Let the Verse Flow: Personal Growth Thru a Creative Lens

Do you struggle to let go of negative and automatic thoughts of dread about potential upcoming events? Do you second-guess yourself and replay past situations and decisions, wondering how you could have made so many mistakes? Do you find it difficult to let go of anxious questions and scenarios that play over and over again in your mind? Khalil Gibran once wrote, "We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.” I certainly do it through my overthinking, worry, and rumination. In this episode, we'll: * learn the difference between these three states of mind (overthinking, worry, and rumination)  * understand how creativity can help reduce overthinking * utilize 8 creative self-care strategies/activities across 4 modalities outlined in my free guide: The Art-Lovers Creative Practice Guide to Stop Overthinking, Worry, and Rumination [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/art-lovers-creative-practice-guide-to-stop-overthinking/] * write it out with journal prompts to connect to our body and senses  Welcome to my reflections from the bright side of the beat. Need some creative self-care? Head over to my website: lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/] and sign up for my free newsletter, the Me-Time Mixtape. Twice per month, I’ll send you 3 essential, hand-curated links/resources on creative self-care tips, tools, and strategies. Music: All music for my podcast is sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe [https://app.soundstripe.com/]. Songs in this episode: Nowhere Left To Turn by Ghost Beatz; Slide by GEMM; Pyaar Kee Seemaen by Cast of Characters Khalil Gibran Quote: “We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.” Resources: The Art-Lovers Creative Practice Guide to Stop Overthinking, Worry, and  [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/art-lovers-creative-practice-guide-to-stop-overthinking/] Rumination [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/art-lovers-creative-practice-guide-to-stop-overthinking/] (all subscribers to my free newsletter get access to this guide) Jill Hodge’s Insight Timer Teacher Page (free meditations) [https://insig.ht/WSM5ZJsJNTb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=content] Related Episodes: Khalil Gibran and the Trap of Overthinking (#45) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/khalil-gibran-on-overthinking/] Reduce Overthinking with Stream-of-Consciousness Journal Writing (#36) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/reduce-overthinking-journal-writing/] The Nature Connection: Finding Peace and Perspective (#28) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/natural-connection/] Affirmation Meditation: Overcome Overthinking & Worry (#24) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/affirmation-meditation-overcome-overthinking/] Overcoming Overthinking with Journaling and Meditation(#23) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/overcoming-overthinking-journaling-meditation/] Journal Prompts: 1. Write about a peaceful setting that stimulates your senses; write in detail about the sights, smells, and tactile sensations in this place. 2. Write about your feelings of gratitude toward your body, as it helps you sustain life and do the things you enjoy. I’ll be taking a creative pause from the podcast and my newsletter during July and August. I’m stepping away to get a much-needed rest and relaxation -- and to work on a new project. When I return, I’ll be unveiling a refreshed format that blends the creative self-care you already love with my new journey into audiobook narration. Yes, I’m moving deeper into audio (I love it) and working with a coach to develop my narration and voiceover skills. See you September 10!

In this episode, we’ll explore the restorative powers of deep rest -- a quiet, safe, still space that helps re-energize just about every part of your life. Through deep rest, you heal yourself all the way to the cellular level and find a new vitality that helps you be more creative and focused. After a month of heavy life transitions, I found myself needing to rest, not sleep or distraction, but a sort of surrendering. And a few days later, I reaped the rewards of rest with greater clarity and positive energy. I also reintroduced myself to the mindful, wonderfulness of cozy, restful time in bed.  If you’ve been running on empty, this episode is a gentle reminder that you can and should press pause sometimes. In this episode, I explore:  * What deep, restorative rest is and how it's different from sleep. * How periods of rest help restore your creativity and energy as you let go of control. * How rest impacts your nervous system (especially the fight or flight response) and can contribute to longevity by having a positive impact on your body at the cellular level * The 7 types of rest, with examples of activities in each category; one or more will no doubt speak to you   * Journal prompts to help you identify which type of rest you need, giving you time to reflect on your need for rest Welcome to my reflections from the bright side of the beat. Want to reengage with yourself and put creative self-care back on your to-do list? Head over to my website: lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/] and sign up for my free newsletter, the Me-Time Mixtape. Twice per month, I’ll send you 3 essential, hand-curated links/resources on creative self-care tips, tools, and strategies. Music: All music for my podcast is sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe [https://app.soundstripe.com/]. Songs in this episode: Deep Desire by VAULTZ; Slide by GEMM; Pyaar Kee Seemaen by Cast of Characters Related Episodes: The Nature Connection: Finding Peace and Perspective (episode #28) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/natural-connection/] Resources: The Power of Deep Rest [https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/power-deep-rest] The 7 Types of Rest that Every Person Needs [https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/] (🎧 Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith's TED Talk) Journal Prompts: 1. Which of the 7 types of rest spoke to me instantly? Why? 2. How can I incorporate deep rest into my schedule, planning for 5-10 minutes a few times per week? 3. How are my thinking, my body or my spiritual life changing through deep rest? Subscribe & leave a review if today’s episode helped you reclaim your rest. 💜💛 Follow Jill on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lettheverseflow/ [https://www.instagram.com/lettheverseflow/] Prefer to read this episode? Read the complete episode in blog format here: https://www.lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/]

