I share what I learned about the creative process and slow productivity in an episode that will be useful for you even if you don't choose to move halfway around the world.

Takeaways

• Moving to a new environment can provide a creative reboot and a shift in perspective.
• Slowing down and exploring can lead to deeper creativity and a more meaningful approach to work.
• Finding activities that give you creative energy back can create a virtuous cycle of productivity.
• Living in a different culture can expand your awareness and understanding of the world.

Are you on a journey of creative growth? I urge you to join me here as I share what I have learned so that it may serve you:

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Aside from the searing terror and existential dread I felt as a six-year-old separated from his family, I had a great time with my foster family.

Even if you have never experienced foster care or anything like that, this story touches on some universal experiences that will prove valuable.

Takeaways

• The therapeutic value of sharing personal stories
• The impact of childhood experiences on adult life
• The internal struggles faced in foster care
• The importance of reflecting on and processing past experiences

Are you on a journey of creative growth? I urge you to join me here as I share what I have learned so that it may serve you:

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It's tempting to force our creative work to achieve some end, and while there are moments when that might make sense, the best creative work comes when we release those ends and let our creativity go where it may.

This episode discusses creating without holding too tightly to a prescribed outcome and how that can lead to greater impact and joy in the creative process.

Takeaways

• Detaching from outcomes allows for a more authentic and meaningful creative process.
• External validation and a focus on outcomes can dilute the message and limit creative vision.
• Storytelling without pushing an agenda allows for a deeper connection with the audience.
• Solitude can be a powerful driver of creativity and helps find one's creative voice.
• Focusing on the process and enjoying the creative journey is more important than the outcome.

Are you on a journey of creative growth? I urge you to join me here as I share what I have learned so that it may serve you:

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I hope this episode helps those struggling to get a creative project out into the world or who have taken steps but wonder what the point of all of it is.

In the episode, I share how releasing over 30 podcast episodes has helped my creativity and created opportunities for deeper connections with others despite supposed imperfections.

Takeaways

• Consistency is key in any creative project. Show up consistently and put your work out into the world.
• Deep connections with a smaller audience can be more valuable than a large following.
• Embrace imperfection, and don't let perfectionism hold you back from creating and sharing your work.
• Refine your message over time and find ways to communicate it more clearly and concisely.
• Connect with new people and deepen connections with those you already know through your creative project.
• Enjoy the process and continue showing up, even if the external growth is slow. Patience is key.

Are you on a journey of creative growth? I urge you to join me here as I share what I have learned so that it may serve you:

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It can, and that’s what I discuss in this podcast episode. I share with you how I learned to convert my persistent loneliness into fuel for creative growth and expression.

Along the way, we touch on learning to be grounded, how play supports that practice, and how it all ties into the idea of leaning into loneliness instead of resisting it so that we can be more creative.

Takeaways

• Loneliness is a universal emotion that many people experience to varying degrees.
• Instead of running from loneliness, it can be embraced and used as fuel for creativity.
• Grounding, being present, accepting current circumstances, and looking within for direction are practices that can enhance creativity.
• Play is essential in the creative process, allowing for exploring personal interests and joy.

Are you on a journey of creative growth? I urge you to join me here as I share what I have learned so that it may serve you:

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In this episode, I talk about how I shifted that perspective and realized that old art is never abandoned but can take on a life of its own much later. 

I hope that what I learned helps you realize that the artwork and creativity you have locked away in a drawer or storage unit might have a second life in it yet.

Takeaways

• Forgive yourself for not achieving past artistic dreams, and change the narrative around your creative journey.
• Revisit old artwork and see it from a new perspective, recognizing its value and potential.
• Creativity is not linear, and the timing of sharing or using old work may vary.
• Consider repurposing or incorporating old work into new projects.

Are you on a journey of creative growth? I urge you to join me here as I share what I have learned so that it may serve you:

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He defines play as doing something without any goal - purely for enjoyment.

Chris emphasizes the significance of play in developing one's creative voice and storytelling abilities. He discusses the challenges of losing sight of play and its impact on creativity.

Chris also explores the role of play in calming the nervous system and communicating with the younger self. He encourages listeners to prioritize play and tap into pure creativity for a more fulfilling and easier creative process.

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We explore the importance of building and leveraging a platform for commercial viability, emphasizing the need for artists to prioritize art while managing the business side.

We talk about the creative expression and enjoyment that can come from building a platform.

Takeaways

• Building a platform is crucial for artists to achieve commercial viability.
• Artists should embrace the role of a business owner and prioritize their art.
• Feedback and promotion are integral to the creative process.
• Artists should advocate for fair compensation and take control of their careers.
• Building a platform can be a creative expression and an enjoyable process.

