Do you feel it? Are you diving into the pool or sitting on the edge waiting to get permission to jump in

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome…hands raised, have you struggled with it? 🙋🏼‍♀️⁣⁣

The photo above is Sean and I opening night at my first official solo Gallery Art show May 9, 2009 (and yes I know Sean has his eyes closed but this is still one of my favorite art career moments and photos of us, because Sean has been such a huge support to me on my Creative journey 💕)⁣

⁣

As a self taught Artist, who didn’t believe I could make a living as an Artist, you can imagine how much I’ve struggled with Imposter Syndrome. ⁣

⁣

Even though I felt it, I didn’t give in, and that’s the only reason I built a business as a Working Artist. ⁣

I trusted myself enough to commit to creating work for, and attending that opening of my first solo Art show.⁣

⁣

That night, with my Art hanging alongside the mural I painted on the gallery wall (see a close-up of the mural below), friends celebrating, some acknowledging my work and new career path for the first time; I wondered, how did I get here? Am I really an Artist? Won’t people judge that I’m self-taught and am only here because I decided to give myself permission to pursue my dream. ⁣

⁣

Yes, and yes. ⁣

⁣

Imposter Syndrome,  judgment or approval from others or not, you are ultimately the one who gives yourself permission to step into your fullest expression and power. ✨💃⁣

⁣

Today on the podcast I’ll be sharing some insight and tips on overcoming it.⁣

⁣

And if you’d like to take this conversation further, join me on Clubhouse @ 10:30 am PST @marisaanne I’ll be hosting a room alongside a special guest, a UK illustrator I connected with on Clubhouse. (Yes, 2 weeks in I'm still a fan of this incredible App…I've got podcast plans with this audio only platform in the works, more details in today's episode.)

First, you make time for Creativity! :)

I have decided to make the 12 days of Creativity available through the end of 2020, so if you see this after our start day today of December 10, be sure to join us!

Click here to join the 12 Days of Creativity

It's that time of year....and whether it's December heading into a new calendar year or not, this is not only my  passion bordering on obsession, it's also my new secret to success as a peaceful business owner.

Even though 2020 looked nothing like we thought it would, what are you envisioning for your 2021?

In this episode, I share with you 3 tips to before you start creating your perfect plan.

"Be Inspiring and go out and Inspire Someone Else" is a message my Contemporary dance teacher Seda Aybay always closes our class with. 

You're going to love today's episode. An invitation to discover, reinvent, stay curious, adventurous and to be fully present, especially during times that are like none we've ever experienced.

What new creative possibilities are developing that we've not even begun to explore, yet?

And if you've heard a call to try dancing or come back to dancing, now is the time!

Join Seda and her dance company Kybele Dance for a beautiful live performance on Zoom this Saturday November 14 at 6 or 8 pm PT.

Click here to get tickets

Ever want a behind the scenes peek of what it takes to be a creative working in the world of television and film?

Today's your day!

Be Nice ~ 

Welcome to episode 6 of season 2, and 198 on the podcast~

words of wisdom from my special guest this week.

Short and sweet, I write to you today ELATED! and thrilled to share that the final episode of the Creative Thursday; Conversations with Creatives series, is LIVE.

Not without more hiccups including additional video files missing, I finally wrapped this series. Just before the clock struck midnight on Thursday, episode 6 and a new podcast were published.

1 idea + 5 years + 2 kickstarter campaigns (thank you backers!!) + 12 inspiring stories (thank you to my guests!!)  + countless hours editing + lost sleep + extreme (self-imposed) stress, especially due to technical difficulties  + biggest lessons learned in my creative career (& video editing) so far (podcast forthcoming)   =  12 mini documentaries that I hope have brought you inspiration + the reminder of the dreams that are possible for all of us, and that the fulfillment that comes + positive impact you have when you follow your dreams is everything. 

As my guest today, Karin McGaughey said when asked about her choice to pursue a freelance career as a Set Decorator in Hollywood “ I would do it all over again” ~ and so would I.

Watch Karin's episode on YouTube or listen to it on the podcast below.

 Meet Karin McGaughey, Set Decorator aka Finder of Things.

So you want a career in Hollywood, or a career at all, just be nice. 

In the shuffle of every day life; and the extraordinary stress that we are experiencing today, spending even more time engaging from behind our computer screens~ the simple gesture of “Being Nice” seems to be getting lost, and it's a value that should never be forgotten.

One of the toughest industries to break into, today's episode is the story of Karin McGaughey, a girl from Virginia with a passion for Art and Architecture, who found her way to a career in Film in Television pursuing the work she loves most. 

