There is only one You!

HEY EVERYONE!

Spring is upon us and I couldn’t be happier about it. I’m sure you can tell that I am one of the lucky ones who doesn’t suffer from hay fever, so please allow me to bask in my glorious health and enjoy all that spring has to offer! My mood has blossomed. Pardon the pun.

I’d love to chat today about mood-boosters because, as creatives, we experience emotional rollercoasters on the reg. We are in such an interesting field - on one hand we are intrinsically motivated individuals who create things from nothing, or reinvent things, possibly due to inspiration or pent-up energy. But on the other hand, what we create is usually on display for other people to critique and place value upon. We are so inward yet so outward.

It’s hard as a creative to continue creating when we spend seasons stuck on that rollercoaster. I understand. Here’s 3 practical tips you can try, so that the love of creating stays at the centre of what you produce.

MOOD BOOSTERS

for healthy creativity

• Prioritise health

Sunshine is a big one. Getting outside for a walk really is so helpful. It reminds us that we are humans, not robots. Now that it’s spring, maybe it’s a good time to start eating your lunch outside?

Exercise and movement is arguably just as important. If we take care of our bodies and show ourselves how well we can look after something, it rubs off in other areas, such as being able to tend to a piece of work that we never finished. Exercise also helps our brain produce more of those feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Your sense of well-being, and consequently your self-esteem, will sky rocket when you have these friendly chemicals in your system.

• Make space for creativity

Creativity needs space; it needs silence; sometimes it needs to speak to us. Will you listen? This might look like going for your sunshine walk without headphones. Give it a go!

• Try creating something that only you know about

You could write a skit, you could write a song, you could crochet a scarf. Just don’t ask for anyone else’s opinion. There’s something special about creating something for the love of it, even for the sake of it, and keeping it close to your chest. I guarantee it will inspire you in others ways, and will generate more ideas.

Maybe you create because you love to share things with other people. That is so fine, MORE than fine. The world is better with people like you in it! But here is my gentle reminder that the opinions of others do not define the value of you or what you can produce. There is only one you.

AUGUST favourite

It would be remiss of me to talk about August without mentioning that I released my debut album at the start of the month... I feel like a newly engaged woman who is desperate for an excuse to flash the heavy, shiny addition to her left hand. “Oh, I didn’t get up to much this weekend, just released an album. You know,” orrrrr “Oh, you need music to study to? Well I actually have an album.”

This passion project is something I am not only proud of, but something that I have been enjoying! It’s filled my soul. You can listen to it on all music streaming platforms today.

The runner up would be Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, Short n’ Sweet. She’s really starting to make a name for herself. Have you heard of her? I’m sure she’d appreciate the publicity from me.

Big love,

Caitlin XX

To stream Caitlin’s debut album, ‘Be Good To Me,’ click HERE.