78: Cathy Heller | Being Creative in Spite of Your Day Job

Creative Environment

Cathy Heller emphasizes the importance of creating an environment that nurtures creativity. She suggests engaging in activities that provoke emotion, such as journaling, walking, or visiting museums, to unlock creative potential. Cathy mentions "The Artist's Way," a book by Julia Cameron, as a tool for fostering creativity through exercises like morning pages, which involve writing continuously to uncover hidden thoughts and ideas 1.

It's important to cultivate your creativity, and I think part of it is like in The Artist's Way, she talks about doing these things called the morning pages.

--- Cathy Heller

By allowing oneself to explore different facets of identity, individuals can break free from self-imposed limitations and discover new creative avenues 2.

   

Writer's Block

Overcoming writer's block is a challenge that Cathy Heller addresses with honesty and practical advice. She shares her personal experiences of self-doubt and the tendency to procrastinate when faced with creative tasks, such as writing a theme song for a Netflix show 3. Cathy highlights the importance of persistence and resilience, using Ed Sheeran's analogy of letting brown water run clear as a metaphor for working through creative blocks.

You know that eventually this water is going to be useful.

--- Cathy Heller

By confronting feelings of inadequacy and continuing to engage in creative activities, individuals can overcome barriers and produce meaningful work 4.