For the first time in decades, Billy Joel released new music. After listening to the single, I had so many thoughts. Thoughts about creativity, courage, pressure, and succumbing to the praise of others. I asked Mak to join me again on the podcast to have this spontaneous conversation! We talk about the universal fear of creatives, how to decipher your fear, how to build creative resilience, become authentically yourself, and much more. Listen to Billy Joel's new single: https://open.spotify.com/...
Feb 02, 2024•56 min•Ep. 29
Happy New Year! With a new year comes all the talk about setting goals and resolutions. There's a better way of tapping into what you desire and making it happen. It all boils down to the question: how do you want to FEEL? In this episode, we talk about letting yourself dream, how to discover what it is you really want, a new way to create a vision board, and a helpful, but simple exercise for feeling your best self each day this year. If you want to kick off your 2024 as part of a creative comm...
Jan 08, 2024•26 min•Ep. 28
When life gets busy, art is often the first thing to go. I wish this wasn't the case, but what I do know is that heaping on guilt is not the answer! In this episode, I'm sharing a pep talk I recorded for those in my membership community. You'll find encouragement for when you're feeling frustrated and disconnected from your art, especially now as we near Christmas. Christmas special! You can receive two free months in the Magic Makers Membership as part of your Magic of Soft Pastel On-Demand Cou...
Dec 19, 2023•16 min•Ep. 27
I am thrilled to be joined on the podcast today by my friend, artist, creative entrepreneur, and coach, Chloe Minyon. This candid and vulnerable conversation was part of a live virtual retreat held for members of my Magic Makers Membership! We discuss creative authenticity, how there's always more going on behind the scenes of creative businesses, the pressure of being a full-time artist, knowing when to pivot, how to find your people, and so much goodness for your creative soul. I hope you enjo...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 26
Here is the TikTok video! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT85hemvM/ We all want to be liked and validated. That is part of being human! Especially when it comes to something vulnerable like our art. But, the fact is, not everyone is going to like you. This is not only okay, it is normal. Not everyone is going to like you, but you don't like everyone! Some people aren't going to be able to see you or understand you. It's not your job to contort yourself into something they can understand. This would be...
Dec 05, 2023•33 min•Ep. 25
Have you ever heard the story about fleas in a jar? If you place fleas in a jar, they will jump out. If you add a lid to the jar, the fleas will try to escape at first, but eventually, they will stop trying. Even when the lid is removed, the fleas will still stay in the jar. They were trained to stay there. How often are we like the fleas? Perhaps you've allowed a comment that was said to you in the past to act as a lid on your life and potential. Have you stopped to question these stories? Ofte...
Nov 03, 2023•20 min•Ep. 24
We all know the phrase "practice makes perfect," but I actually do not believe in this phrase! I think a truer statement is "practice makes familiarity." When you practice something, it becomes familiar. When something becomes familiar, then your brain registers it as safe. Your brain has a funny way of taking the path of least resistance. The same thought patterns and emotions will keep coming up again and again only because they have become familiar. Even if the feeling is unwanted, your brain...
Oct 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 23
You set out to try something new, mustering the courage that it takes to try. You silenced your inner critic enough to do it and do it badly! A huge first step! But then, the weeks march on, the progress seems slower than expected. You feel the frustration and familiar feelings of self doubt and fear coming back to haunt you. Discouragement sets in. We’ve all felt its grip. The frustration may become unbearable and many people stop when they hit this wall. I don’t want you to get stuck here. The...
Oct 18, 2023•29 min•Ep. 22
I’ve been fired up lately. It’s about this notion that creativity is frivolous or childlike. It is NOT. Your creativity and artistic expression are vital. The world needs who you are when you are your lit-up, authentic self. In this episode: The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck Join me for my next round of The Magic of Soft Pastel, a 6-Week LIVE online course experience. Sign up for the waitlist. Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative ! If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a...
Aug 14, 2023•21 min•Ep. 21
Today I’m sharing the one thing I believe is an instant game-changer in your life as well as your creative practice! You’ll learn the simple trick that will make a difference in how you feel and elevate the mundane, day-to-day. Because here's the thing: MOST of your life will be lived in the mundane moments. We have highs and lows sprinkled in between a collection of many mundane, simple moments. Transforming these moments into something of beauty and romance will transform your life. Not to men...
