What happens when you stop trying so hard to be creative?

This week, we’re joined by therapist and ceramic artist Melissa Grisi to talk about creativity, clay, imposter syndrome, and what it actually looks like to find your way back to making when you feel stuck.

Melissa shares how clay has followed her through different chapters of her life, why it took her years to fully claim the word “artist,” and how slowing down has completely changed her relationship with creativity.

We also get into creative blocks, the pressure to constantly produce, why sitting in your creative space without making anything still counts, and the surprisingly tiny steps that can help you reconnect when creativity feels far away.

Plus, we talk about redefining what it means to be creative, finding inspiration in your environment, building a “menu” of things that support you, and why sometimes the first step back into creativity is simply getting the pencils out.

In this episode:

• finding your way back to creativity after a long break

• creative blocks and making the first step much smaller

• imposter syndrome as an artist and therapist

• why slowing down and doing less can make space for ideas

• letting go of the pressure to perform or post your creativity

• how our environments influence what we make

• expanding our definition of what “counts” as creativity

• the art and craft of therapy

• and, of course, a little clay appreciation

If you’ve been feeling creatively stuck, disconnected, uninspired, or like you need to make something “good” before you even begin, this one’s for you.

Resources & Links:

• Melissa Grisi, LCSW - Blue Sky Therapy
• Melissa's Instagram: @the_desert_therapist
• Allie's cyanotype supply picks

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If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life.

And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.