Explore how Vincent Van Gogh’s insight into small, consistent actions can transform your personal growth journey. Learn why tiny steps toward your goals can lead to great success. This episode, inspired by my trip to the Netherlands and a visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, is about the genius of small movements in the direction of your goals, desires, and passions. A year after I visited the Netherlands and the Van Gogh Museum, I saw this quote, which sparked a desire to explore its roots. So, I did a little digging through some of Van Gogh's letters, and before I knew it, I had created this episode. I hope his insight inspires your creativity.  The quote: "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." In this episode, I explore:  * One of Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo, and the source of his famous quote: "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." * The importance of putting the work in and exploring the practical use of the idea that small steps forward (even awkward attempts at something new) are the way.  * The role of practice (and conscious learning) in manifesting your goals. Manifestation is built on action (seeded with dreams). Welcome to my reflections from the bright side of the beat. Want to reengage with yourself and put creative self-care back on your to-do list? Head over to my website: lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/] and sign up for my free newsletter, the Me-Time Mixtape. Twice per month, I’ll send you 3 essential, hand-curated links/resources on creative self-care tips, tools, and strategies. Music: All music for my podcast is sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe [https://app.soundstripe.com/]. Van Gogh Quote: "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." Songs in this episode: Windy City by Cristina Scannicchio; Slide by GEMM; Solar Wav by GEMM; Pyaar Kee Seemaen by Cast of Characters Related Episodes: A Poetic Travelogue: Precious Summer Memories from Utrecht (episode #38) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/a-poetic-travelogue-utrecht/] Deep Listening: Uncovering the Wisdom Within (episode #33)  [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/deep-listening-for-personal-growth/] Resources: Vincent Van Gogh's Letters [https://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters.html] (the Van Gogh Museum & the Huygens Institute) Van Gogh's Letter # 274 [https://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/let274/letter.html] (To Theo van Gogh. The Hague, Sunday, 22 October 1882) 7 Habits of Effective Artists (Andrew Price at Blender Conference 2016) [https://youtu.be/vM39qhXle4g?si=-iwjeLb3uBB3QiPQ] Vincent: A Life In Letters by Vincent van Gogh [https://archive.org/details/20240429_20240429_1456] Journal Prompts: 1. What project in your life might benefit from a focus on small, incremental steps toward completion? 2. Write or reflect on an achievement that took you a long time to complete. What value did small actions have in helping you shape and realize that achievement? 3. What obstacles exist that might prevent you from working toward a goal in small increments? How can you overcome them? **If you find value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help others find these reflections. Prefer to read this episode? Read the complete episode in blog format here: https://www.lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/]

