#193 - How I Finally Got Comfortable Calling Myself 'Creative' And Why It Matters

For most of my life, I genuinely believed I wasn't creative. Like, hand on heart, I would tell anyone willing to listen that I didn't have a creative bone in my body. And I really believed it.Why? Because to me, creativity meant one thing: being able to draw or paint. And since I can't do that (trust me, this isn't false modesty – I literally cannot draw to save my life), I wrote myself off completely.But here's what I've finally realised: I've been using the wrong definition of creativity my entire life. And in doing so, I've been denying a fundamental part of who I am.So, here's what I'm sharing with you in this episode:The narrow definition of creativity I carried from childhood into my businessHow I finally recognised that the way I think, write, and solve problems IS creativeWhy this isn't just about creativity – it's about the identity stories we tell ourselves. The stories you might be telling yourself that are keeping you stuck ('I'm not strategic', 'I'm not good with money', 'I'm not a natural salesperson'...)How your business will only ever be as big as the identity you're willing to claimThe loop that's running your life: identity determines actions, actions determine results, results reinforce identityHere's the truth: Your business will never outperform who you are. If you're keeping yourself inside a restricted identity – some clinical, small version of you – your business will never outgrow that.This week's journal prompt:What story are you telling yourself about who you are or who you're not? And where did that story come from?I bet it came from somewhere outside you. Someone else's definition. Someone else's standards. Something you decided once, years ago, based on limited information or one bad experience or comparison to someone who does it differently.Pay attention to who you actually are when you're not trying to be who you think you should be.Let's connect:Drop me an email at [email protected] and let me know what came up for you when you listened to this episode. I absolutely love getting those messages – they honestly make my day!And if you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you'd hop onto Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) and leave a five-star rating and review. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes to the reach of the show.Mentioned in this episode:Unapologetic Retreats - we gift women the time and space to explore what’s possible for them, and be inspired to take action, unapologetically. (https://www.unapologeticretreats.com/)Girls That Get S**t Done - a roaring, global network of seriously creative female bad asses that are shaping the world of design, marketing, business and brand.  (https://www.girlsthatgetshitdone.com/)Listen now and subscribe on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Your favourite podcast platform00:00 Introduction and Happy New Year!00:27 Embracing Creativity: My Personal Journey02:17 Redefining Creativity and Identity04:13 Challenging Limiting Beliefs05:45 Recognising and Owning Your Creativity09:25 The Power of Identity in Business16:16 Breaking the Loop: Identity and Actions17:08 Reflection and Journaling Prompts19:01 Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gillmoakes.substack.com