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Chris shares his personal experience of how prioritizing his creative work has led to significant changes in his life.

He encourages listeners to make time for their creative goals and not wait for someday.

Chris also highlights the importance of consistency, overcoming fear and judgment, and staying connected to the vision.

Takeaways

• Prioritize your big goals and long-term creative projects.
• Make time for your creative work, and don't wait for someday.
• Consistency and showing up are key to achieving your creative goals.
• Overcome fear and judgment to prioritize your creative projects.

Chapters

00:00 Prioritizing the Big Goals

03:14 Don't Wait for Someday

04:12 Making Time for Creative Work

06:03 Putting Big Goals First

07:25 Filling Your Own Cup First

08:47 Consistency and Showing Up

10:39 Making Time for Long-Term Goals

12:28 Overcoming Fear and Judgment

13:23 Prioritizing Creative Projects

14:22 Staying Connected to the Vision

16:20 Tweaking Attitude and Priorities

17:15 Continuing the Podcast

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Chris discusses the importance of understanding history to gain perspective on the future. He shares his connection to his family's refugee history and the theme of displacement and lack.

Chris emphasizes the power of storytelling and the need to honor and learn from our ancestors.

Takeaways

• History can provide perspective on our own lives and the future.
• Understanding our family's history can help us make sense of our own experiences.
• Stories and art can give meaning to historical events.
• Honoring our ancestors and their struggles can inspire us to overcome our own challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection

01:27 The Weirdness of History

04:11 Ancestral History and Family Journals

06:27 Life as a Refugee

09:14 Connecting Personal Experiences to History

10:39 Intergenerational Patterns and Lack

14:00 Perspective and Honoring Ancestors

16:23 The Power of Stories and Artistic Practice

17:20 Conclusion and Call to Action

Writing about your life means taking ownership of one's story and finding meaning in what feels like confusing and disconnecting events.

Finally, we talk about how writing about your life helps anyone to find common ground, especially with people who don't share our life experiences.

Takeaways

• Writing about one's life can be valuable for personal growth and self-knowledge.
• Memoir writing involves finding meaning in events and taking ownership of one's story.
• Sharing and receiving feedback from others can help improve the writing and provide new perspectives.
• Personal stories have the power to connect people and foster understanding.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:17 Starting the Writing Process

05:14 Writing Raw and Collecting Material

07:32 Learning about Memoir Writing

09:53 Sharing and Receiving Feedback

12:47 Objective and Subjective Truth

15:10 Finding Meaning in Events

17:06 Taking Ownership of Your Story

18:33 Themes and Connections

21:24 The Hero's Journey

22:19 Room for Invention and Interpretation

24:08 Finding Common Ground

26:01 The Value of Personal Stories

27:56 Writing as a Tool for Self-Knowledge

28:25 Conclusion

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I share my personal experience of encountering the void while researching his family history and discuss how to move from a situation of not knowing to making sense of things. 

This episode offers strategies for coping with the loss of information, such as accepting it as a reality of the human experience and remembering and cherishing what we can.

The episode also explores the use of imagination to fill in gaps and emphasizes the importance of telling the story that we can with the information available.

Takeaways

• The void, a place where information and insight are missing or lost, is a common experience in personal storytelling and historical research.
• Coping with the loss of information involves accepting it as part of the human experience and remembering and cherishing what we can.
• Imagination can be used to fill in gaps in our stories, but it is important to maintain honesty and truthfulness.
• Telling the story that we can with the available information is a way to honor the past and make sense of our own experiences.
• Knowing all the facts won't necessarily make us feel better, and it is important to focus on personal growth and gratitude for what we have.

If you want to learn more about how to tell your personal story, join our mailing list: https://hypermemoir.beehiiv.com/subscribe

He shares his experience of starting the podcast and writing a book and how he had to adjust along the way.

Chris emphasizes the importance of feedback and how it can help refine and improve creative projects. He also talks about the need for patience and the evolution of his podcast's concept.

Chris explores the concept of hypermemoir and how it is an ongoing iterative process.

Takeaways

• Creative projects often undergo a process of iteration, where the initial idea may change and evolve over time.
• Feedback from others is crucial in refining and improving creative projects.
• Being patient with oneself and allowing time for experimentation and refinement is important in the creative process.
• Putting creative work out there and gathering feedback helps develop and clarify the concept.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Process of Creative Iteration

02:20 Starting the Podcast and Writing a Book

04:02 Creative Iteration and Feedback

08:13 Being Patient and Refining the Concept

10:36 Developing the Concept of Hypermemoir

13:49 Putting Something Out and Getting Feedback

15:13 Concept Development through Creative Iteration

16:08 Shifting Focus to Personal Stories

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Chris explains how he discovered his grandfather's artwork and its impact on his life. He also discusses his search for family history and his connection with Yves, a friend of his grandfather who preserved his legacy.

