Ep.16. Flourish in Your Creative Life with Heather Ashely Baker
Today, I’m joined by Heather Ashley Baker, a creative business owner and coach, who is devoted to helping women move from dreaming into doing. She's a lifelong creative -- having spent time acting, directing, and working a 12 year career in design and tech. Originally from the US, Heather now proudly calls Australia home.
Heather and I connected after she reached out to me just before the pandemic, and we’ve become firm friends over the past year.
In this episode we explore her personal creative living story, her experience working as the manager of a design team for Cricket Australia, four ways she loves to talk back to the inner critic, her journey to finding her creative purpose, launching her business amidst a global pandemic and lots more.
As always, I absolutely loved recording this episode with Heather. I could talk about these topics all day. Her story is so inspiring. I hope as you listen in, you feel inspired to listen to yourself, build your self-trust, be brave and follow your heart. I can’t wait for you to hear our chat. Let’s dive right in.
Click play to listen in.
Click play to listen {1 hr 18 mins}
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In this episode you’ll hear Heather share:
Heather’s own personal creative story growing up in Minnesota, USA
Looking at creativity through a different lens than how our culture often defines it
Becoming aware of how people can be critical of your creative expression
How society can compartmentalise either “creativity and sport” or “creativity and science”
Giving ourselves permission to be playful and how that helps us to learn
Four ways to talk back to your inner critic
Being brave to put your creations out into the world
Connecting to your anchor, or your ‘why’ and vision for your work
Creative shame and the correlations with the inner critic
Brene Brown’s ‘vulnerability hangover’
Finding momentum even amidst lock-down in the pandemic in Melbourne
How we can befriend ourselves
‘Consuming instead of creating’ and how it can be a ‘cheap fix’
Heather’s journey as a designer, UX designer and becoming the manager for a design team at Cricket Australia
Finding her creative purpose through an online creative leadership program, Ignite
Launching her business amidst a global pandemic
Tips for creative hearts and heart-centred entrepreneurs who are just starting on their journey
Building self-trust through the creative process
Her favourite creative practices, including keeping a gratitude list
Capturing ideas and not judging them
Using ‘Creative Containers’ to help fuel your inspiration
Suspending judgement when it comes to brainstorming
Collaborating with others in the creative process
Using the improvisation technique of “yes, and…” within the creative process
The value of a non-judgemental approach to creative ideas
Choosing to live intentionally and fostering her creative life
Building self-compassion and speaking kindly to herself
Celebrating her progress and small steps
Surrounding herself with support & finding her creative community
Connect with Heather Ashley Baker
Know someone who needs to hear this episode? Please be sure to pass it on!
You are invited to join us in our global, year-long creativity school Flourish: The Art of Creative Living here. And if you want to enjoy a taste of working with me, register for my free 7 Day Introductory Art of Creative Living course here.
Until next time, be gentle with yourself, nurture your creativity and follow your heart and I hope you have a lovely day ahead.
With my warmest wishes,
Nicola xx
PS. I’d love to know what you thought about this episode….please leave a comment below if anything stood out for you. And of course, you can always comment below to let me know about any other topics you’d like me to explore in the Art of Creative Living Podcast.
