From Blocks to Breakthroughs: Nurturing a Positive Mindset for Artistic Work

Episode Transcript:

[00:00:00] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: taking the time to slow down and really understand,

[00:00:03] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: okay,

[00:00:04] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: what are the thoughts going on and how are they making you feel? So maybe you start with the feeling, like that feeling of imposter syndrome,

[00:00:12] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5:

[00:00:12] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I feel like an imposter.

[00:00:14] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Welcome to Art is a podcast for artists season five episode. two. I'm delighted to be live again from the beautiful Tasha store here in Beverly Hills with my new co-host for the season, Lauren Hill from Curated Splash.

[00:00:32] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Hello everyone.

[00:00:35] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: as we start this adventure of this fifth season together, one of the things that was truly top of mind for me was thinking.

[00:00:44] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: The actual work that we do as creatives and artists. And,

[00:00:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: The

[00:00:51] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: The different components that go into making creative work and how often we dwell on the physical side of making the techniques needed, the materials needed, the skillset. we often focus, I often really focus on the detail of the work that I'm creating, and I sometimes, Forget to think about the mindset that I need going into the studio, but also just going into daily life as a creative, I know that developing this mind, power and mindset is truly your area of expertise and interest.

[00:01:39] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: so I was think.

[00:01:40] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: That

[00:01:41] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: start off this conversation, we could just start talking about the creative mindset that is fostered in the studio or in creative life in general.

[00:01:52] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4:

[00:01:52] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: this is near and dear to my heart because I have struggled so much with my own creative practice and my own creative blocks.

[00:02:01] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: You know, there's writer's block. That's like a big one that comes up for a

[00:02:06] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: people just

[00:02:07] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: staring at a blank page. And the same thing happens with every other type of art form.

[00:02:14] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4:

[00:02:14] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and

[00:02:15] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: so in thinking about that, I sometimes wonder, does everyone have this internal

[00:02:23] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: dialogue? Or

[00:02:24] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: is everyone aware of this internal dialogue that's happening when going into making your work and the blocks that come

[00:02:32] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: up?

[00:02:33] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And a lot of that has to deal with limiting beliefs or negative thoughts that are happening behind the scenes, especially more on the subconscious level

[00:02:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and really

[00:02:44] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: taking the time to slow down.

[00:02:46] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Slow down your

[00:02:47] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: thinking,

[00:02:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: slow down your

[00:02:49] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: move.

[00:02:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And tune in to what you're feeling and thinking is the best way to uncover where you're being blocked

[00:02:58] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and

[00:02:58] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: you're being blocked by.

[00:03:01] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Yeah, it's really interesting to think about, how important it is to train your mind and go through the motions and practice these kinds of exercises in overcoming, whatever it is.

[00:03:16] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: On your mind right now or distracting you when you're in the studio, whether that's self-critique, imposter syndrome, comparing yourself obsessively to other people's work or status or success. these are all natural things that happened to all of us over the past few seasons. I've had the pleasure of speaking with so many different artists and creatives.

[00:03:42] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And one

[00:03:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: of the recurring things is this mental dialogue, this internal discussion that you're having with yourself, constantly negotiating with yourself, how to move forward.

[00:03:58] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: one of the things that struck me most, after working with you is recognizing how, just like with studio skills, these mental skills are things you have to practice and, and get better at that you're naturally not gonna be able to control your mindset and overcome anxiety and fear and limiting.

[00:04:21] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Just, on the first try. So how do you go about introducing this internal discourse that we creatives have to individuals who maybe haven't thought about it so specifically before?

[00:04:38] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and just, you know, going back to our first episode of success, I think that part of the way that you can become even more successful in your life.

[00:04:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: By becoming more aware and specifically more aware of

[00:04:53] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: what you're thinking

[00:04:55] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and, there's a lot of different

[00:04:58] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: ways to describe that.

[00:05:01] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: internal gremlin.

[00:05:04] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: I've

[00:05:04] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: it described in many different ways. Like turn down k fuck radio and turn up sunshine radio. You know, switching the radio station that's going on in your head.