In this episode, we explore mindful ways to cope with grief and loss, embracing the changing, shapeshifting nature of grief. If you or someone you know is navigating grief, this episode offers compassionate insights and healing strategies. After nearly four years of dealing with the sadness of handling my mom's Alzheimer's and ill health, I'm noticing some changes in my thinking -- especially when dealing with the disruptive and shapeshifting waves of grief.  In this episode, I'll share my noticings about these ripples of grief to build connection and open dialogue about these experiences. Today's takeaways: * Grief teaches us what to care about and what to let go of; it helps us set priorities about how we spend our time; we may ask, "Who and what are worth it?"  * Mindfulness and stillness in nature can be nurturing when words and actions aren't enough to cope with grief, or when you want to sit with yourself and process your loss. * Sometimes grief morphs into gratitude (feeling grateful for the love or friendship you had). * Even when we feel like our grief will never end, eventually we may see a pattern in how it rises and falls. * Grief stays with us in many different forms, and self-acceptance of all our feelings can make it easier to sit with our painful emotions. Welcome to my reflections from the bright side of the beat. Want to reengage with yourself and put creative self-care back on your to-do list? Head over to my website, lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/], and sign up for my free newsletter, the Me-Time Mixtape. Twice per month, I’ll send you 3 essential, hand-curated links/resources on creative self-care tips, tools, and strategies. Music: All music for my podcast is sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe [https://app.soundstripe.com/]. Poem: Grief is a Shapeshifter Songs in this episode: Static Sea by Chromatica; Slide by GEMM; Edge Of Victory by Dr. Delight; Pyaar Kee Seemaen by Cast of Characters Related Episodes: Grief & Gratitude (It's Bittersweet) - episode #15) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/grief-gratitude-bittersweet/] Journal Prompts: 1. How has the shapeshifting nature of grief affected your day-to-day life? Jot down some ideas (but leave out any judgments). 2. Are there any positive takeaways that grief has led you to? (It’s OK if there are none at this time.) 3. What patterns of thought or noticings about your feelings of grief can you identify? **If you find value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help others find these reflections. Prefer to read this episode? Read the complete episode in blog format here: https://www.lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/]

In this episode, I explore how embracing minimalism in midlife can simplify your life, reduce clutter, and free your mind. Discover how letting go of possessions, but holding onto memories, can transform your emotional wellbeing. The older I get, the less stuff I seem to need.  For most of my life, I was firmly rooted in the knick-knack, bric-a-brac camp (isn’t bric-a-brac such a great phrase?). I love thrift stores, but as I get older and learn to say goodbye to my mom's things as a way of accepting her Alzheimer's, I feel like a weight is being lifted. Could it be that I'm embracing some semblance of minimalism in midlife (or a little past midlife, but who's counting).  I've learned that it's not the items themselves (the stuff cluttering up my spaces) that I can’t live without; it’s the story the item tells that holds me in its grip. But not anymore. I’m stripping down to essentials and sharing what I'm learning. In this episode, I explore:  * Saying goodbye to my mom's things in stages, along my grief journey. * How getting older frees you to live with less (and feel complete without the things you once thought you needed).  * How to hold on to memories and the stories behind objects without keeping everything.  In our complex world, we may need to create safe spaces, open spaces that nurture and protect us, perhaps even spark our creativity and problem-solving. Decluttering can open us up to exploring new passions, ideas, and hobbies as we strip down our external world of unused stuff and turn inward. Lastly, let's remember that we can hold onto the memories that objects evoke without keeping them. Our memories live on in our heart and mind.   Welcome to my reflections from the bright side of the beat. Want to reengage with yourself and put creative self-care back on your to-do list? Head over to my website, lettheverseflow.com [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/], and sign up for my free newsletter, the Me-Time Mixtape. Twice per month, I’ll send you 3 essential, hand-curated links/resources on creative self-care tips, tools, and strategies. Music: All music for my podcast is sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe [https://app.soundstripe.com/]. Poem: Claimed Memories Songs in this episode: Tea Time by Falls; Slide by GEMM; In The Clouds by Falls; Pyaar Kee Seemaen by Cast of Characters Related Episodes: The Loved Ones We Carry (episode #6) [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/the-loved-ones-we-carry/] Dealing with Dementia (Caregiver Tips & Journal Prompts) (episode #13)  [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/dealing-with-dementia/] Resources: 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Becoming a Minimalist [https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/social-instincts/202405/5-reasons-why-you-should-consider-becoming-a-minimalist] Me-Time Mixtape: Minimalism for Mental Health [https://www.lettheverseflow.com/minimalism-mental-health-nature-journal-prompts/] Journal Prompts: 1. Would decluttering your space offer any benefits to you? Write about how having more space could impact your life. 2. Write a list of 10 essential things that you can’t live without. Now write a list of 10 things you can throw away or donate. Compare the lists and think about what’s most important to you. 3. And for fun, if you could only take 5 single items with you to a deserted island (excluding people), what would you choose and why? **If you find value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help others find these reflections. Prefer to read this episode? Read the complete episode in blog format here: https://www.letthever