show you like Meg, but what does this have to do with Rebel Rousing, and what does this have to do with me? Well, let me tell you. The whole premise of the show is a great metaphor for life, the challenges we face, and our goals. We start off with the destination in mind, and we start thinking of our route, our game plan, and how we're gonna get there.
And I mean, that in and of itself is a challenge enough. But what we simply can't cater for is the checkpoints and the unpredictable things that throw us off course along the way. Going back to the TV show for a minute, if they just had to get from a to b, it would be easier. They could arrange to get a two month ferry. They could probably do it faster than the two months they're given by sitting on one bus after another after another. But they're taken off the path by these checkpoints just like we are with the uncertainties of life. And it can be really fucking frustrating, especially when you're so certain on your destination or if you've been trying for a very long time. And it just feels like you're making progress, but then something else happens, and then something else happens.
And just a quick thing for a second. If you're wondering whether you should take these things as a sign to give up, go listen to episode six about signs. It's not only can it be frustrating, it can be heartbreaking. It can be so hard for us on a soul level, and it can make us pretty weary travelers. But the thing is, if this is something you really, really want, somehow you have to keep going. You might need to adjust your route, and sometimes you might need to adjust your route many times. You might even need to buy a slightly different map and you might need to rethink everything, but you figure out a way to get there anyway because it is worth the journey. And while it sucks to be taken off your path, some curveballs aren't all that bad.
In fact, some might be the very things you didn't know you needed. As you're taken off your path, you might find things you never knew were there. A bit like how the contestants in the show end up going to random places to find out it's a national holiday or to find a beautiful lake they never would have found. You might even stumble upon another path or you might join someone else's path for a while, and it might just be the thing you needed. You might be thrown off your path right at the very moment something is starting is happening somewhere nearby, or you might just be thrown off the path and bump into a stranger who's gone to the place you're heading and knows a route that's quicker and isn't in the guidebooks. What I'm trying to say is don't be so afraid of coming off course that you completely block and miss the things you might learn when you do come off course. Maybe and you know how much I hate platitudes, so it pains me to say it, maybe the journey is the destination itself. And if you're that weary traveler, maybe you need to break for a minute and regroup.
Maybe you need to get your strength back for the last leg of the journey and maybe it just doesn't have to be done right this minute. So that is my food for thought for the day. Have a fabulous day and I'll see you back here tomorrow where we are tackling all or nothing thinking. Have a great one.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women.
If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
016: You are not your tools
You are not your tools. Your tools are not a pre-requisite for having good ideas. You tools are not your thoughts. You can start a new creative project without the precise paints you need and you can develop your ideas in a less than perfect environment.
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and today I want to start by sharing a pretty embarrassing story. So, for the past two months, I've been waiting for my favorite brand of journal to come back in stock. Actually, scrap that. I've been waiting for my preferred colour of journals to come back into stock. See, in the middle of last year, I decided, inspired by Austin Kleon's notebook habits and his massive stacks of notebooks, I wanted the same. I wanted a regular journaling habit. I wanted to actually fill notebooks instead of merely feeling intimidated by them or, or starting them and inevitably putting them down a couple of weeks later. I deliberately chose quite a plain journal and a boring color because I know myself well enough to know that the prettier the notebook, the less likely I am to write on it.
These journals are lovely in terms of paper quality and having the kind of binding that means it lies flat on the page. And I was just in love with it. So after I got the journal, I finished it in about three months. And much more important than the amount of pages I filled is the amount of clarity, ideas and just comfort that journaling brought me. I found myself journaling before bed, going to coffee shops and working through a lot of stuff that was holding me back. And it just became something that went in my bag everywhere with me. When I ran out late last year, I found the company didn't have the exact same one in stock. Something about a problem with supplies.
Now, I would love to be able to tell you that I just chose another one and continued in the same vein, that I continued journaling and still getting a lot of clarity and comfort from it. But we both know I'd be lying. The truth is, and the. Well, I should say the embarrassing truth is I've been waiting for the notebook to come back in stock to keep journaling. And the deeper truth is I've deprived myself of the clarity, the comfort and the ideas because of something seemingly so superficial. And the irony, of course, is journaling is literally about being uncensored and being free to say what you need to. It's the exact opposite of being curated and striving for perfection. So the irony is not lost on me.
But why am I telling you this story all about a journal? I'm telling it because it goes to show the ridiculous bullshit stories we tell ourselves about creativity and because I know I'm not alone in this. And as creative people, we can all fall into this habit. Over the last couple of months, I've been binge listening to the Seanwes podcast. It's all creativity and business. I really recommend it and I've put a link in the show notes so during one episode about the importance of writing and choosing your tools, Ben shared that to get over his similar problem, his wife made him a leather cover for regular composition notebooks so he'd never have an excuse not to write. Which in my book pun completely intended is genius. As creative women, there's a lot of talk about self sabotage and setting yourself up for failure, but I want to flip the script. How can you set yourself up for success? What would be your equivalent to Ben's homemade composition book cover? And what is the relationship with the tools you use? Really telling yourself about creativity I know for me, I'm buying into the idea that I had to have the exact right notebook.
I was telling myself that without it I didn't have anything to say, or at least anything worth recording, and that the tools I use mean more than the things inside my head. In fact, I did have perfectly lovely notebooks I could use, and over the last couple of weeks I've just picked one and started using it. Albeit not to the same extent though. So for now, just do whatever you need to to get out of your own way. Find an okayish alternative and just start. I don't believe in settling in our lives as a whole, but when it comes to the choice between creating or not, I believe in settling on your creative tools 100% like we were talking about on Monday. You know you best. You know what you actually need.
And here is the ultimate truth. You are not your tools. Your tools are not a prerequisite for having good ideas. Your tools are not your thoughts. You can start a new creative project without the precise paints you need. You can start a journal habit without the perfect notebook. And you better believe I'm taking notes on that. Again, pun intended.
And you can develop your ideas in a less than perfect environment. The way you tell yourself a better story about your relationship with creativity is through your actions. And actions always start by doing. And if you need something to do right now, this is my cheeky request. Go give The Daily Pep a review or rating in Apple Podcasts or whatever you use to listen to. Podcasts, ratings and reviews help more women who are looking for a podcast just like this find it. So have a great day Daily Peppers and here's to taking action.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP PODCAST!
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday.
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own dreamshitter, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
015: Do the thing already
If you’re waiting for permission, then you’re going to wait for a very long time because no one is going to give it to you - apart from yourself. And if you’re waiting for someone else to push you - this might just be the episode you need!
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and welcome to the Daily Pep, the only daily podcast for creative and multi passionate women. So I want to start today's episode with a question. What would it take for you to take the next step? What would it take for you to do the thing? Now, I was going to go through a list of examples, but I didn't because I'm pretty sure that exactly when I asked you the question, something immediately came to your mind. But there's a massive distance between thinking of doing the thing and doing the thing. Because if you go by what your mind thinks, you would never be ready. There is always more research you can do, there's always something you can tidy up and there's always things that can be shifted about. You tell yourself, I only need to get to this place and then you get to the next place and there'll be just one tiny bit more you need to change. And then when you get there, it'll just be one more thing and on and on and on.
And I can almost hear you agreeing because we have all been there. It's like a self fulfilling prophecy and a really fucking frustrating one at that. I've definitely been there myself many times, ready to launch something or just about to put something into the world and I spot this one thing that has to be done now, like my life depends on it and the cycle starts again. Often, as I know only too well, the longer you leave it, the more so called faults you find. Because perfectionism loves nothing more than it loves a challenge and getting you back in the comfort zone where you're safe, where it can call the shots and where it might be able to even take a night off once in a while and cue the eye rolls. I know if you stay in that place of creative limbo, it is never going to happen. You won't even get the chance to know whether you would have succeeded or failed because it will never even get to that stage. And I know there is something comforting in that.
While we don't know we're safe and we don't have to face the scariness, but at some point you have to take the leap. You need to recognise some of the things you've been holding up as what they are. Excuses. As women, we're socialized to doubt ourselves. We always talk ourselves down and it's almost become this talent that we're super skilled at and frankly, we should all just get a medal for. But whether your perfectionism tells you that they're valid reasons or your brain tells you to check one more time. I think we just need to see these things for what they are. And that is, again, excuses.
