What's Your Current Relationship with Creativity?

"Your desire to create must be greater than your fear." — Rick Rubin

My answer: EVOLVING. It’s a constant evolution, as I dance with her every day. Yes, I labeled her “she”, and if I had to give her a name, I’d call her Lilith. She is wild and free! I invite you to name your creativity, too. Maybe it’s “the muse” or whatever resonates with you. 

Creativity calls me at odd hours—she called me to write this out at 3:07 a.m., and I listened. I wrote this in my notes on my phone. Sometimes she drags me through the mud, but I still listen because what she gives me in return is creativity (the spark that drives my life and who I am at my core). 

I started this Substack six months ago and haven’t written anything until today. The idea for Nourishing Creativity was something I wrote into my course The Poppy Content Lab back in November 2020.

Nourishing Creativity was just words as a title for a course lesson because, for me, content creation is about so much more than creating the content, which in my case entails either a recipe video or podcast episode. It wasn’t until June of 2021 that I truly brought this concept life. And it’s taken me even more time to be ready to live the path of Nourishing Creativity.

My work isn’t just a cute concept or something I think will sell (I have a podcast about my $38k lesson). My work is something I actually live. Show Up Fully is my podcast, and it’s been one of the biggest sources of self-development in my life. I didn’t know that when I chose the words “Show Up Fully” they would have such a big impact.

How those words would force (and I use that word specifically) me to change how I show up, to evolve for every new version of myself. I had to show up again and again. It’s why sometimes the podcast has had massive breaks in the last three years. Showing up felt like it was too hard, but just when I thought I was giving it up, I would show up again.

I have moved through some of the most challenging times of my life so far, including health scares, the many hospital visits I have had in the past year, and losing loved ones. I’ve also experienced major shifts as I’ve moved through and shed layers of my identity. Despite wanting to give up and crawl back under my covers in my warm, cozy bed, I show up, and I will continue to show up and create

As you can imagine, I have also been through deep darkness (listen here to my friend Victoria Granof; she explains it beautifully). I show up for the things that tear most people apart—and my guess is that you’re reading this right now because you’ve been through it too. I see you fully and I acknowledge how hard it is. I also see your magic and encourage you to create not to “prove them wrong” but to honor that light inside of you. It’s who you are—you are an innately creative being at your core.

This newsletter is my love letter to the creative in me; the creative in you; and the creator in every single thought, action, idea, and being on this planet. We will explore how to nourish your creativity even through the darkest and most challenging times and those bright spots, too, because isn’t that what this life is asking us all to do—to show up fully? 

Below are some links to what’s nourishing my creativity right now. Leave a comment below and share what’s nourishing your creativity this week, I can’t wait to read them.

Always cheering you on!

xo Chef Carla 

What’s Nourishing My Creativity Right Now:

1. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (the audio book is an experience).

2. Nuestra Canción by Gale. Feliz Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15) to my fellow Latinés and allies!

3. The Tools by I am leaning hard into the book & the site, have you watched the documentary on Netflix?

4. Urban Remedy Superfood Cookies. I did a project for them with Milk & Cookies and I am obsessed, check it out here.

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Note: Some of these are affiliate links. I receive a small percentage of the sales. I appreciate your support of my small Latiné & women owned business.