Why You Should Cultivate Your Creativity — Even If You Never Share It
Creativity isn't a side hustle, a competition, or something you have to prove to anyone else. It's something you get to do simply because it's yours.
A note about this episode: This conversation with Kim Demmon was recorded several years ago, when Kim was actively running her online businesses. Kim has since retired from living her life online, but her thoughts about creativity and making space for yourself still resonate.
This is Part 2 of Stephanie O'Dea's conversation with her longtime friend Kim Demmon about cultivating creativity in an online world.
Why is creativity important?
Because we're human beings, and we need ways to keep our minds engaged, explore ideas, and make things simply because we enjoy making them.
Stephanie and Kim talk about how easy it is to give all of your “good stuff” away to other people—to your family, your work, your responsibilities—and then wonder why you feel like something is missing.
Creativity can be something that is just for you.
It doesn't have to become a business. It doesn't have to become a side hustle. You don't have to post it online, monetize it, turn it into a brand, or prove to anyone that you're good at it.
You can simply create.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why creativity is important even when it doesn't produce anything tangible
- How giving all of your energy to other people can leave you feeling like something is missing
- Why your creative life doesn't need to become a business or side hustle
- How to make creativity something that is simply for you
- Why you don't need to prove your creativity to friends, family, or people online
- How slowing down can create space for the things you genuinely enjoy
Your creativity does not have to earn money, impress anyone, or become anything. You are allowed to create simply because you want to.
About Kim Demmon
Kim Demmon was the creator of Today's Creative Life and Jack Pine Jones, and a longtime friend and fellow online creator of Stephanie's.
Kim has since retired from her online businesses and from living her life publicly on the internet. These episodes are preserved as a snapshot of a conversation between two longtime online friends during that chapter of their lives.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gPRu37
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
