Living your truth is a weekly podcast for creative humans who don’t like to fit in a box, who have multiple passions to follow, who are curious and eager to forge their own path in their own unique, messy and human way, who are ready to make things happen and in their own time. This is a safe space for honest, deep and meaningful conversations about living your truth out loud as a creative.
The show is hosted by Hira Sameer Ahmed, artist and a creative coach helping quietly courageous creative humans in finding their focus, cultivating courage and creativity, slowly and intentionally. It looks like coming up with an action plan to gain more freedom and confidence to create. More importantly, it looks like owning their stories and living their truth out loud.
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“Nothing comes as an accomplishment instantly. Success does not come overnight. Patience is the key! Grow up and be the tree; but remember it takes dry and wet seasons to become a fruit bearer, achiever, and impact maker!” - Israelmore Ayivor
Rubeena is the business owner of a creative shop, The Gray Muse, a social worker and a psychotherapist by profession. The Gray Muse was founded in 2019 and it is the first enamel pin shop designed specifically with crafters and artists in mind.
In this episode, we talked about setting up a creative business for yourself, enjoying the process more than the outcome, finding your own version of success and the importance of listening to your own intuition to guide the way.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little background and intro about Rubeena and her work
how she started her business
focusing on academics and never allowing her creativity to flourish before turning 29
learning to combine the artistic and analytical side
connecting with the artistic side
art allows you to let go of control and perfectionism
the process is way more important than the outcome
the approach is different if you choose to study design or fine arts
finding your style
having a sense of play when it comes to creating is important
becoming okay with good enough work instead of obsessing over the perfect one
your work will resonate with some people and it won't resonate with others but it is nothing personal
taking risks and becoming okay with the results
how becoming a mother taught her to stretch her comfort zone
the importance of staying curious
asking for help when you need it
listening to your intuition
trusting yourself along the way
you are more capable than you give yourself credit for
you can achieve anything you put your mind to is a mindset
the need to feel like an expert and why we don't believe in the myth of being an expert
information overload in this era
finding your very own version of success
people-pleasing won't take you much far
the relation between success and your age
what her day looks like
advice for someone who wants to start their own creative business
Find links to the resources we discuss in the
Creating Every Day with Sarah Van Der Linden (Mirglis)
Season 1 · Episode 9
Monday, December 23, 2019 • Duration 48:29
Sarah is a watercolor artist, photographer and nature enthusiast based in Seine et Marne, France. She paints beautiful landscapes and she teaches online on Skillshare.
I have been following her work for a while and it was such an honour to invite her and talk to her about her process. In this episode, we chatted about her love for nature and how it inspires her to paint, why is it important for her to create and how it all began. Sarah creates every day. At least one painting a day. I find it fascinating. I hope you'll enjoy learning about her journey too!
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little background and intro about Sarah and her work
how she lost touch with her creative side while growing up and why that happened
when money is involved it impacts the way you show up for your creativity
how moving to the countryside played a role in her connection back to her creativity
she paints landscapes in watercolors and how it all began
her struggles in the beginning
how everything doesn't turn out how you want it to be in the beginning
learning to accept the beginner stage
becoming okay with experimenting
the medium of watercolors invite experimentation
how she developed her own unique style with time and what the journey of finding her own artistic voice looked like
committing to practicing
doing a 100 day project for painting
current project: 30 day project of painting forest inspired by the colors of autumn
why is it important for her to create and celebrate nature through her work
having the time and space to slow down and be mindful
stepping outside of your comfort zone
advice for creatives who are struggling to find their own artistic voice
how she likes to spend her days
having a morning ritual and starting your day with doing something for yourself that brings you joy
making a habit of painting a painting every single day
teaching online skillshare classes
speaking and teaching in English when it is not your first language
learning different languages
Being a Multi-Passionate with Rebecca Mir Grady
Season 1 · Episode 8
Monday, December 16, 2019 • Duration 49:20
Rebecca is a southwest-based multi-passionate creative; photographer, jeweler, painter, and writer. She likes keeping her hands and mind busy, in the studio and out in nature. She has self-published over 20 artist books. She makes jewelry by hand with recycled gold and silver, conflict-free diamonds and ethically sourced stones. She uses natural light and elements to tell stories with her photography. Her paintings focus on light and highlight climate change.
In this episode, we chatted about what it is like to be a multi-passionate with an interdisciplinary approach towards making art.
This episode is more like a casual conversation where Becca is sharing her story, how she sees the world and what has shaped her approach. If you consider yourself a multi-passionate too, this episode will encourage you to give permission to follow your curiosities in a way that works for you and keep going.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little intro about Rebecca and her work
how she juggles and makes time for all these different creative ventures
what helps her in making time for writing
figuring out ways to clear the head and making time to do nothing
her experience of going to art school
where the interdisciplinary approach comes from
struggles of being a multi-passionate
how she manages her focus
not making everything about working or making money but having a few things to do as a hobby
building healthy habits: carving more time for reading
finding goals that have nothing to do with work like training for a marathon so you are not always in the studio
what following your curiosity looks like
carving out time where there are no expectations so you are letting yourself to be curious
the importance of being bored
managing time and your energies along the way
reconnecting with your own creativity when you start to feel overwhelmed
the artists way inspired activities that help: morning pages and artist dates
importance of asking yourself questions that move you forward
how to tackle the overwhelm and busy months
Creating Boldly with Maria Wigge
Season 1 · Episode 7
Monday, December 9, 2019 • Duration 48:37
Maria is an artist living in Stockholm, Sweden. She paints mostly abstract landscapes in watercolors and acrylics. Her aim is to capture the majestic nature and reserved cultural atmosphere of Scandinavia in her art. Her hope is that her work will bring a sense of calm to the viewer.
This episode is about Maria's story of growing into an artist. She shares her personal struggles and where she is at now in her journey. We talked a lot about making art and what stands in the way and how to approach it. There is a lot of great advice for creatives.
This episode is a treat for visual artists and painters as her approach to art is inspiring and uplifting. I really hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did and take something of value out of it.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little intro about Maria and her work
growing up with an artist mother and how she felt afraid of her work being compared to her mother's
choosing graphic design over painting and making art to follow the structure plus rules and saving herself from getting it wrong
painting for the sake of the process in private
moving through the discomfort
taking a leap and taking two years off to paint and figure out what she would like to be doing next
how she is managing her time and work online
managing the company and showing her work online
the creative freedom that we all long for
taking the pressure off by allowing yourself to not make money from your art
finding your style and how to go about it
putting in the hours in your art practice is important
how she approaches painting
ways to keep yourself motivated and not getting disappointed along the way
creating without focusing on a specific outcome but creating for the sake of creating
an exercise for perfectionists who would like to paint
the 100 day project of painting
how one can take the pressure off your paintings
growing and developing as an artist
detaching your self-worth from your work allows you to experiment more
learning to not think what other people say about your art because it is not for everyone
Showing Up As An Introverted Shy Creative Online with Ruth Poundwhite
Season 1 · Episode 6
Monday, December 2, 2019 • Duration 44:33
Ruth is a creative business mentor to quietly ambitious women based in the UK. She has been in the online business world for about 11 years. Ruth recognizes herself as a massive introverted shy human.
In this episode, we talked about what is it like to be an introvert who is quietly ambitious in the online business world, how she is managing her energy and building the stamina to keep showing up as her self while honouring her needs and how and where is she finding support. We also talked about noticing the difference between when it is fear that is holding us back and when it is the need to recharge and take some time off.
This episode is full of juicy bits and aha moments for introverts who are trying to put themselves out there and are ambitious. Connecting to Ruth and seeing her taking up space online has been a real joy and confidence booster for me. I hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little intro about Ruth and her work
being a quiet, ambitious, shy and introverted human
working and building a business in a way that works for us
struggles of showing up as yourself
her personal story and experience of embracing her introverted side
business and life being one thing when you build a personal brand
putting yourself out there as the face of your brand
starting a business brings up all the insecurities you have about yourself
starting a business is a vulnerable thing
there is not just one way to do things
sharing and showing up as yourself honestly brings in people who resonate with your values and you as a person
stretching your comfort zone
putting yourself out there is a practice, the more you do it, the more you become comfortable with putting yourself out there
showing up on talking to camera stories on Instagram, the struggles and how you can build that confidence
how to approach that idea that you have nothing interesting or important to say or add to the conversation
what resonates with people and how you make connections as an introvert
Inclusivity, Creativity and Words that Liberate Us with Huma Qureshi
Season 1 · Episode 5
Monday, November 25, 2019 • Duration 01:03:11
Huma is a writer, a journalist and an award-winning author, and she writes about the extraordinary joy and beauty that can be found in ordinary little things, creating a home, navigating motherhood, and living simply and purposefully.
