Happiness through Creating

In this episode of  Happiness Through Creating , we explore the remarkable story of Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, who discovered painting in her seventies after arthritis made embroidery too painful. With no formal training, she transformed decades of memories from rural farm life into more than 1,500 paintings and built a celebrated artistic career well into her nineti...

In this episode, we learn how the Post-it Note began with Spencer Silver’s “failed” attempt to create a strong adhesive, which instead produced a reusable, removable adhesive with no obvious purpose. We discover that years later, Art Fry connected Silver’s adhesive to his problem of bookmarks falling out of his hymnal, showing how ideas can become useful when the right person or opportunity comes...

In this episode, we explore “A Brand New Day” from The Wiz as a celebration of freedom, hope, and the possibility of starting again after a difficult season. We learn that happiness can emerge when fear and limitations are lifted, but a fresh start only becomes meaningful when we choose to act on the opportunities it creates. We are encouraged to look around, recognize the changes already happenin...

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating , we look beyond Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech to the months of organizing, sacrifice, and largely unseen work that made the 1963 March on Washington possible. We explore Bayard Rustin’s crucial role in coordinating the event and consider how the peaceful, disciplined gathering itself demonstrated the kind of society the movem...

In this episode, we explore the idea of staying grounded by focusing on what we can do right now instead of worrying about who we will become in the future. We learn that focusing on small, controllable actions can reduce anxiety, build motivation, and help us improve over time. We are reminded that success is not about comparing ourselves with others, but about consistently putting in the work an...

We explore how “Glory” by Common and John Legend connects the struggle for civil rights with the idea of creating a future we cannot yet see. We learn that happiness can come not only from reaching a goal, but from the process of creating, contributing, learning, and moving forward. We are reminded that we do not have to change the whole world alone because we can each create our part and contribu...

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating , we reflect on Maya Angelou’s powerful idea that while we may not control what happens to us, we can choose not to be reduced by it. We explore the difference between experiencing hardship and allowing a painful event to become the definition of who we are, drawing on psychology and Angelou’s own remarkable life story. We consider how resilience and c...

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating , we explore the power of present-moment awareness through the intersection of faith, psychology, and creativity. Drawing on scripture and the mindfulness research of Jon Kabat-Zinn, we examine how living in the past or future can multiply suffering, while presence allows us to see reality clearly without denying pain or ignoring the need for change. W...

In this Music Monday episode of Happiness Through Creating , we explore the enduring message of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and its powerful invitation to start change with ourselves. Rather than pointing fingers at the world or waiting for someone else to act, the song asks us to look honestly at our own choices, take responsibility, and believe in our ability to create change. We explo...

In this episode of Happiness Through Creating , we explore the difference between simply surviving life and truly thriving in it. Drawing on research from Corey Keyes and Ann Masten, we unpack how purpose, connection, growth, and “ordinary magic” can help us move from feeling flat and stuck toward greater vitality. We also identify how small, ordinary acts of creation can become the first step tow...

On this episode of Happiness Through Creating, we explore the extraordinary story of Malala Yousafzai, whose determination to learn and speak out transformed her from a young girl in Pakistan’s Swat Valley into a global advocate for girls’ education. We look at what happened when the Taliban tried to silence her, and how Malala chose to keep creating, speaking, and building something bigger from w...

On this episode of Happiness Through Creating, we explore Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” and the surprising fear that can appear when life is finally going well. We unpack loss aversion, gratitude, and why our brains can turn the possibility of losing what we love into a source of anxiety. We discover how we can stop gripping the beautiful things in our lives and instead hold them with gratitud...

In this episode, we explore the timeless story of young John Lennon answering the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with one simple word: "Happy."Together, we examine why we often define our lives by what we do instead of who we become, and how lasting happiness is created through meaning, growth, and character rather than achievement alone. We discover that...

In this episode, we explore the idea that the greatest treasures of life are often the experiences, relationships, lessons, and moments that become the gems of our personal stories. Like gemstones formed under pressure and refined through time, our most meaningful experiences are often shaped by challenges, growth, and the process of becoming. We learn to become “gem hunters” by slowing down, savo...

In this Music Monday episode, we explore the timeless song  Leaving on a Jet Plane  and discover how life's goodbyes can teach us to live with greater purpose and intention. Together, we reflect on how change, relationships, regret, and commitment shape our happiness and remind us to focus on what matters most. We also consider how every transition is an opportunity to express gratitude, stren...

In this episode, we explore how the greatest creations in life are built through the balance of quality and quantity, where intentional effort and consistent repetition work together. We discover that excellence is not created through occasional moments of greatness, but through meaningful actions repeated over time with purpose and care. By applying this principle to relationships, creativity, pe...

In this episode, we explore how the quality of our thoughts shapes the quality of our lives. Together, we examine insights from Marcus Aurelius, William James, and modern neuroscience to discover how our minds influence what we notice, the stories we tell ourselves, and the person we are becoming. We learn that while we can't always control our circumstances, we can choose the thoughts and per...

This Music Monday, we explore Journey's iconic anthem "Don't Stop Believin'" through the lens of the Creator's Mindset, discovering how every one of us is invited to move from consuming life to intentionally creating it. Together, we reflect on themes of purpose, opposition, courage, and growth, finding inspiration in the song's timeless message of hope and possibilit...

In today's episode, we explore how pioneering helps us be creators. The principles we can identify from the pioneers help us to continue that legacy in our own lives. We discover that happiness is found through the act of creating and that pioneers are great creators! Find me here: Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/briancbarlow⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, we explore how meaningful growth, happiness, and creation require patience and a willingness to trust the process rather than chase immediate results. We discover that lasting success is built through consistent habits, daily effort, and the often unseen work of developing character, skills, and resilience over time. By focusing on the journey instead of only the destination, we l...

In this Music Monday episode of  Happiness Through Creating , we explore how Katrina and the Waves'  "Walking on Sunshine"  is more than a joyful anthem—it's an invitation to choose our emotional direction before circumstances fully change. Together, we examine how creators move beyond waiting, using attention, intention, and mindset to shape the way they experience life. We refl...

In this episode, we explore how the natural rhythm of oscillation—cycles of effort and recovery, challenge and renewal, and progress and reflection—is essential to both creation and lasting happiness. We discover that setbacks, rest, and ordinary routines are not interruptions to growth but vital parts of the process that build strength, resilience, and momentum. By embracing life's rhythms in...

In this episode, we explore how the simple prefix  "re"  reminds us that hope, growth, and creation often begin after life's greatest challenges. We reflect on how recovery, renewal, restoration, redemption, and other "re" words reveal that setbacks are not the end of our story but opportunities to rebuild, reconnect, and continue creating. By embracing a growth mindset and...

In this Music Monday episode of  Happiness Through Creating , we explore how the Black Eyed Peas'  "I Gotta Feeling" is more than a party anthem—it's a powerful reminder that possibility begins before proof. Together, we examine how our expectations shape our experiences and why creators choose belief, energy, and intention before the outcome is certain. We reflect on the idea th...

In this episode, we explore how creating  simpatico —a spirit of mutual understanding, empathy, and goodwill—can strengthen our relationships and bring greater happiness in a divided world. We reflect on how meaningful connection grows not through agreement, but through curiosity, authentic listening, humility, and a genuine desire to understand one another. By choosing presence over distraction a...