Must Be Love On The Brain
“I felt like I could quote the monologue from Roy Batter at the end of Blade Runner.” Issue highlights: A note on hanging on in there, Elmo's Plight, and finding myself in forest.
“I felt like I could quote the monologue from Roy Batter at the end of Blade Runner.”
Now, that’s a loaded statement but you’ll understand where I’m coming from by the end of this newsletter.
Welcome to Create (Pop), a bi-weekly newsletter that provides fun, insightful, and useful tips to help you excel in your creative journey.
You know the drill. Grab your favorite snacks, bevs, and sword pens, and prepare to enjoy the journey!
Hello, everyone! Welcome to a month of love and power. Today’s issue is brought to you by the powerful creative minds that be, and yes, that includes you!
As I am sure we’re all aware, thanks to a muppet named Elmo, the world is in a bit of a state. So, a few words on keeping on in hardship.
Amidst massive layoffs, lack of opportunities, and poor job platforms there’s an increasing anxiety that seems to be blanketing 2024. I am navigating the rough waters of 2024 right along with you BUT here’s what’s keeping me going through this rough time.
Creative Mindshift: Staying Steady During Hard Times
I’m trusting myself more and believing things are turning around in my favor.
It’s been difficult staying afloat when waves of pushback seem intent on keeping us down. But, by practicing extending myself grace, breathing through the rough spaces, and giving myself wiggle room to grow I’ve been able to lessen the impact of anxiety in my life.
I realize this is not the time to believe that it’s never going to get better. It is. Instead of agonizing over the lack of opportunities I’m choosing to focus on dedicating time to areas I want to grow in. There has never been a better time to go after the thing you want, bettering yourself, your business, your creative projects - while waiting for that next opportunity to come.
I believe we’re all primed for things to turn around in our favor it’s just how we utilize the time, protect our mental, and buffer our skills in the meantime.
Speaking of protecting our mental, I’m so excited that our beauty rec this issue comes by way of Issa Rae, vegan haircare line, Sienna Natural.
Beauty Recs: Issa Rae’s Sienna Naturals Is Haircare Heaven
The Scalp Massager works wonders for my haircare and mental health.
Issa Rae is one of the most prolific black producers, writers, and showrunners in entertainment today. I was thrilled when I learned she has a haircare line channeling that same level of care, innovation, and pride into her haicare regimen. Based on the ingredients alone I wanted every product off the site, however, the Scalp Massager takes the cake.
A. It’s specifically made to penetrate a thicker course of hair.
B. I love how calming the color is and the design of the soft silicone massage points provides a gentle but thorough massaging of my scalp preventing build-up in between washes. It helps me relieve tension, improve circulation, and stimulate my growth naturally.
Seriously, if I feel a slight headache coming on instead of popping Alieve I’m grabbing this massager.
As creatives, we juggle a lot of things so it’s important to have something calming for the scalp that also releases good vibes in our brain. Do yourself a favor and grab this massager, you won’t be disappointed.
While on the roll of experience good vibes I’ve been practicing a new strategy that’s given me an increase in gains in my creativity. I’m happy to share it here!
My Practice of Rejection Therapy and Its Power To Heal
I've shut the door to the fear of rejection before it starts.
Through reading one of my favorite newsletters - Shout Out to Diary of A Sad Black Woman by Jacque Aye! - I came across this notion of rejection therapy.
In essence, rejection therapy began as a social experiment in which you go out for opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t in the act of getting rejected. Since practicing rejection therapy I've applied to at least 10% more opportunities, fellowships, and gigs I wouldn't have. As a creative, I feel like I’ve found the answer to my kryptonite.
My mental health has grown in abundance and it's changed a lot in my favor! Why?
Because I am tuning into the voice that says I can vs. the one that says I can't.
Now, I’m not that cozy with rejection yet, but, rejection therapy has shuts the door to the fear of rejection before it starts. It gave me the push I was looking for and steered me in the right direction.
If you're looking for that push for yourself give rejection therapy a try. You may be surprised at all you can do ! Alas, while on the road to no longer fearing rejection, it opened to mind to trying new things.
Remember that Blade Runner quote? I’m going to bring it all home here!
My Experience Forest Bathing and How It Helped Me Find My Best Creative Self
My experience of forest bathing left me rejuvenated and renewed.
Recently, we’ve snagged some warmer days in Atlanta so I was searching for outside activity and came across a park hosting forest bathing sessions.
BIG QUESTION MARK MOMENT? At first glance, picturing forest bathing left me with a cringe picture. Believe me, you don’t want to know.
But, after researching further I was pleasantly surprised to find out forest bathing was a clothes-on practice (bless) and efficient distress mental practice.
The Act: Forest bathing known as shinrin yoku, is the art of taking the forest in through your senses. On the surface, it sounds like taking a walk or a jog through the park but it’s deeper than that.
The Practice: Forest bathing requires you to slow down, eliminate distractions, and practice deep breathing exercises. The practice is a full two hours to receive a full bathing experience which may seem like a long time but this isn’t a typical jog or walk through the part.
Forest bathing is a sacrifice of oneself. You purposefully slow down and take in each part of the forest using your senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste.
I don’t even have pictures because it’s suggested you don’t use your phone during the practice. It required me to intentionally unplug. I let the pile-up and weight of expectations, and perfectionism flee, and completely immersed myself in this guided practice.
After the practice, my mind was so clear that it led me to feel as if I could quote the monologue from Roy Batter at the end of Blade Runner.
I received the gift of peace by way of the forest atmosphere which opened my creative eye immensely. I gained a lot of clarity, and feel like I have a new lease on my ability to be creative to thrive in my creative projects and writing.
If you are interested here's a great guide on how to begin forest bathing and be sure to check some of your local park websites. They may be offering forest bathing sessions too.
I hope today’s newsletter provided some relief for us in the midst of our struggles.
A note, as I’m writing this newsletter, I’m learning a lot about the process so you may see some changes to formatting, frequency, etc.
As I mentioned in the intro post, this newsletter is a think tank in which you're all invited to partake, so I thank you for being here with me and rolling with the changes!
Your feedback is invaluable to me, so please leave a comment, share, and subscribe as you like what you see! That’s all! Until next time!
