Artists for Joy

Reflection Questions: 1. What are some of the challenges that you face in your creative life? How is your current lens serving you? 2. How do want to show up to your creative life? Make a list of adjectives for how you'd like to be.  3. What do you believe to be true about creativity, and how is it springing you forward or holding you back? Dover Quartet: http:// https://bit.ly/3iOS0Ri Register fo...

Have you ever considered the code of conduct that's in play in your creative life? Have you ever taken the time to name and claim the ways you want to be with yourself as you go about your creative life? Merideth shares a story of a coaching client's breakthrough that was contagious. Plus, learn more about how you can join like-minded artists in community to craft an Artist's Oath of your own. Sub...

Reflection questions: What are 5 things you love about yourself as a child? What stories does your inner child believe about your creative life? (e.g. "I can't draw" or "if I do that, I'll fail.") What would you say if you could have a conversation with your younger self? What advice would you give them? What might your inner child being saying to you today? Music: https://bit.ly/364cPFM

The Inner Child is an artist. Merideth shares some truths she is learning about parenting and how it speaks deeply to that internal struggle toward healing and acceptance of our own inner artist child. Coaching Questions: https://bit.ly/3t3WREi Ukrainian Girl Sings: https://bit.ly/369pXc1 Leave a question: https://bit.ly/3kFNMLf Join my email list: https://bit.ly/3b6yTi6

This week Merideth interviews someone who makes her inner artist child jump for joy. Pianist Emile Pandolfi's music has been streamed half a billion times across all the platforms. His humor, authenticity, and joy radiate through this talk about his new book, "Play it Like you Mean it." Available now: https://bit.ly/3sFaSIj

Reflection Questions: Who is it safe to remove my bandages with? Healing takes a lot of energy. What can I say no to or cut back on that would allow me to conserve time and energy for my own healing? As new soft tissue forms, gently rubbing along a scar can help improve circulation and healing. As your creative wound is healing, what can you do to encourage that process? When you are triggered by...

This week on the podcast: creative wounds—the tender spots where we have been hurt or disappointed creatively and how we can heal them. Merideth shares some insights she garnered from her own journey with wound care. A brave creative life can leave a mark, but we aren't alone in our pursuit of healing and wholeness. Mental Health Resources for Artists: https://bit.ly/2LR45YW Submit Mail to the Sho...

As you listen and reflect this week, consider: 1. What obstacles stand in the way between you and creative permission? 2. What sounds fun at this moment? Try to make a list of as many things as you can that sound like fun to you, even if they are impossible for now.  3. Finally, I compared the creative impulse in Episode 2.16 to an underground river. Consider what action you can take to "break gro...

What if your best creative life was just a permission slip away? In celebration of Mozart's birthday, Merideth shares her true feelings about one of his most popular pieces for oboe. (Also a bonus story about the Bard!)  FREE Artist's Way small group starts Feb 15 Nepperhan (Saw Mill) River Facts Submit mail to the show

Second installment of our new series, featuring music of Claude Debussy.  1. "Pagodas" from Estampes , L. 100 performed by Jani Parsons 2. "Clair de Lune" from Suite Bergamasque performed by Amy Gustafson 3. "Beau Soir" transcribed and performed by Merideth Hite Estevez, oboe and Jani Parsons, piano While you listen: What stifles your artistic practice?  What spoken or unspoken laws are you adheri...

This week–worthiness. Merideth shares what she learned from having the same conversation twice in one week with two different friends. She'll also answer a listener's question about writing routines. FREE Artist's Way Group starts Feb 15 https://bit.ly/32pPZE8 Book Launch Group https://bit.ly/33s5k9P Submit a Q: https://bit.ly/3kFNMLf NY Times Article on Value in Art: https://nyti.ms/3FJ893F

This week we begin a new series entitled Musical Meditations. Every other week, while Merideth works on the book, she'll share an episode that puts the music front and center, featuring a piece or pieces that go along with a theme. This week you'll hear Bach's Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 and Chopin's Prelude No 4 in E Minor, both performed by pianist Gabriel Benton. While you listen consider:  Wha...