Jul 10, 2023•15 min•Ep. 20
Do you have those instances in your life where you look back on things you wanted so badly, but they didn’t work out? Maybe you’re breathing a sigh of relief (like me)! There are many times I’m grateful circumstances didn’t go the way I thought I wanted them to. But hindsight is 20/20. How do we let go of expectations and the desire to force the outcome in our present day when the story is yet to be written? We’ll answer this question in today’s episode. My LIVE online soft pastel course is here...
Jul 06, 2023•25 min•Ep. 19
I had a realization about burnout and overwhelm. So much of my creative journey has been spent in these states. I would read books about productivity and time hacks. Tell myself I need better routines and to get up earlier in the morning. But the truth was, it wasn't that I wasn't productive, I was misaligned. It wasn't an issue with time, it was an issue of authenticity. When we're working from a place of authenticity and flow, suddenly things feel easier. Our batteries don't drain the same way...
Jun 24, 2023•15 min•Ep. 18
The angsty artist. It’s such a cliche, but for a good reason. Materializing something from your soul is gut-wrenching and fraught with reasons for angst. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! I want you to be able to create from a higher place of joy and peace! I believe there are two main blockers that if left unchecked, will keep you in a place of angst: people-pleasing (being worried about what others will think) and jealousy. I have some powerful mindset shifts for each of these roadblocks to...
May 31, 2023•31 min•Ep. 17
I used to hear the phrase “don't play small” and think that meant chasing some grandiose dream or version of what society considers successful. But I've come to realize that playing small is actually what happens when you hold yourself back or tamp down who you really are. This can happen for many reasons: perfectionism, fear of being seen, needing approval, someone in your life making you afraid. Perhaps you are waiting to be called up or picked (this isn't going to happen). Maybe you are secre...
May 16, 2023•15 min•Ep. 16
The topic of authenticity has been chasing me it seems! It's a buzzword, I know, especially when it comes to showing up on social media. People have different versions of authentic, debating Instagram vs. Tiktok, filters vs. not, but authenticity can’t be tangibly defined. It can’t be quantified and bottled up. It is felt. There’s an energy that will connect or disconnect. There is strategy after strategy about how to best show up on social media, but without this intangible part - none of that ...
May 09, 2023•35 min•Ep. 15
I’ll be honest, there was a point in my career when I would hear about embracing the process, making a mess, loving the journey and I would think, “Yeah right. Who has time for that?” I had deadlines piling up; I was stressed and burnout. Do you struggle with embracing the process? This episode is for you. We are addicted to the idea of a successful outcome because our primitive brains want certainty and certainty feels safe. Our brains try to protect us from things like pain and shame, even in ...
May 02, 2023•32 min•Ep. 14
Have you ever been made to feel like the beauty you create is frivolous? I would argue it's just the opposite - that beauty is utterly necessary. Your beauty is necessary. My husband, Mak, joins me again this week as it turns out we had so much more we wanted to say about this topic! We talk about the importance of finding what lights you up, regardless of trends, and how to incorporate small bits of beauty in your everyday life. If you find something to be beautiful, no matter how small or simp...
Apr 25, 2023•41 min•Ep. 13
Have you ever been made to feel like the beauty you create is frivolous? I would argue it's just the opposite - that beauty is utterly necessary. Your beauty is necessary. Beauty makes life worth living. It makes us feel alive! Sustenance for the soul. The world can never ever have too much beauty. It won't run out of space. We would never feel like there are already too many flowers or sunsets or ocean waves. And just like in nature, it is impossible to put too much of your art and creativity o...
Apr 18, 2023•36 min•Ep. 12
Did you ever hear something and you don’t know exactly why, but you knew in that moment you were meant to hear it? That happened to me recently at an unexpected moment. The tears instantly came. It was an invitation back to myself after going through a period of feeling lost. When you feel like you’ve lost yourself, I believe it’s often because you’re not allowing your awareness to go to those places in your soul. There’s something that feels “off limits” and you suppress it. You’ve become used ...
Apr 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 11
Dear Creative Soul, You’re allowed to change your mind You’re allowed to quit something You’re allowed to experiment You’re allowed to start something new. There are no rules! Giving the world the gift of your honest, authentic self is worth pushing past the made up rules and limitations we put on ourselves. In case you felt like you needed permission, this episode is it! We will break down the fears that make us feel like we are unable to quit, change our mind, or pivot. It’s time to release th...