Through dedication to her craft, continually learning, luck, hard work and being nice (Karin is truly one of the most generous humans with the biggest heart, constantly giving to and looking after our community. We are thankful every day that she and her son Roy are our neighbors) Karin built her dream career alongside her dream of having a family.

You can find all things Karin McGaughey at KarinMcGaughey.com

That time you rewrite your bio, and in search for your bio photo, come across one of your very first professional shoots from 2005.

A graphic designer & interior designer, (who really wanted to sell Art but wasn’t sure that my work was ”good enough”) I started Creative Thursday with selling my hand-painted vintage chairs.

This was one of my favorites, her name was Edith (I named each chair & wrote it on the bottom along with my signature + date)

I started this Creative Business with a passion to share my journey and inspire creativity for all 💕.

I thought if I could so this, self-taught, little to no formal training, there is no reason why you can't too!!

So my motto became, let’s do this together! I’ll take you along for the ride, share my story + give you peeks behind the curtain, opening up about challenges + wins along the way.

As I write this almost exactly 15 years to the date from the time this photo was taken (Sean, me + my chair at the entrance to the tiny Laurel Canyon bungalow we rented from a friend, when we first moved in together as a couple) - I’m ready to tell a new chapter to the story.

I did it. Built my dream business as a Working Artist, (with my paintings!) shipped over 10K packages with my Art all over the world, had a book published, designed 9 fabric collections and sold a few chairs along the way too 😊

But what happens next? 15 yrs in, what do I believe is possible now that I didn’t before & where did my fertility challenges + loss along with comparison of Artists who came up with me at the same time + expectations of where I “should be by now” slowly chip away at my spirit + confidence.

What’s next?
Evolution, reinvention, growing up, awareness, recognition of a strong, quiet wisdom + aligning with my true purpose + the desire to guide other Artists so they don’t have to experience the same struggles.

What happens when you want to evolve your work?
Artists often find success in a certain style & then feel trapped in one voice or color palette. They resist change because now their income is dependent on that 1 style. And because change is “scary” 😳

Reinvention is the story I want to tell now #creativethursdaybymarisa

Ahhh!!! this is hands down one of the best, most enlightening conversations I've listened to during this time.

A fan of Eckhart Tolle since I first watched him he and Oprah host one of the first online sessions taking us through his book "A New Earth"

Did you watch too?

During this pandemic, I found my way back to Eckhart's teaching.  It is one of the few spaces where, when I listen to him speak, I tap into a sense of calm and peace like no other. (I highly recommend his Youtube channel) 

And this conversation between he and Russell Brand just brings so much understanding, clarity & peace to both Sean & I right now.

We were getting into the habit of tuning into the news in the morning, as one might understandably do to stay up to date with all the latest during a pandemic + intense global crisis, however we noticed that this ritual was starting our day in a high state of stress + fear.

Now during our daily coffee time, we've been listening to this 2 hour conversation in 15 min increments, to process all that Eckhart is sharing & honestly to savor it as I don't want to the dialogue to end. 

This is just 1 of the eye opening concepts: Eckhart shares an  analogy as if you are a room~ highlighting the difference between the objects in the room versus the space that is the room, in which the objects reside.

Object Consciousness leaves you feeling never satisfied, you never “arrive” and you often need others to feel inferior.

Space Consciousness is awareness, moments of no thought where you rise above instead of below your thinking, you recognize the essence of who you are. You become aware of a gap between 2 thoughts & this is where all intuition, creativity and wisdom reside.

Chances are when you are making Art you are in your Space Consciousness. 💗

Also if the intensity of this time has left you feeling afraid to speak publicly~ at around the 58 minute mark there is soothing insight around “hive thinking”, & how it can play out in social media in particular, and how best to thoughtfully, acknowledge and respond from an aware state of consciousness. ❤️

Listening to this episode will not only make you want to be a better business owner, artist, and designer, but you'll want to be a better human. Ashley's story will inspire you in so many ways, especially reminding all of us to step out of our bubbles and experience the world with more compassion. I know you are going to love my conversation with Ashley G and the story of her new venture Shop Poirier.

You can find all things Ashley G. and Shop Poirier here

www.ashleygoldberg.com

www.shoppoirier.com

@ashleygoldberg

@shoppoirier

Warning: this episode contains (some) raw emotion and a lot of deep thoughts. If you prefer small talk or are not up for processing today, this one is not for you. ;) After waiting a month to be ready to share this episode, I give you my thoughts on the incredibly moving, funny, and profound "Comedy" special "Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby.

"Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby is available on Netflix