I don't know about you, but perfection is not the hill I want to die on. So what are you really waiting for? And will that thing you're waiting for even happening? If you're waiting for it to feel less scary, it just isn't going to happen. If anything, the fear will just get bigger and more paralyzing. If you're waiting to feel more confident, the irony is that if you just did the thing already, it will build your confidence more than anything. And if you're waiting for permission, then you're going to wait for a very long time because no one is going to give it to you apart from yourself. And if you're waiting for someone else to push you, well, you happen to be listening to this episode. I'm not saying go and leap today, but I bet there's one thing you can do that yes, might feel seriously scary, but moves you that much closer. Maybe you do need to dip your toes in and test the water.
Do that by all means, but don't give yourself the option to get back on the sand because the water was too cold. Remember, you have done many hard things. The fact that you have survived this far and are listening to this podcast are proof of that. So it's not that you can't do it. It's just nice being on the beach, feeling the warm sand beneath your feet. And it's pretty damn comfortable to just stay there. So get your toes wet and commit to going a certain distance. That mountain you've been staring at from the shore? Well, there's a good chance that once you get a bit closer, it might just be a hill and it might be way more manageable than you ever thought.
So stop waiting. And I say this with so much compassion. Stop holding on to what you've been calling valid reasons. Do something. Make a commitment and see what happens. Have a fabulous day, Daily Peppers. And remember, building a life you love takes a shitload of courage, but you don't have to do it alone. See you tomorrow.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
014: You know you best
For today’s pep talk, I’m giving you FULL permission to do whatever you need to do and also sharing some suggestions of things you can do that are kinder to yourself than continually refreshing your news feed.
Episode transcript:
Good morning Daily Peppers, and a very happy Monday to you. So I thought I would start this week off by addressing the huge fuck off sized elephant in the room. The world feels pretty overwhelming right now. So for today's pep talk to start the week off, I am giving you full permission to do whatever you need to do and also sharing some suggestions of things that you can do that are kinder to yourself than continually refreshing your newsfeed. Because it is not hard to get lost in the anxiety of everything right now. So first things first, you know you best. Sometimes knowledge is power. There are definitely times in my life where I felt like going down the Google rabbit hole and being as informed as possible is the most helpful thing because it's given me a semblance of control.
But other times, especially in times of mass hysteria, that's felt like one of the worst things I could do. The thing is, you know what works for you, and I'm pretty sure that as you're listening to this, you have a gut feeling of what that is. So if you need to completely disengage from the news or social media for a while, do it. It's not like you can miss anything huge happening. We live in a world that doesn't allow for that anyway. A while ago I wrote on my blog a list of 56 things you can do instead of watching the news. And in the beginning of it I added the caveat that not reading or watching the news does not make you an ignorant citizen in the world. Ultimately, you need to look after your mental health first.
And that's not selfish. Ray Earle, the author of My Fat Diary, tweeted a couple of years ago. If you find events trigger your mental health issues, turn rolling news off. It doesn't mean you don't care. You're being responsible to you. And I couldn't agree more. So give yourself permission to handle things the way you know you need to handle them. You really do know you best.
And if you're looking for things to distract yourself with, you find yourself with extra time on your hands. Or if you're looking for something to counteract the overwhelm, there are so many things you can do. Maybe it's time to go and reread your favourite books. Maybe it's time to go back and read all of the Harry Potter books. Maybe it's time to really focus on one of the many creative projects you've been putting off. I'm not judging. We have all been there. Or maybe it's time to look at one of your many Pinterest boards and just pick something to make.
Maybe this could be a special time for you to really lean into your creativity. What if you saw this as an opportunity? I know we're all going through different levels of similar shit right now and I know some of us have it far easier than others. But no matter where you fall on the shit spectrum you do have some control. Although it might not feel like it. Keep being the wonderful human you are, nest if you need to. And remember creativity is a gift and like any gift there are millions of ways you can use and give them. I'm sending you a huge hug and I can't wait to see you back here tomorrow. If you have any creative friends who are struggling right now and you're enjoying the daily pep, send it their way.
Sometimes in chaos what we need is stability and routine and a bit of daily rebel rousing never did anyone any harm. See you tomorrow.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
THIS WAY FOR MORE REBEL-ROUSING!
013: You don't have to burn everything to the ground
We’ve all been there: it’s not working out, it feels too hard and we just want to pack it in. But what if there was another option instead of burning it all to the ground? That's what we're diving into in today's Daily Pep!
Episode transcript:
Happy Friday Daily Peppers. We made it. It is nearly the weekend. Welcome to today's episode of the Daily Pep. So we've all been there. It's not working out. It feels too hard, and we just want to pack it in. It's like we would rather walk away from the problem completely because the idea of salvaging things is just too exhausting. And that can be true of nearly anything. It can be true of a friendship, a creative project, a job, or even a birthday cake gone wrong. And it's so tempting to just figuratively slam the door on a friendship, scrap the entire novel, or throw a whole painting in the bin because it's just not working. That's to say, it's just so tempting to think that it has to be all or nothing, that we either keep going at 200% or we just put it all in the bin. So often we just assume that we have to take a big dramatic break or keep going through the exhaustion and not pause for a second to think about what's happening. So today, I simply want to remind you that there is another option, an option that does involve keeping going for the sake of not quitting or going until you reach a point of frustration and exhaustion.
You do not have to burn everything to the ground. Instead, you could pivot and adapt. What if, instead of scrapping the entire novel, you found the characters you really liked and sent them on another adventure? What if you worked on putting boundaries in place instead of cutting a friend from your life completely? What if, instead of putting the whole painting in the bin, you cut it up and collage with the pieces? You can start anew by taking some of what you've done and pivoting and changing the rest. You can go in a completely different direction, but wear the same pair of shoes and you can make a better decision for yourself without burning everything to the ground. And if you want to get really deep, and we do a lot around here, the truth is, you never truly start from nothing, no matter what you burn to the ground. You bring your previous experiences, the things you've learned from your failures and mishaps, your skills and your story to everything you do and will continue to do. So the next time you're tempted to just burn everything to the ground, catch your breath and ask yourself, is it really necessary? Or could you pivot instead? Because in pivoting and salvaging the bits that worked and the bits that matter, you might just find the things you were looking for all along. So there's a good chunk of food for thought for you to chew over on the weekend.
I hope you have a fabulous weekend that you get some time for you and I can't wait to see you back here bright and early on Monday morning.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP!
New episodes air every Monday - Friday 6AM GMT
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
012: Don't lock yourself in a vault
Today we're focusing on what I’ve termed the secret recipe effect: the idea that we have to be really secretive about our ideas and about what we’re working on.
Episode transcript:
Good morning Daily Peppers, and welcome to another episode of the Daily Pep. If you're looking for some rebel rousing or you're sick of being your very own personal dream chitter, you are in the right place. So there's never been a time in history where we've been so connected, and I'd argue there's also never been a time in history when there has been so much scope and potential for comparison.
Comparison is one of the things that comes up time and time again, especially online, and we'll explore that more in future episodes. Today I really want to focus on what I've termed the Secret Recipe effect. The idea that we have to be really secretive about our ideas and about what we're working on and that we have to keep them in a vault. Legend has it that there's loads of our biggest food brands and they have secret vaults that contain their super secret recipe and only one person in the world knows the code. Or maybe they split the recipe in half and one person knows one bit and one person knows the other and they don't know who the other person is, so nobody really knows the full recipe.
To me, the secret Vault effect is like the adult version of Remember when you were a child and during tests you cover your arms right around your head in a really exaggerated manner to stop people from stealing your answers. Now, while it might make logical sense for big conglomerate food corporations to protect their recipes and vaults, I think it's fair to say that for us creatives, it can be a bit overkill. And when we do create our own version of the secret vault, it is actually more to our detriment than it is to our supposed safety. Because when it comes to your ideas, locking them in a vault can be a recipe for some serious loneliness. If you're not willing to share what you're working on with other people, not only are you pretty much becoming your own island, but you're also starving yourself of the flavours and the nuance that other people can bring. And that's before we even get started on how if you did want to lock your best ideas into a vault, you would have to lock yourself into a vault. Because the truth is, you are the secret ingredient. No one can copy you because they don't have your unique combination of experiences, stories, skills, strengths and perspectives.
So unless you fancy locking yourself in a vault. And I mean, whatever floats your boat. But personally, I do not abandon the idea that your creativity needs to be secret. Of course, still take caution, copyright exists for a reason. And do be careful who you share your ideas with. Not necessarily because they could be stolen, but because ideas are precious and sensitive things and any criticism or critique in their early development can kill them before I can say the word vault. But don't take so much precaution that you end up unintentionally starving yourself of bringing other people joy, of finding like minded people, of putting great shit into the world and starving yourself of your potential to make the world a brighter place. So I hope you find reassurance in the fact that no one can do what you do in the way you do it.
And instead of locking yourself in a vault, you give yourself the gift of company and stimulation of like minded people and you can actually enjoy your creativity. That's it for today's Daily Pep. If you know someone who you think would love the show or could do it, a bit of encouragement early in the morning, go share it with them now because this podcast is designed to be the exact opposite of putting yourself in a bowl. So see you tomorrow and have a fabulous day.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP! PODCAST
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women.
If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!
011: The creative power of anger
Today I'm sharing how to harness the creative power of anger in the hope that it’ll be a strategy you can lean on when you’re feeling stuck for ideas.
Episode transcript:
Hello, Daily Peppers. So I have a book I got for Christmas one year, and every time I even think about it, I get so pissed off. Even just thinking about it now is riling me up. It is about femininity, and while I think it was bought for me with good intentions, the content? Well, I'd think it was regressive even if it was written in the 1950s, which it definitely wasn't. Now, when I don't know what to write about, I can flick to any page of that book, literally any sentence, and it'll just fire me up. The truth is, some of my best work is the work I do when something's pissed me off. My work often takes the form of writing, and when I'm angry, it's like the steam that should be coming out of my ears magically transforms into my hands flying across the keyboard. It's got to the point that when I'm stuck with an idea, I know I can find something to write about in the things that make me angry.
Here is the process that I found helpful, and I'm sharing it today in the hope that it'll be a strategy you can lean on when you're feeling stuck, ride, ease, or simply if you're intrigued about harnessing the power of anger. So Step one Make a note of all the things that make you angry. They can vary from world injustices to pet peeves. Get them all down and make a mind map if it's easier. Step 2 See if you can spot the patterns. See if there's any particular themes that emerge. And this can also be a great exercise for finding your values simply by flipping the things that piss you off upside down. Step 3 Create a list or find places where you can regularly feed your flame.
This might include finding or even remembering the people who stand for those things. Find your source material, like the book I was telling you about the start of the episode, and keep it close to hand and use it. Try it out for you. See if it works. I would be intrigued to know what comes up for you and what ends up being your equivalent of the book that I got for Christmas. You might be wondering why I intentionally look for things that anger me. As I'm sitting here, I can imagine you wondering if I'm actually just this angry person. Or you might be wondering why in a world that frequently feels like it's gone at the shitter, you'd intentionally make yourself pissed off.
I think it's partly because anger can show us so much about ourselves. Women's anger is a huge taboo. As women, our anger is never encouraged, only suppressed. But it needs to be reclaimed because it's in the act of getting angry, you find out what you value. You stand taller in your convictions, fight harder for what you believe in, and it reminds you why you do what you do in the first place. Or if you're searching for your why, it helps you find it. Anger gets right to the point and tears away the layers of bullshit. Taking action on the things that make you angry can sometimes work to make you even more determined to change things and make the world a brighter place.
While I've yet to read the book Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly, I found this quote from it that I the importance and visibility of women's collective anger can't be overstated. So dare to take a stand, dare to stand in your convictions and dare to get angry and create from that place. You might just find it's the most meaningful and purposeful work you've ever done. Have a wonderful day Daily Peppers, here's to harnessing our anger. And remember, everything changes when you believe you matter.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
ABOUT THE DAILY PEP PODCAST!
New episodes launch 6am GMT, Monday through Friday
A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own dreamshitter, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
MORE REBEL-ROUSING THIS WAY!