[00:05:17] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Or,

[00:05:17] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: the evil sister,

[00:05:20] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: or the roommate in your

[00:05:21] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: head,

[00:05:22] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: the mean roommate. So there's all these different ways you can kind of describe

[00:05:26] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: this.

[00:05:27] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Negative

[00:05:29] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: limiting belief, thought pattern, and bring light

[00:05:33] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: to it

[00:05:34] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: so that you can see it. It's not really just you, it's not

[00:05:37] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you.

[00:05:38] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: it's a part of

[00:05:39] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you

[00:05:41] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and it's there to try

[00:05:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: to keep you safe.

[00:05:45] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: But essentially,

[00:05:47] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you aren't

[00:05:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: it. You are separate from

[00:05:49] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: it.

[00:05:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And I think that's the most important part to realize. Cause once you separate yourself from.

[00:05:56] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Voice

[00:05:57] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: a little bit. You have more control. And when you have more control, you can create more of what you want and less of what you don't want.

[00:06:07] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: So why do you think self-awareness of this internal roommate, is so uncommon? and so infrequently. discussed, Whether that's, you know, at art school

[00:06:22] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: or

[00:06:23] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: in communities of creatives or online or wherever it is that, artists and creatives meet.

[00:06:31] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Yeah, I mean, I have my own thoughts about

[00:06:34] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: this.

[00:06:35] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: sometimes I wonder

[00:06:36] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: If we're, you know, being programmed

[00:06:39] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: to

[00:06:40] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: live a certain way and the dumbing down of

[00:06:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: things so that

[00:06:45] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: can't think for ourselves, so that we can't rise up and have more power as individuals

[00:06:51] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and

[00:06:52] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: create real change.

[00:06:54] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: I'm

[00:06:54] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: very curious as to why that doesn't happen,

[00:06:57] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and

[00:06:59] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: that's part of the reason like I've.

[00:07:02] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Devoted

[00:07:03] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: life to learning how to become more empowered and more aware because I've seen how much of an impact it's had on my own life.

[00:07:14] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: I grew up in the Napa Valley

[00:07:16] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: It was a very rural place back then. My mom was a teacher, a kindergarten teacher, and my dad was a truck driver.

[00:07:23] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: .

[00:07:23] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you know, I

[00:07:24] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: know, I used to raise sheep. And, I didn't really travel that much

[00:07:29] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: it was this very like, simple life

[00:07:32] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: but

[00:07:32] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: always knew like deep down I wanted so much

[00:07:35] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: more. And

[00:07:36] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: just the little taste of travel that I got, I started seeing.

[00:07:40] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: like,

[00:07:41] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Oh wow. there are these incredible minds and,

[00:07:48] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you

[00:07:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: know, artistic visions and

[00:07:50] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: finally,

[00:07:51] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: like around high school, I started traveling more

[00:07:53] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4:

[00:07:53] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and really opening myself up to the world and realizing that, you can create whatever.

[00:08:03] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: You can imagine in your head, like it's all possible

[00:08:07] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: it's just a matter of

[00:08:08] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: believing in

[00:08:09] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: it's interesting to me to think about, how the internal dialogue that you have with yourself can. be both, a positive force and also a negative force. So could you explain to us how to labeling when positive thoughts come up and encourage those to grow?

[00:08:33] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and conversely, when to understand what are limiting beliefs and constructions in your mind that are there. to Halt your progress and hold you back and foster anxiety instead of, positive development.

[00:08:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: mean, really tuning into your body too.

[00:08:53] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Noticing

[00:08:54] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: how you're feeling,

[00:08:57] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: like

[00:08:57] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: said earlier, slowing down so when you're showing up to your practice,

[00:09:02] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: A lot of

[00:09:02] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: artists want to show up consistently and regularly, and a lot of artists struggle with that.

[00:09:09] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: And

[00:09:11] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: there's this desire deep down to do something, but yet

[00:09:15] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you

[00:09:16] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: are not able to do

[00:09:17] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: it. Why?

[00:09:19] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: So slowing down in those moments where maybe you're buffer. Maybe you're eating instead, maybe you're,

[00:09:28] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4:

[00:09:28] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: running, maybe you're shopping,

[00:09:31] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: maybe you decide that,

[00:09:34] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: you're gonna spend time with your boyfriend instead,you're just using whatever else to kind of cope to, to

[00:09:42] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: escape

[00:09:44] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: from those feelings that are coming up that.

[00:09:46] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: are,

[00:09:46] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: there's this desire there, but there's also this kind of like fear and it's really about having more of a relationship

[00:09:55] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: with that and, tuning into your body.

[00:09:59] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: we'll give an example of you coming into your sculpture, practic. so if I could ask you like, are there any thoughts that come up for you sometimes when, if you were to imagine you're going out to work on some sculpture

[00:10:14] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: today, are there any thoughts or like even feelings that come up for you that kind of hinder that forward progress?

[00:10:22] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: one of the things that's been coming up for me is this idea of control and wanting to control all the different variables in my work. And of course, with sculpture, there's a lot of unforeseen things that show up in terms of making something that's too heavy, something that won't stand up, something that accidentally melts using the wrong,

[00:10:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: product.

[00:10:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: Recently I was making something out of styrofoam and covered it in a resin that I thought was perfect. And I did my first coat of resin after carving this piece, and I left the studio for lunch. And then when I came back, it had completely melted the entire sculpture. of course I had mixed up the resins and used the wrong one.

[00:11:07] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: And in that moment I was so upset because not only. had I. Wasted materials and wasted money in my mind, which is precious to me in terms of the investment that I can actually make in my practice. but also time. and then of course I remade the piece and then it wasn't in my mind as good as the first one.

[00:11:29] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: I was going

[00:11:30] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: into this,

[00:11:31] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: you know, slippery slope of perfectionism. And the more I thought about making something perfect, the less action I did, the more I was in my head and the less I was actually making with my hands and feeling the work in my body and making actual marks. So I noted afterwards, that

[00:11:51] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: kind of

[00:11:52] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: paralysis that comes with perfection,

[00:11:55] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: It's kind of a new feeling for me. after getting to now be working in my studio pretty consistently for over a year, I have gone into more of this mindset of perfectionism and it's it definitely hold me back. and I know that's really common across the creative spaces, but How what do you recommend, deconstructing that feeling and overcoming it? both like on a daily basis when it comes up for you while you're working and, afterwards, when you're reflecting about your progress and how you're doing.

[00:12:31] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and that's another place when the perfectionist mindset can come in to not only thinking about the physical work that you're doing, but where you are.

[00:12:40] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: in this Timeline of success that you've created for yourself This, sometimes incredibly unrealistic trajectory of progress.

[00:12:48] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: that is the perfect example too,

[00:12:51] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: because in those times where our expectation

[00:12:55] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: is

[00:12:55] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: not really met, there's a lot of emotion that comes

[00:12:59] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: up.

[00:13:00] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And here's another place.

[00:13:02] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: where

[00:13:03] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Many people have not been taught

[00:13:06] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: how to feel their emotions.

[00:13:09] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And so that's when we kind of, we bypass and that creates

[00:13:14] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: the block because

[00:13:15] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: then all those thoughts and feelings, like they're stuck and they're not being processed. they just keep cycling. And

[00:13:22] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: so going back to that example,

[00:13:26] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: it's

[00:13:26] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: like really allowing yourself to be with those feelings

[00:13:31] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and

[00:13:32] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: get as upset and frustrated as you see fit.

[00:13:38] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and this is a process that you have.

[00:13:40] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: to

[00:13:41] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Practice over time. I used to not be good at at feeling my feelings at all. Like I would never want people to see me cry. I would never want to cry because it made

[00:13:53] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: me feel weak

[00:13:54] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: and now I see it as such a

[00:13:56] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: gift when

[00:13:57] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: I feel the instinct, when I get upset.

[00:14:00] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: I allow it to take over my body in a safe place. if I'm at work or at a grocery store or like just not in a place where I really have a safe space to allow the motions to be processed. Like I'll wait until later. But just allowing yourself to really. Tune into those. Feel it throughout your body and be fully in it.

[00:14:24] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Let those thoughts come up. And this is a great time to journal too. All of the thoughts that you have.

[00:14:30] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: I'm not good enough. This is not working out. This is never gonna work out. This is never gonna be the way that I want it to be. whatever. comes up, getting it out of your body, out onto.

[00:14:44] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And

[00:14:44] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: then getting yourself back into that neutral space

[00:14:48] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: so

[00:14:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: that you can consciously choose

[00:14:52] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: more empowering

[00:14:53] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: thoughts to align with, to propel you forward. So it's really the first piece of it is allowing yourself to process

[00:15:01] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: the feelings.

[00:15:02] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: sometimes it can be a very bodily experience. Like maybe it's dancing it out, maybe it's breath work.

[00:15:10] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: Maybe it's you. Hitting a pillow, getting, just really getting into the feelings so that they don't

[00:15:18] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: stuck in your body.

[00:15:21] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: That reminds me of, the Artist's Way book, and the way Julie Cameron, the author, describes, creative scar tissue, as artists. We face so much rejection all the time, just even in terms of applying for things, exhibitions, residencies, open calls of any sort.

[00:15:41] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: And,it's really interesting that finally there's a bit more of a discourse publicly happening about the psychological side of being visible and putting yourself out there so deliberately,

[00:15:56] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: In

[00:15:56] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: artist's way, it's described as if you don't get upset or mourn or, feel those feelings of hurt or rejection or, anxiety or whatever it is, related to, maybe not getting selected or not winning the grant or, receiving harsh criticism that you don't understand.

[00:16:17] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: By just ignoring those things and, saying, oh, it's okay, it doesn't matter. I'm only gonna have a 10% success rate, or 20% success rate, or whatever it is. we internalize that and it becomes, self-doubt, which can be so cripp. And I just wanted to mention, An artist collective that I absolutely love and have been a huge fan of for the past few years, jiggle and Juice.

[00:16:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: they have actually started a, an initiative to increase transparency around the, success rate of, applications. And Shea Miles, one half of the Jilin Juice Collective is actually putting out her entire professional journey, for other creatives too. observe.

[00:17:02] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: And she's commenting and. sharing All of her applications that she's done, she's sharing both the successful ones and the non successsful ones in an effort to shed a light on, this issue that, when you get rejection, when you apply for a grant or a program or a project and don't get it, you feel like you're the only one.

[00:17:26] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: You feel so alone and you feel so much disappointment. and whether or not that was the right program in the first place. that's another whole topic, but it's really interesting instead of bottling that up and, brushing it away and brushing it under the rug, to actually experience that and recognize the power of those emotions, and then letting them pass naturally instead of just ignoring them, which is, it's definitely what I've been doing for the past 10.

[00:17:55] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: years. and it's, you know, it's really refreshing to allow yourself to be upset, whether that's even just for a few moments, because you recognize, at least I've recognized how much, I was letting these expectations have power over me.

[00:18:12] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and then that would all contribute to that negative self-talk, that would come up in.

[00:18:17] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: moments That I was tired or I was feeling insecure, or I wasn't feeling a hundred percent, that voice would come back and halt any creative thought.

[00:18:29] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: And there's so many different separate parts of us, within that need to be seen. And part of that, is the inner

[00:18:36] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: child,

[00:18:37] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: which sometimes that inner child needs to have a tantrum,

[00:18:42] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: And our adult.

[00:18:43] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: selves Can

[00:18:45] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: allow that to happen and be there

[00:18:48] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: to

[00:18:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: kind of support them in that

[00:18:51] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: experience.

[00:18:54] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: And

[00:18:55] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: the inner child wants to come out

[00:18:56] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: and play. So it's

[00:18:58] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: giving a voice to that inner child as well and

[00:19:02] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: not stifling it.

[00:19:07] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: I. love Thinking about, preserving that childlike passion and wonder and curiosity as a source of energy, that you can call upon, uh, whenever pursuing experimentation or, new passion, it's a really great thing to remember.

[00:19:30] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: So I was wondering, we've discussed this idea of the, internal dialogue that you have with yourself. What other, limiting beliefs, have you

[00:19:41] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-4: seen in

[00:19:42] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-4: your practice of coaching that have come up consistently for different kinds of creatives?

[00:19:48]

[00:19:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Yeah. So you speaking about your process with the sculpture reminds me of one of the sessions with my client who is a musician and

[00:20:00] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics:

[00:20:00] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: She was trying to show up regularly on social media, but she had this idea of what she wanted her work to look like online and it

[00:20:11] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: being

[00:20:11] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: this very glossy, finished product, even though she wasn't really at that level yet, and that was hindering her from even showing up at all.

[00:20:24] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: And

[00:20:25] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: some of the thoughts that were going on were

[00:20:28] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: just

[00:20:28] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: like,

[00:20:29] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I'm not capable. I'm not a good artist.

[00:20:33] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: And,

[00:20:34] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: taking the time to slow down and really understand,

[00:20:37] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: okay,

[00:20:38] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: what are the thoughts going on and how are they making you feel? So maybe you start with the feeling, like that feeling of imposter syndrome,

[00:20:46] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5:

[00:20:46] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I feel like an imposter.

[00:20:48] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics:

[00:20:48] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: that's a feeling. That feeling of

[00:20:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: an.

[00:20:50] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: being posture.

[00:20:52] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: And what does that mean?

[00:20:53] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: So

[00:20:54] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: what

[00:20:54] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: is the thought that is going on that is making you feel like an imposter? Maybe that's, I'm not a good artist, so it's really about slowing down the process and seeing, okay, maybe the thoughts, I'm not capable.

[00:21:10] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: how does that

[00:21:11] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: make you feel

[00:21:12] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: in. Overwhelmed,

[00:21:17] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: heavy, exhausted,

[00:21:20] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: really tuning into your emotions to understand how that makes you feel. And being with those feelings, like I said earlier, really allowing them to be there, having a relationship with them, processing them out, and then once you've been with them, switching into, okay, how do I wanna?

[00:21:45] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: so maybe I can ask you that. So if you're going back into that place of

[00:21:50] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: you had

[00:21:51] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: that sculpture, you went through that process and say you processed all your feelings and you're in a more neutral state, how do you wanna feel when you're showing up to your sculpture?

[00:22:04] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: practice? for me the feeling is often different. it's not always one thing, I guess something that I've been thinking a lot about is how to create a consistent baseline feeling that whenever I feel myself slipping into a negative space, I can return.

[00:22:30] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: and so the feelings that I've been rehearsing and really almost brainwashing myself in a kind way to believe and to create this baseline of resilient thought is confidence and recognizing.

[00:22:52] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I

[00:22:52] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: I know what's best for me and appreciating feedback, critique responses from others, from my community, from clients, from, strangers, online, Instagram comments, whatever it may be, podcast statistics, whatever it is. but recognizing that really the only opinion that matters is my own and trusting my own.

[00:23:19] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: And

[00:23:19] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: And trusting myself to make the right decision. So also recognizing that I know what's best for me in this moment. So if I'm not feeling well and I'm feeling tired, I don't feel a hundred percent. And maybe even anticipating. When I shouldn't do work, even though maybe I feel like I have to, I feel behind on a project.

[00:23:42] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: I'm not, sticking to a schedule, recognizing when have I set unrealistic goals for myself. When have I set a schedule that's just unrealistic to keep. and remembering that it's okay to take a break, to pause to come back tomorrow.

[00:24:00] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Just

[00:24:01] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: being more good with that and not always second guessing my decisions, whether that's creatively, whether that's, for business decisions, whether that's, whatever it is, just like listening to my own intuition more, and less the external dialogue around me.

[00:24:22] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: Yeah. So

[00:24:23] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I'm hearing.

[00:24:25] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Even

[00:24:25] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: when you tune into that feeling of confidence, that intentional feeling that you want to create, you're already starting to come up with some of those thoughts of I can trust myself,

[00:24:39] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: I

[00:24:39] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: trust my intuition, I know what I'm doing and how easily it can switch into those thoughts rather than I'm not cap.

[00:24:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I don't know what I'm

[00:24:51] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: doing.

[00:24:53] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I'm gonna

[00:24:53] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: fuck this up.

[00:24:56] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: and so really, you know, whatever that,feeling that you want to intentionally create

[00:25:03] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: confidence, maybe it's being

[00:25:06] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: in maybe

[00:25:07] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: it's

[00:25:08] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: celebration, excitement, maybe it's just.

[00:25:13] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Calm, surrender, whatever feeling that you wanna show up to your practice with. what would you have to think in order to feel that way? And just by you tuning into the feeling of confidence, you already had a lot of thoughts that you could instill and you can return back to many times, which I like to think of as power

[00:25:39] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: thought. And

[00:25:40] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: we've done this in our coaching work together,

[00:25:44] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: our private

[00:25:45] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: coaching work together, and in a lot of the private coaching with work with some other clients, I'll just share with you some of the power thoughts that they've created. I create things that didn't exist. Being an artist is about seeing

[00:26:01] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: the beauty in things.

[00:26:03] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Artistry is a muscle,

[00:26:05] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: and

[00:26:05] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: can work it out by being creative in so

[00:26:09] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: many ways.

[00:26:10] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I'm awesome. I'm capable. I'm making positive, empowering decisions for

[00:26:16] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: myself.

[00:26:17] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: I can get this done pretty quickly. I

[00:26:19] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: love that one.

[00:26:21] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: That's something that I tell myself a lot when I think, oh, this is gonna take forever. is that the truth? So asking yourself, is this true? Even if it makes you feel very intensely, is it true?

[00:26:36] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: and then creating. Thoughts are gonna propel you in the direction that you wanna go.

[00:26:42] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: It's really interesting, how much of that is a deliberate process, especially at the beginning. it's almost like doing simple addition, like thought one plus thought two equals good feeling that's gonna help me today. and recognizing how systematic you have to be doing that. and it's.

[00:27:04] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: It's

[00:27:04] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: It's not difficult.

[00:27:04] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: It's not,it's interesting,a amazing creative and past guest On season four. Susan Hensel has an excellent guide called Productivity in the Studio. That's a free ebook that I highly recommend you download. I'll link it in the show notes for this episode. One of my favorite quotes from the beginning of the book is, it's not rocket science, bridge construction or surgery. No one's likely gonna die from what we do. So just remembering to. Not always take every emotion so seriously, not every situation. So seriously in recognizing when you know, you can dictate your mindset. and, pairing that kind of really deep thought work with,also not being too precious with your materials. I also, often find myself being overly cautious with material experimentation. She. says right in that book. materials are only materials. They're not precious in themselves. She uses the mantra. It's only practicing and recognizing that, you know, trusting yourself isn't always the easiest thing to do, but the more times you do it, the easier. it gets.

[00:28:21] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: that reminds me of when I used to work at the gallery in Napa.

[00:28:27] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: one of

[00:28:27] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: my colleagues used to say there's never an art emergency.

[00:28:31] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Because

[00:28:32] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: sometimes we would freak out if something went wrong and she's like, this isn't life or death. there's never an art emergency. And it kind of just like diffused the whole

[00:28:44] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: thing and

[00:28:44] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: we're like, okay.

[00:28:45] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: Yeah.

[00:28:45] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: That's that's

[00:28:46] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: true. But yeah, just, bringing it back to coaching one more time as far as really laying this out so that you can see it in,

[00:28:55] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: in one

[00:28:58] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: of the tools that I use in my coaching is called the model. And what the model is there's the circumstance which is always neutral. It's a. So the circumstance would be you making artwork or me posting on social

[00:29:19] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: media.

[00:29:19] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: It's a fact.

[00:29:21] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: And

[00:29:22] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: then we have certain

[00:29:24] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: thoughts and

[00:29:25] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: feelings about the circumstance,

[00:29:28] Isotta Mic - USB Mics-5: circumstance, which

[00:29:29] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: then create actions and then lead to our results. So by having different thoughts and feeling. You're going to create different actions and results. So it's really about having that relationship with what are the thoughts and feelings that I'm having to create the results that I

[00:29:50] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics: want.

[00:29:51]

[00:29:51] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-6: So in closing, I just wanna leave you with this concept of being your own coach.

[00:29:59] Lauryn Mic - USB Mics-6: you can always pay someone to guide you and champion you and celebrate you and strategize with you, but you can also do that for yourself. And all it takes is creating more of that relat. With that inner dialogue, you know, thinking about that inner child and you can be that support system encouraging them to keep going even when times get tough and you don't feel like showing up.