Chris delves into his grandfather's philosophy and the recognition his artwork has received in recent years.

Takeaways

• Discovering family history can be a transformative experience and provide valuable insights into one's identity.
• Preserving and sharing the legacy of loved ones can profoundly impact future generations.
• Art can convey complex philosophical ideas and offer new perspectives on the world.
• Recognition and appreciation for an artist's work may come long after their passing, highlighting the importance of perseverance and belief in one's creative expression.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:21 Discovering My Grandfather's Artwork

05:10 Searching for Family History

09:56 Connecting with Yves and Preserving the Legacy

12:00 Exploring My Grandfather's Philosophy

16:13 Recognition and Exhibitions

20:31 The Unfolding Story

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Everyone should step into the creator role, but internal and external constraints often conspire against that.

In this episode, I discuss finding yourself as a creator despite the countervailing forces that life throws at us.

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In this episode, I discuss how, as an adult, I rebuilt my family tree. This came after growing up confused as I wondered whether my adoptive family’s family tree was mine or whether I could still use my birth family’s.

Rebuilding my family tree meant reconnecting with my ancestors and developing a sense of place again.

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Too many creative projects die because we plan and think them to death. We can feel that if we read one more book or do one more tutorial, we will finally be “ready.”

But our creative projects die while we await a state of readiness that never arrives.

This episode discusses how overthinking and overplanning are just a mask for fear. And given that, what can we do to find the balance between preparation and positive forward momentum?

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This happened over 30 years ago, but it hurt my creativity until I learned to explore the emotions around it all.

I share this story to show how episodes like these can shatter our creative spirit and how we can confront them and reverse the damage.

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Going back there seemed like a way to complete a circle, especially since my main reason for going was to see my grandfather's artwork on display in his home country. Even if he couldn't be there, some part of him could.

In this episode, I talk about a deeply personal experience traveling back to where one side of my family had come from after immense tragedy befell them.

The experience connects with ideas of facing discomfort and the darkness of the past, acts that are essential in creative growth.

I hope you discover more of yours by hearing more of my story.

More information and photos are in the corresponding newsletter.

In this episode, I discuss why we avoid creative work, and I also share some tips for how to break through that initial resistance.

[00:01:41] Prioritizing tasks can hinder creative endeavors.

[00:03:50] Avoiding writing, find what you love.

[00:07:02] Unleashing thoughts, confronting emotions through journaling.

[00:09:34] Internal doubts discourage writing; change is unsettling.

[00:15:45] "Meditating and writing benefit my day-to-day."

[00:17:30] Meditation, exercise, structure: the key to writing.

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And it’s actually okay that they’re not interested.

Part of the creative process involves finding your “tribe” of folks who genuinely resonate with the work that you’re doing.

In this episode, I discuss not letting people’s seeming indifference discourage you. And what steps you can take to connect with people who need to hear your message.

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In this episode, I discuss the difference between creating from compulsion and how creating from compulsion lessens our creative impact.

I also discuss how we can identify compulsions that dilute our creative voice.

[00:02:34] Compulsion is driven by innate human needs.

[00:06:34] Creation driven by survival versus pure creation.

[00:08:21] Internal criticism inhibits creation. Silence it.

[00:10:55] Foolish people do much, good people nothing.

[00:15:12] New idea of compulsive versus pure creativity.

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Learn why thinking you’re too old to be creative is likely BS and how age and experience can be an asset to creative pursuits.

[00:01:55] Fear masks limiting stories, preventing creativity.

[00:06:36] Most successful startup founders are in their 40s.

[00:08:44] Depth in late bloomers; it's never too late.

[00:13:37] Fear of being a beginner in new endeavors.

[00:14:57] Your age is an asset in creativity.

[00:17:53] Connecting with people brings support and success.

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It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by possibilities, leading to creative gridlock. 

In this episode, I talk about how to overcome Shiny Object Syndrome and the feeling of being overwhelmed by creative possibilities.

I introduce a simple system to find focus, filter out distractions, and focus on what’s actually important to me.

[00:01:59] System to focus on important projects = Avoiding distractions

[00:05:55] Simple framework for deciding essential tasks.

[00:08:54] Tasks to move the vision forward.

[00:12:37] Apple Notes simplifies capturing web content effectively.

[00:13:06] Capture actions, projects, resources, and recommended books.

[00:17:02] Simple system: 5 CV.

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But creative success demands a level of consistently showing up and putting in the work - often over a long time before we see any results.

This episode talks about how we can embrace the process and learn to stick with our creative projects so that they can reach their full potential.