Apr 04, 2023•23 min•Ep. 10
One of the biggest blockers to creativity is the fear of making a mistake. You probably have multiple ideas swirling through your head at any given moment, but maybe you're feeling afraid to choose the “wrong” one and move forward. Or maybe you feel intimidated to create, worrying that the end result won’t be what you had envisioned. For 12+ years while we are in school, we are taught there are right answers and wrong answers. All of our learning is leading to the end result of getting straight ...
Mar 28, 2023•24 min•Ep. 9
Sometimes there are so many creatives directions we can take and this can leave us stuck! I’ve been feeling this way lately. In today’s episode we’ll talk about the simple mindset shifts to get unstuck and things we can tell ourselves to bring more fun into the process! Follow along on Instagram @valeriemckeehan and at valeriemckeehan.com Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative ! If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives disc...
Mar 21, 2023•12 min•Ep. 8
What if I told you that according to NASA scientists, you are a creative genius? It's true! I learned about the most fascinating study and it changes everything - especially how we see ourselves. After conducting a study of 1600 4 and 5-year olds, scientists found that 98 percent scored at "creative genius" level. 98 percent! But just ten years later, the same group of children were re-tested and the number plummeted to only two percent showcasing this creative ability. Somewhere along the way, ...
Mar 14, 2023•30 min•Ep. 7
It can feel intimidating to start something new, but I would argue that being a beginner in a new creative endeavor is magical. Here’s how to embrace those awkward, messy stages and have the courage to try. You never know what joy is waiting on the other side! Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative ! If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show. 💌 Connect with us on Instagram: @valeriemckeehan & @thatmakg...
Mar 07, 2023•15 min•Ep. 6
I’m going to say something perhaps unexpected: I believe you need more stress in your life! BUT - the right kind of stress and in the right amount. With too much stress, we can face overwhelm and burnout, but with not enough, we also experience low emotions of purposelessness and lack of energy. We live in a rhythmic and cyclical universe - think about circadian rhythms, seasons, and moon cycles. We’re not meant to be in constant expenditure or underuse of energy. The key is in balancing moments...
Feb 28, 2023•27 min•Ep. 5
The vulnerability required for being a creative can sometimes come with burnout, overwhelm, and overthinking. As beautiful as it is to create, when we’re in constant output mode without inputting into ourselves, it can lead to blocks and frustration. I love the quote by Anton Chekhov, “ if you want to work on your art, work on your life. ” In today’s episode, we’re going to cover 7 simple ideas you can do to bring some self-care into your daily rituals. Self care isn’t all about face masks and b...
Feb 21, 2023•25 min•Ep. 4
Have you ever told yourself “Oh, everyone else is already doing that!” about a creative endeavor that you wanted to try? It’s easy to look at what everyone else is doing and feel overwhelmed. We fear the world may not need our participation, but I can tell you with confidence that this is a trap and completely untrue! We are both similar and connected to each other AND entirely unique at the same time. The way your heart is going to manifest its creative expression is something ONLY YOU can do. ...
Feb 14, 2023•27 min•Ep. 3
It can be a struggle to show up imperfectly and messy for a number of reasons (looking at you perfectionism and fear), but what is at the heart of the issue? I believe we are afraid to fail. What if I told you that failure isn’t the worst thing that can happen? Not even close! In fact, it’s something to be embraced and even welcomed. Failure means motion, moving forward. It acts as a flashlight to show us where we need to adjust and try again. I believe we need to change the conversation around ...
Feb 07, 2023•30 min•Ep. 2
I was sitting down to the mic fearful and feeling all the usual doubts spinning through my mind… “What if I sound dumb?” “I’m not good enough.” “Maybe this was a bad idea.” But then it occurred to me, I’ve been saying things like this to myself for years and the only thing staying comfortable led to was feeling stuck! Maybe you’re feeling stuck too. “I’m not ready. This isn’t a good time. I don’t have time to do this.” Sound familiar? I don’t believe the time is really our problem. Let’s break t...
Jan 31, 2023•26 min•Ep. 1
Dear Creative Soul is a podcast for creatives, artists, and the creatively curious. Walking a creative path takes a great amount of courage and it can sometimes feel lonely. It’s easy to get caught in comparison, fear, and lose yourself along the way. Each episode is like a love letter to your heart, filled with honest stories and gentle encouragement. Every week, your host, internationally recognized artist, author and teacher, Valerie McKeehan , helps you come home to yourself, who you are mad...
Jan 10, 2023•3 min
