Create Anyway

[If there was ever a perfect time to create, it’s now.]

Every time you don’t follow your creative calling and intuition, you erode your confidence, you crush your soul.

If you’re scared to start something because you might fail, you’re already failing.

You can’t get good if you don’t get going. If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.

Pema Chödrön says it best: “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.”

So many of us fear that if we share our work or ideas with the world that we will be judged or criticized. We fear failure. We fear disappointing others – and ourselves.

We think when others criticize us or when we mess up that it means we are unworthy.

What we are really afraid of is that we won’t be loved if we share our creative and vulnerable truth.

We think that our worthiness lies in others approving of our writing, photography, videos, websites, drawings, music, business ideas..

But that’s BS. 

The solution and healing is in finding the worthiness within ourselves instead of attaching it to other people’s opinions and social media comments. It’s in learning to love ourselves really hard (I did a podcast episode on self-love) and in honoring our inner creatives and artists.

The way we find confidence in our work is not by looking outside of us. It’s by going within.

And: We overcome fear with action. By taking action every single day. By turning action into a daily habit. By showing ourselves that taking action is safe.

If you want others to take your work seriously, you have to take your work seriously first.

Whatever you start and create:

It might work. It might not.

That’s fine, create it anyway.

They might love it. Or misunderstand it.

That’s ok. Create it anyway.

You might share it. Or keep it to yourself.

Create it anyway.

Feel the fear – and create it anyway.

Create because your soul needs you to.

Create because the pain of inaction is more painful than the pain of action.

(I have been thinking about running a program on how to become a confident creator and find your creative voice… interested?)

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? My latest podcast episode:

​I Am My Own Medicine + What I’m Working On // [creator diaries]​

In this solo episode, I share my experience from the two weeks I spent in Canada immersing myself in the foundational breathwork training to become a practitioner. Holyyyyy moly!

Also, you are the first to find out about some new projects I’m working on currently. Exciting stuff!

​Listen here.​

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? Stuff I enjoyed this week:

1. Article: The Life-Changing Magic of Journaling by Erick Godsey
   So. Journaling. We’ve been on and off together for many years now, but since being in quarantine, I am making even more of an effort to journal daily. It truly is one of the most powerful practices if done in a way that allows you to go deeper. Our stream of consciousness reveals the depths of our psyche if we let it. This is a wonderful post by one amazing human, whose brain is really switched on (follow him on Insta too). Also, we both love Carl Jung, Mythology and Joseph Campbell. Will try to get him on the podcast soon.
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2. Video: Our Essential Work From Home Setup by Chase Reeves
   I met Chase at an event in Vancouver a month ago and he his such a solid human being, plus – a really funny YouTuber, but in a really unique way. That man is authentic, raw and just a joy to watch. Definitely go through his archive and check out some of his other videos. Even if you’re not into bags and tech gear, you will love his content and creativity.
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3. Book: Just Breathe by Dan Brule
   We all have a breath and yet, most people are not aware of it and even if they are, they don’t know about the many ways we can use it. This book is a wonderful introduction into the world of breathwork. It will teach you how to utilize your breath to reduce stress, increase productivity, balance your health, and find the path to spiritual awakening.​
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4. Podcast: Choose Wonder over Worry with Amber Rae on The Chase Jarvis Live Show
   Lots of golden nuggets in this conversation. Amber is a creative with a big message and one hell of a life story. You can tell that Chase doesn’t get to talk to many of his guests about feelings and how psychology and trauma works, which goes to show that it needs to all be talked about even more. Her insta account is also worth following.
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5. Film: Portrait of a Lady on Fire​
   ​A profoundly tender story about the process of self-discovery and becoming. The film is beautiful and shattering, a paean to the female gaze that’s shot by women, directed by a woman, and starring almost exclusively women. You’ll never look at a rocky beach, an armpit, or a book’s 28th page the same way again. Without showing men onscreen, this film depicts the myriad ways in which the patriarchy constricts the lives of its female protagonists.

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?‍♂️ Quote I invite you to ponder on:

“I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die.”

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

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The meditation movement is rolling!

More than 500 amazing humans have already signed up to our 30 Days of Meditation project that starts on Wednesday, April 1st.

That’s just INSANE. We thought maybe 100 would register and now this!

Wowsers.

If you haven’t joined yet, do it here. It will be a fun month of mindful awesomeness!

Been going on a lot of walks out in nature here in Bavaria, Germany. Nothing like some good old nature to replenish the soul and calm the mind. Spring is coming slowly, that excites me!

Oh, and if you only read one thing today – make it this article.
It’s the best thing I’ve read on the c thing.

With gratitude and love,
Conni. ?​

PS:
Use this email as a conversation starter. Hit reply and let me know what keeps you from creating and sharing your work and ideas with the world.​

PPS:
Here is the link again to join 30 Days of Meditation – also share it with your friends and network if it feels aligned:
​https://meditate.group​