[00:01:30] The fear of quitting creative projects is common but can be overcome.

[00:03:22] Committing to a weekly pace, avoiding procrastination, and finding purpose over passion in the creative journey.

[00:06:47] Stifled creativity blocks growth; push through fear and seek feedback.

[00:10:59] Learn from the experience of quitting and find ways to push through the doldrums.

[00:16:05] It's essential to go through flat lines to reach success and find purpose in your work.

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And these lessons will help you get your own creative projects moving and out there.

In this amazing bonus episode, I give a little behind-the-scenes of making this podcast and putting it out.

I talk about showing up consistently, serving others, and learning as you go - all things that will break you out of creative stasis.

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But the truth is you’re right where you should be.

And this episode helps you understand how you can use even the mistakes and regrets of your past as fuel for more creative work.

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It might strike you as odd to talk about ancestors on a show about creativity, but I believe that connecting with one's ancestors plays a key role in developing a creative voice.

In this episode, I discuss how learning about my ancestors provided me with extra fire for my creative growth and development - and how it can do the same for you.

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That often means subduing our creative voice in an attempt to fit in.

But by being our whole, creative selves, we can do more for others and show up more fully in whatever job we do.

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But as an adult, I reconnected with my original family in a strange and surprising way. I explain what happened.

I also talk about how I learned to transmute the pain from these early experiences into gold.

I hope that in sharing, I can do a little to guide any of you towards the same.

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In this episode, I discuss comparison and how it's the enemy of creative voice. I talk about a few ways that you can immediately quench the fires of comparison and put your energy and focus on creating something new.

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But what if facing the darkness actually empowers your creative growth and helps you overcome the things that hold you back?

That's what this episode speaks on.

I share some lessons I learned by looking closely at the dark episodes of my life and my family's life - and explain how that freed me to be more creative and authentic.

I hope it does the same for you.

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But by not celebrating our wins, we shortchange ourselves.

Celebrating our wins offers us an easy and powerful way to persevere and create more when we really don't feel like it.

In this episode, I talk frankly about how I learned to celebrate my wins and use that celebration to fuel even more creativity.

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Running from that discomfort feels like a natural response, but to honestly use our creative voice, learning how to LEAN INTO the discomfort and make peace with it is imperative.

In this episode, I share my experience of sharing vulnerable, creative work with people close to me. I felt like I had done something completely wild, but I ultimately learned how to convert discomfort into creative power.

This episode shares insights on how to move past discomfort and use that feeling to support your creative goals.

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I was adopted when I was seven, and part of that adoption process was changing my name. I lived most of my life under that adopted name.

But eventually, I realized that my original name suited me more, and I moved to change it after years of internal debate.

This podcast episode shares that story, reflections on that story, and how that connects to the identities that we all have and how we use our creative voice by being true to ourselves.

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The first is about imagination and technique; the second involves sharing your creation with the world.

Many people get good at being creative but struggle to find the voice to share.

This episode explores why finding a creative voice often proves so complicated and then ends with actionable steps anyone can take to develop a creative voice.

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We all harbor limiting beliefs that keep us from fully expressing our creative voice. But the challenge is to recognize and challenge those beliefs to realize what we are called to create.

Learn ways that you can identify, challenge, and transcend limiting beliefs so that you can effectively share and connect with others.

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Many people have difficulty prioritizing creative work because they see it as something that comes after all else is done when the luxury of time somehow appears.

It never does, which means we never create.

This episode explains how I've been able to cope with that and make the time to write a book and do other creative work.

Follow us on IG for more resources related to this podcast and finding your creative voice: https://www.instagram.com/hypermemoir/

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We talk about perfectionism first because it's one of the biggest enemies of the creative voice.

In this episode, Chris Valdheims discusses how he has dealt with perfectionism and how anyone can move past the paralysis it causes. You can also read the accompanying article, "The Paralysis of Perfectionism."

Follow us on IG for more resources related to this podcast and finding your creative voice: https://www.instagram.com/hypermemoir/

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Hypermemoir is a podcast about finding and developing your creative voice.

And creative voice moves way beyond just being creative.

It's about sharing your experiences, viewpoints, and stories boldly and courageously. And most importantly, sharing them in a way that's different from anybody else in a world where it's too easy to lose yourself in a sea of sameness.

Hypermemoir shows you how to cultivate and share your unique creative voice with the world. We will discuss topics to help you on this quest. Things like perfectionism, comparison, vulnerability, limiting beliefs, prioritizing creativity, and much more.

So I will share what I've learned about reconnecting with that voice. I will also interview creators who have inspired me along my path.

So subscribe now and join me as we explore ways of reclaiming, finding, and developing the creative voice that is everyone's birthright. That's the Hypermemoir podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts.