[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] As honorable as it is to care about being a better person and to give a shit about bringing your best and making a difference, we can go overboard with it all and feel like crap if we’re not doing our best at all times. Today I’m talking to someone who can help us embrace all the ways we’re imperfect– therapist and meditation teacher Tara Cousineau. Tara is author of The Kindness Cure, creator of the course Overcome Perfectionism Through Self-Compassion for the meditation app Insight Timer, and a faculty member at the Harvard Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance, MA.Tara’s websiteTara’s book, The Kindness CureThis episode sponsored by:Nutrafol (promo code ‘BETTER’)Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] Perfectionism isn’t just the type A, dot every i and cross every T form personality that a lot of people associate with the term. It can show up in a lot of sneaky ways, including procrastination, workaholism, impostor syndrome, difficulty delegating, picking fights, and numbing out. Come listen to learn how, even if you’re not a detail-oriented person, you might still be in perfectionism’s grip. This episode sponsored by:Nutrafol (promo code ‘BETTER’)Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] Perfectionism is an understandable and natural response to an increasingly uncertain world. It’s a coping mechanism that, at some point, starts to create more problems than it solves. Albert Einstein said that in order to find a solution, you really have to understand the true nature of the problem. So in this episode, we’re looking at where perfectionism comes from, in the name of being able to find truly helpful ways out of it. 2017 study on the rise of perfectionism among college studentsStudy that shows anxiety is on the riseThis episode sponsored by:Nutrafol (promo code ‘BETTER’)Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] One huge obstacle to creativity is your inner critic, which is a negative commentary that’s coming from inside your head, so it’s very hard to have perspective on. The inner critic has good intentions–it’s basically trying to help ou not look like a fool for doing something badly–but really, sometimes you have to do things badly in order to do the things that matter. Meaning, sometimes you’ve really got to stink up the place. So let’s talk about how to work with the inner critic so that it doesn’t derail your creative efforts, or make them more painful than they need to be. This episode sponsored by:Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] Here are some tried and true ways to get into that state where inspiration is rushing in to meet you, like Kermit and Miss Piggy racing toward each other across a grassy field. Let’s talk where to go and what to do get those creative ideas flowing. 2012 study about how going on a hiking trip makes you 50 percent more creative than folks who stay home2013 study on the power of spending time in green spaces to turn on your creative faucetThis episode sponsored by:Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] So, HOW do you incorporate creativity into a pretty gosh darn busy life? Like, really… let’s talk nuts and bolts. Today I'm interviewing Jackie Dishner, an Arizona-based artist, author, and writer who teaches creativity classes. I'm gonna get her to break it down for me like I'm 5 years old so that we can all see our way to gettin' our creative on.Jackie knows not only about how to tap creativity to produce art, but also how to use that creativity muscle to pivot in your business and your life. After this interview I used one of her tips to draw a picture of my husband when he was in the 7th grade–and it turned out pretty well!! Sponsors: Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] Maybe creativity isn’t something that you feel you have. Or maybe it feels elusive. I mean, of course–no one feels creative every minute of every day. But none of that means you’re NOT creative. It just means you might need a way in. I’m sharing two of those ways in this episode. They are: curiosity, and willingness. Listen in for specific questions to ask and things to try to put these two traits into play and get your creative flow going. (Also, as an update on my personal curiosity list, I have only pursued one of them – garden design. Hey! It’s something.)This episode sponsored by:Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Note–this is a replay episode! So if you hear an out-of-date reference to COVID, that’s why. New episodes start again July 25.] Sure, creative pursuits are fun but are they actually good for you? Oh my goodness yes–in this episode we cover the many mental and emotional benefits of simple, everyday acts of creativity can boost your mood, help you process stuff, and increase your experience of Studies about creativity’s influence on positive emotions Other studies about creativity’s positive impact on depression and anxietyNew York Times article about the family who made one origami crane for every day of lockdownThis episode sponsored by:Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s one tried and true way of earning more money that’s practically the American way – starting a side hustle. What do you need to think about before you decide to go for it? So that it doesn’t become just another way that you over-work yourself? That’s what we’re talking about today. FiverrTask RabbitCare.comRover.comThis episode is sponsored by:Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It may feel like the only way to earn more money is to work more hours but that’s a false belief. It’s also possible to get paid for things that are intangible, like connections, and to get paid multiple times for work that you do once. Today we’re talking about how to get out of the paradigm of trading time for dollars. It’s part of a week of episodes on earning more. And may I say, this is when things get really juicy!Smart Passive IncomeMy interview with Jennifer Barrett on how to think like a breadwinnerThink Like a Breadwinner bookThis episode sponsored by:Zapier.comAthleticGreens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices