The Unbound Creative

Did you ever hear something and you don’t know exactly why, but you knew in that moment you were meant to hear it? That happened to me recently at an unexpected moment. The tears instantly came. It was an invitation back to myself after going through a period of feeling lost. When you feel like you’ve lost yourself, I believe it’s often because you’re not allowing your awareness to go to those pla...

Dear Creative Soul, You’re allowed to change your mind  You’re allowed to quit something You’re allowed to experiment You’re allowed to start something new. There are no rules! Giving the world the gift of your honest, authentic self is worth pushing past the made up rules and limitations we put on ourselves.  In case you felt like you needed permission, this episode is it!  We will break down the...

One of the biggest blockers to creativity is the fear of making a mistake. You probably have multiple ideas swirling through your head at any given moment, but maybe you're feeling afraid to choose the “wrong” one and move forward. Or maybe you feel intimidated to create, worrying that the end result won’t be what you had envisioned. For 12+ years while we are in school, we are taught there a...

Sometimes there are so many creatives directions we can take and this can leave us stuck! I’ve been feeling this way lately. In today’s episode we’ll talk about the simple mindset shifts to get unstuck and things we can tell ourselves to bring more fun into the process! Follow along on Instagram @valeriemckeehan and at valeriemckeehan.com Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative !  If today’s...

What if I told you that according to NASA scientists, you are a creative genius? It's true! I learned about the most fascinating study and it changes everything - especially how we see ourselves. After conducting a study of 1600 4 and 5-year olds, scientists found that 98 percent scored at "creative genius" level. 98 percent! But just ten years later, the same group of children were...

It can feel intimidating to start something new, but I would argue that being a beginner in a new creative endeavor is magical. Here’s how to embrace those awkward, messy stages and have the courage to try. You never know what joy is waiting on the other side! Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative !  If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it help...

I’m going to say something perhaps unexpected: I believe you need more stress in your life!  BUT - the right kind of stress and in the right amount. With too much stress, we can face overwhelm and burnout, but with not enough, we also experience low emotions of purposelessness and lack of energy. We live in a rhythmic and cyclical universe - think about circadian rhythms, seasons, and moon cycles....

The vulnerability required for being a creative can sometimes come with burnout, overwhelm, and overthinking. As beautiful as it is to create, when we’re in constant output mode without inputting into ourselves, it can lead to blocks and frustration.  I love the quote by Anton Chekhov, “ if you want to work on your art, work on your life. ” In today’s episode, we’re going to cover 7 simple ideas y...

Have you ever told yourself “Oh, everyone else is already doing that!” about a creative endeavor that you wanted to try?  It’s easy to look at what everyone else is doing and feel overwhelmed. We fear the world may not need our participation, but I can tell you with confidence that this is a trap and completely untrue!  We are both similar and connected to each other AND entirely unique at the sam...

It can be a struggle to show up imperfectly and messy for a number of reasons (looking at you perfectionism and fear), but what is at the heart of the issue? I believe we are afraid to fail.  What if I told you that failure isn’t the worst thing that can happen? Not even close! In fact, it’s something to be embraced and even welcomed.  Failure means motion, moving forward. It acts as a flashlight...

I was sitting down to the mic fearful and feeling all the usual doubts spinning through my mind… “What if I sound dumb?”  “I’m not good enough.” “Maybe this was a bad idea.” But then it occurred to me, I’ve been saying things like this to myself for years and the only thing staying comfortable led to was feeling stuck!  Maybe you’re feeling stuck too.  “I’m not ready. This isn’t a good time. I don...

Dear Creative Soul is a podcast for creatives, artists, and the creatively curious. Walking a creative path takes a great amount of courage and it can sometimes feel lonely. It’s easy to get caught in comparison, fear, and lose yourself along the way. Each episode is like a love letter to your heart, filled with honest stories and gentle encouragement. Every week, your host, internationally recogn...