20 - Kimberly Grigg: The Hazards of Being a Creative Overachiever

In this episode Kate speaks with Kimberly Grigg, a wildly successful Interior Designer from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina who had figured out how to hack her creativity so that it was always ON. While this allowed her to build an empire for herself, it also literally almost killed her. She shares how that happened and what specific things she has done and continues to do to make sure that she remains healthy and able to express the gifts she was born to share with the world. 

If you are someone who struggles with stuff around control or if you have been feeling lately that something in your life is not quite right whether it is in your job or relationships or even with your creative practice  - I think you are especially going to get A LOT out of this episode.  

I feel like there are so many of us who will benefit from what I think is somewhat of a cautionary tale from our guest Kimberly today. How significant the damage we can cause to ourselves and our lives when we stop listening to our inner voice. And how much more rich, enjoyable and purposeful our lives can become  when we do. 

If you could have been a fly on the wall during this interview you’d have seen me nodding vigorously throughout almost this whole conversation. 

When Kimberly described the gut wrenching fear and guilt she felt after she realized she had to shut down the part of her business that employed 20 people and generated all that income all because the joy was gone.. I felt that. 

I think we have all had to navigate getting out of least one situation that we created for ourselves through sometimes years of not listening to that quiet inner voice inside us. 

And even though it almost killed her, she found her way out of it by tuning in and dedicating herself to listening to it. And she was quick to admit that it is not always smooth sailing - sometimes she goes back to her old ways, but life is so much sweeter and happier and fuller now that she has gotten out of her own way and makes sure to always check in and ask herself, “Does this feel Joyful? If not then, why am I doing it? 

Things Kimberly and I talk about

-How she learned to hack creativity so it was always on, and how it almost killed her

-Being addicted to busy and how she made her way back from burnout

-How to “burn down your life” when you have accidentally filled it with things you do not love

-Learning to befriend creativity to have a sustainable relationship with it

-Filling the cup - ways she does this that have improved her quality of life 1000 fold. 

-The simple routines that her doctor gave her to manage her stress and energy levels that she credits with saving her life

-How bravery fits into creativity