In this episode, we talked about her love for the written word, how her south Asian heritage has influenced her as a person and as a writer as well, learning to say no and navigating writing, life, and motherhood all at the same time.
Huma and I share the same cultural heritage as we are both from Pakistan. I grew up in Pakistan and she didn't but still, our experiences are quite the same in many ways. We also talked about inclusion, why representation matters and why we need to hear, see and read more stories in which we can see ourselves reflected to create space for what's possible for us.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
how it all begun and what influenced her desire to write
journalism and moving on to writing for herself
motherhood and the struggle with self-doubt
becoming a freelance writer
developing reading as a habit
how having an Asian heritage has influenced her as a person and as a writer while living far from the culture itself
Inclusion: we need more stories we can relate to because representation matters
inclusivity in the book publishing world, the media publishing world and also on the micro levels of blogs, Instagram and social media
why do we need to hear and share those stories really?
expectations from girls who grow up in Asian culture and how it can feel heavy
South Asian culture and marriages
her personal story of looking for examples when she fell in love with an Englishman
how did Huma allowed herself to not let those societal and cultural pressures decide how she chooses to show up in the world
the struggles of finding a balance between motherhood and her love for writing
learning to say no
how her blog came to be
the failures along the way
finding her way back to her writing
why she writes
Figuring Things Out As We Go with Giulia
Season 1 · Episode 4
Monday, November 18, 2019 • Duration 54:39
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
what does she do and how she started
moving from a corporate world to the freelancer life
her struggle with claiming the title, 'writer'
the traditional expectations of the title, 'writer' and how it stood in her way
what did her process of finding her truth looked like
slowing down, yoga and meditation
the need to have it all figured out
questioning herself: 'I don't have a dream' so where does that leave me?
how she struggled with not having a purpose
learning how to be curious again
how we are all in the middle of it and figuring it out as we go
how she likes to spend her days and weeks
why she became a freelancer in the first place
filling life and days with joy instead of work, work, and work
hearing the stories of others inspired her to make space and gave her permission to figure out what she wanted to do with her life
how stories give her the assurance to see what's possible
struggling with identity and a title to describe yourself
the struggle of re-framing your identity after leaving your job
the importance of going through the process
struggles with perfectionism and indecision
figuring out your voice
growing up in different cultures as women and having to struggle with being financially dependent on your male counterparts
Doing the Work & Building Creative Confidence with Jill Dimond Art
Season 1 · Episode 3
Friday, November 15, 2019 • Duration 30:30
Jill Dimond Art is an artist, photographer, and transcriber. She likes to draw nature and celebrate wildlife through her art. In this conversation, we talked about her journey of embracing her love for making art, doing the work, finding the courage to share her work online and building creative confidence along the way too.
Here's what we talk about in the episode:
realizing her creative side
gathering the courage to share her work online
struggles with procrastination and perfectionism
developing the practice of making art
celebrating wildlife and nature via art
the importance of creating
struggles with confidence and a different approach towards feeling confident
feeling the discomfort in the creative process
trying something new and feeling unsafe
not attaching results to the outcome
going through the process
struggles with selling
the creative process on a day to day basis
the importance of being outside and connecting with nature
Find links to the resources we discuss in the full show notes.
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her collection of paintings on the climate change - in her own words, ''things we don't see, things we can't see and things we won't see because it is all changing so much''
we create connections by visual artwork and sharing our thoughts in that way
the different mediums give you different kinds of opportunities and lifestyles
self-employment and the need for human interaction
current struggles along the lines of recovering from burnout and too much work and staying inspired
the struggles with connection, internet, and social media as solace for self-employed creatives but also, it is taking over our lives
relationship with Instagram - Instagram and connection
learning to balance the use of social media and putting the phone down
other sides of small business: accounting, finances and administration tasks
learning to be more efficient
the creative process on a day to day basis and how she likes to spend her days
the role of planning ahead of time and having a bigger picture in her work
enjoying the flexibility that comes with working for yourself
staying motivated on a day to day basis
living close to nature and how it inspires her creative process
