On Sparking and Nurturing your Creativity
In the last few years I have really gotten to know Marian Parsons, last year we traveled to Italy together with a group of creatives and it went so well we did it again a few weeks ago. Marian is wildly talented and multi-dimensional, but what I’ve grown to love most about her is her heart. Not to sound corny, she has the soul of a Minister and she is SO very willing to share her talents to see others succeed in finding their potential, realizing their dreams and dare greatly. I wanted to share a bit of that with you!
DW: Let’s start off by talking about sparking creativity. I think a lot of creatives feel “stuck” sometimes and are not sure how to move forward. That is one of the reasons that I started “The Inspired Tourist”, to encourage looking for inspiration in new ways and places. What are some of your top tips for getting out of a rut and finding inspiration?
MP: Oh, I love this question, because there are so many answers and most of them are easy to do! Get off your computer. Go for a walk. Sit outside, observe, doodle, take notes. Give yourself time and space to breathe and think. Build learning time into your schedule, so you have consistent input. Tidy your workspace. Look at old, abandoned projects or work. Make something just for fun. And, you’ll love this answer…travel. Even if it’s just to the next town over. Go somewhere new and look for inspiration there.
DW: I know that you work a lot with creatives that are in business for themselves and you have recently started mentoring others (including myself) What are some of the things that creative entrepreneurs typically struggle with?
MP: What I’ve noticed, in myself and others, is that we can all get stuck inside our heads and doubt ourselves. We only see what we can see and we can miss all of our own gifts, potential, and obvious decisions we need to make. We all need to be a part of a community and we all need people who will speak into our creativity and business. Sometimes we just need someone to confirm what we already know.
DW: What are some of your favorite Reads/Books for sparking creativity?
MP: Generally, I love looking at art and design books, specifically ones that feature old/antique works and designs. We are all just recreating and I find the past a great place to look for a jumping off point. More specifically, I love the books Big Magic, Steal Like an Artist, and Keep Going. From a practical standpoint, I like Essentialism and Atomic Habits. Those last two aren’t about creativity, but they are very helpful for creative entrepreneurs.
DW: I know we spoke briefly about taking a group to Italy again for mentoring, sharing and learning, is it too early to be talking about that?
MP: Ha, never too early for me, but it might be too early for Jeff, my husband!
DW: What are the best ways to follow you and contact you for your mentoring group?
MP: The easiest way to find me is to Google “Miss Mustard Seed”. You can find me all over the place and follow me on your favorite platforms! If you’re interested in our mentoring group, check out www.mustardseedmentoring.com
