EPISODE · Jan 30, 2026 · 37 MIN
#13 The Courage Hack: Creative Growth in Adulthood (with Toby & Grace)
from Curious Vocalists · host Grace Hancock Music
Lost that passion for your music you had when you were a kid? In this conversation, Toby and Grace explore the pitfalls of their courage in their creative lives as adults, how adulthood can grind your creativity down to a pulp, and the mindset shifts around courage that are key to claiming back your passion. They invite you to analyse your subtext: are you being impatient with yourself? Could your priorities be re-jigged a bit? Who are you ultimately trying to please? Avoid being crushed by your own ambition as a singer and put your craft firmly in the place of enrichment. Then you will see it blossom in an environment like the free, joy-filled one you had as a child. Takeaways Courage is often misunderstood as the absence of fear. Creativity can become pressured as adults, leading to self-doubt. Courage can be engineered and is often the one thing missing in creative adults. Overcoming fear involves accepting mediocrity and failure. Setting small, achievable goals can lower inertia in creative practice. Poor creativity levels can be directly linked to poor self-care practices. The vague ‘what ifs' of negative thought need to be brought into the light to be countered. Relationships and community should take precedence over work. Creative work should be seen as enrichment, not your whole life and worth. Action is the key to overcoming fear and self-doubt. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Courage in Creativity 02:30 Falling Short of Childhood Expectations 08:23 Strategies for Building Courage 13:11 Fostering Self-Belief 18:54 Self-Care and its Impact on Creativity 19:52 Patience is Key for a Creative Life 22:51 Talk Back to the Self Criticism 26:48 Overthinking Sucks Balls 31:57 A Priorities Shift Changes Everything 35:41 Final Words of Encouragement Books mentioned: The War of Art - Steven Pressfield Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl Find today’s co-host, Toby Brown on: Facebook: @tobybrownmusic Instagram: @tobybrownguitar About the Host Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection. Contact Method [email protected] www.gracehancockmusic.com Instagram: @gracehancockmusic Facebook: @gracehancockmusician Keywords #courage #creativity #self-doubt #mentalhealth #artisticjourney #overcomingfear #selfcare #relationships #creativepractice #personalgrowth
What this episode covers
Lost that passion for your music you had when you were a kid? In this conversation, Toby and Grace explore the pitfalls of their courage in their creative lives as adults, how adulthood can grind your creativity down to a pulp, and the mindset shifts around courage that are key to claiming back your passion. They invite you to analyse your subtext: are you being impatient with yourself? Could your priorities be re-jigged a bit? Who are you ultimately trying to please? Avoid being crushed by your own ambition as a singer and put your craft firmly in the place of enrichment. Then you will see it blossom in an environment like the free, joy-filled one you had as a child. Takeaways Courage is often misunderstood as the absence of fear. Creativity can become pressured as adults, leading to self-doubt. Courage can be engineered and is often the one thing missing in creative adults. Overcoming fear involves accepting mediocrity and failure. Setting small, achievable goals can lower inertia in creative practice. Poor creativity levels can be directly linked to poor self-care practices. The vague ‘what ifs' of negative thought need to be brought into the light to be countered. Relationships and community should take precedence over work. Creative work should be seen as enrichment, not your whole life and worth. Action is the key to overcoming fear and self-doubt. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Courage in Creativity 02:30 Falling Short of Childhood Expectations 08:23 Strategies for Building Courage 13:11 Fostering Self-Belief 18:54 Self-Care and its Impact on Creativity 19:52 Patience is Key for a Creative Life 22:51 Talk Back to the Self Criticism 26:48 Overthinking Sucks Balls 31:57 A Priorities Shift Changes Everything 35:41 Final Words of Encouragement Books mentioned: The War of Art - Steven Pressfield Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl Find today’s co-host, Toby Brown on: Facebook: @tobybrownmusic Instagram: @tobybrownguitar About the Host Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection. Contact Method [email protected] www.gracehancockmusic.com Instagram: @gracehancockmusic Facebook: @gracehancockmusician Keywords #courage #creativity #self-doubt #mentalhealth #artisticjourney #overcomingfear #selfcare #relationships #creativepractice #personalgrowth
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#13 The Courage Hack: Creative Growth in Adulthood (with Toby & Grace)
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