New year…but are you feeling new? This week, Merideth shares a story of a coaching client who gets unblocked. Plus she'll offer one way of viewing a well-known work of art and what it might teach us about how to change. Also EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT about a new project and a change to the show schedule!  Join my list: https://bit.ly/3b6yTi6 Contact me: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF   Support the show: https...

This week on the podcast, a little holiday pep talk—I'll offer you some spiritual practices to try on your own or with others during this season. May they offer you space for peaceful contemplation, fun, and maybe some "re-joying" that we all so desperately need.  "Breath," Radiolab: https://bit.ly/3svI2dQ Leave us a voicemail: (302) 415-3407 Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN   Book Coachin...

This week on the podcast….jealousy.  Merideth offers a potent question to ask when you're struggling with comparative thinking. Plus an answer to a listener's question about maintaining a healthy sense of self around family. Find a therapist https://bit.ly/2LR45YW   Support the Show https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN   Join the Next Artist's Way Creative Cluster https://bit.ly/32pPZE8

Fresh out of quarantine, I'm offering some thoughts on embodiment. I'll give you 3 spiritual take-aways I garnered from the COVID experience at our house, with a few ideas on how our creative mindset can benefit from being present to the wisdom of our own body. Book a Coaching Session Now: https://bit.ly/3oGCSJi Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN Submit Listener Mail: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF...

Being a joyful artist means cultivating an attitude of gratitude. What art or artist(s) are you most grateful for? Merideth shares a brief gratitude meditation for exploring that question and more. Listen to Merideth and Jani's album: https://spoti.fi/2IxrGfz Support the show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN  

Process: naming, working, trusting it….is this week's focus. When we take a moment to examine the roller coaster that the creative process can be, we can gain key information and wisdom about our creative needs. Merideth offers some tips on how we can get more familiar with our unique creative rhythms, how to care for ourselves well throughout the process, and get better at trusting the ebb and fl...

On today's show: energy. What the research says about the most important resource for productivity… and no, it isn't time. Creative energy doesn't come in just one color or flavor— listen to learn a practical coaching tool for uncovering exactly what puts a "pep in your step" creatively. Submit a question: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN Rate and Review us: https://...

On today's show, devotion... or practice as a spiritual practice . How the discipline of daily artistic fundamental practice can connect us to something larger than ourselves and help us sustain a joyful creative life. Submit a question: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN Rate and Review us: https://apple.co/3j2ufUm

This week on the podcast, a long awaited update to the Creative Block series from Season 1. Merideth shares something she learned about creative block from a cranky massage therapist in Chicago. She'll answer a listener question about future thinking and give you some math to consider this week. Enneagram Orientation to time: https://bit.ly/30Ex35G   BE Curious Workshop: https://bit.ly/3DGZo9J Sup...

This week on the podcast: curiosity. What purpose does it play in our creative lives? What one of Merideth's favorite writers says to do when you do not feel passion for your art in a particular moment. She'll also share info about an exciting new offering coming up next month you don't want to miss! Elizabeth Gilbert talk on Curiosity https://apple.co/2YUSGy0 BE Curious Workshop: https://bit.ly/3...

This week on the podcast, after the truth-talk about self-sabotage last week—an episode devoted to self-sabotage's first cousin….regret. What can our biggest regrets teach us about who we are and what we want, in our creative life and beyond? Henri Nouwen: https://amzn.to/3AnzyFQ Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN Submit a Question: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF    

Have you ever had an amazing opportunity and just watched it pass you by? Have your once-beloved creative projects suffered a demise at your very own hand? Why do artists self-sabotage? Merideth shares a story about a time she sabotaged herself, she'll answer a listener question about post-pandemic performance anxiety, and give us something to consider this week. Submit mail: https://bit.ly/38bKMS...

On the podcast this week, Merideth does her best to put coaches (herself included) out of business. She'll offer you some questions to help you get to the bottom of how you really feel and what you really want, to aid in finding more joy in your creative life. Submit mail: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF Coach with Merideth: https://bit.ly/3CGuUUN Compose your career: https://bit.ly/3ldBIlB Support the sho...