Never Wear Boring Socks

I had a bit of an epiphany recently about what creativity means to me...and since creativity is the #1 thing we talk about here on Never Wear Boring Socks, I wanted to share it with you! In this episode, I'm talking about my current definition of creativity, and how trusting myself has helped me to live a more creative life both inside and outside the studio. 

We all have an artist inside of us. If you don't believe me, it's possible your artist has gotten a bit bored and fallen asleep... In this episode, I'm sharing some other signs that your inner artist might be sleeping, and how you can start to wake them up. 

How many times have you put off a creative project because something more "important" came up? If you've done this more times than you can count, you're most certainly not alone. Art often gets put on the back burner in favor of more pressing tasks, but in this episode Maria is making the case that it is actually a very important and worthy pursuit. She's sharing why creativity matters, how expressing your creativity benefits yourself as well as the people around you, and why you should start prioritizing your creative practice now. 

Do you ever get tired of the advice to just "be yourself?" Of course we want to be authentically ourselves as creatives, but what does this really mean? In this episode, Maria is sharing a new way of thinking about this concept that has the potential to be way more actionable and helpful. We discuss inner critics, inner wisdom, outer socks, and the mopey Eeyores lurking inside our brains. Maria also shares some of her favorite tools for tapping into the most wise, confident, fully expressed version of yourself, and why this is important for artists. 

Have you ever felt yourself putting off your creative projects until "someday"- some magical time when you have more time, more space, more support? In this episode, Maria is sharing why you DO in fact have everything you need to get started right now, why it's important that you get started right now, and one of the most underrated ingredients to be a successful, confident artist. 

Have you ever sat down to create your art and it just feels forced? Like you have to push and will yourself to write words on the page, and you just can't get into that flow state where things feel easy and inspired? In this episode, Maria is sharing her tips for how to move from trying to will creativity to happen into allowing creativity to happen. 

Have you ever felt like you're just not creative, or like you're just not that good at art or music or writing (or any other creative medium)? In this episode, Maria is sharing why you are in fact a creative and talented person, and the real reason you feel stuck.  

Do you ever feel frustrated with your creative practice? Like you don't have enough ideas or talent? Do you ever feel like you're just not a creative person? In this episode, Maria is sharing her solution: make bad art. Listen in to learn how embracing "bad" art can help you break through your creative blocks. 

Today we are talking about boundaries! A lot of us struggle with them, but strong boundaries are so important when it comes to making creative work consistently. In this episode, Maria shares what she has learned about boundaries from one of her favorite flowers, and how better boundaries helped her make more art. 

In this episode, we're discussing a very popular topic: How do you have more creative ideas? Whether you're a visual artist, a writer, a musician, or you just know you want to make something, you first need ideas. But where do they come from? Today Maria is sharing her experience and perspective on how to invite more creativity and better ideas into your art practice and your life. 

Today, Maria is sharing one of the most valuable things she's gained from a regular creative practice: a deeper connection to her intuition. In this episode, she shares how she used to be a super indecisive kid, how making more art connected her to her intuition, how intuition is related to confidence and self-trust, and some questions to help you connect to your inner wisdom as well. 

In this episode, Maria is sharing some of her tips for staying inspired as a creative. Often, we think of looking to other artists, writers, and musicians, but that's not the only place to look for inspiration. Maria talks about the importance of venturing outside your medium and genre for inspiration, as well as play and "pointless" activities as ways to nurture your inner artist. 

What does making your bed have to do with creativity? Listen to this episode to find out! Maria shares her philosophy on "making the bed" (both literally and metaphorically), how our daily rituals support creativity, and how creativity is like a plant.

A lot of creatives are resistant to structure because it feels restrictive. However, as Maria shares in this episode, structure can be incredibly supportive - even an essential ingredient - in allowing creativity to flow. 

This is the last in a three-part series about making space for creativity. In this episode, we're focusing on ENERGETIC space. Now that you've carved out space in your physical environment and your schedule to work on your art, it's time to look at whether or not you are energetically available for a satisfying creative practice. Maria is sharing a few things that have helped her become more available to creativity, and some reflection questions for you to ponder. 

This is the second in a three-part series about making space for creativity. In this episode, we're focusing on TIME space. It can be hard to find the time to work on your art. In this episode, Maria is sharing a few of the things that have helped her prioritize creativity in her schedule, and some prompts to help you do the same!

This is the first in a three-part series about making space for creativity. In this episode, we're focusing on PHYSICAL space. As creatives, we require some sort of physical space to do our creative work. Today, we're exploring how to carve out that space, even if you live in a smaller home and don't have the luxury of a separate creative studio. 

Never Wear Boring Socks is back! In this episode, Maria shares her perspective on creative inspiration and what inspired her to get back into podcasting. Then, she shares a few reflection questions for anyone wanting to invite more inspiration into their life.