Thinking about creativity w/ Emma Semper Hopkins

Episode 34 - Thinking about creativity

Transcript

:: 00:03

Welcome to mental wealth, the podcast to invest in your mind. Here I will help you make sense of your mind and behaviours, giving you the tools to have your best life. There is so much to share, so let's get into this episode and explore another great topic.

:: 00:22

Welcome to Episode 34, and in this episode we are going to focus on creativity and why it's important, how you can find out and tap into maybe your own creativity. And I'm delighted to say that I'm sharing this space.

:: 00:41

With a creative queen, if I can call you that, Emma.

:: 00:47

So, welcome Emma to this episode.

:: 00:50

Thank you. And I'm really looking forward to chatting to you today.

:: 00:53

Brilliant. So tell everyone a little bit more about you, Emma. And so that they know why I've selected you to come and talk to us today about creativity.

:: 01:02

And so I'm Emma Semper Hopkins. I run a upholstery business, teaching individuals how to upholstery furniture.

:: 01:09

But I'd probably say you picked the topic of creativity because that heart and soul in terms of what I love to do, not just in the day-to-day job, but in personal life as well. When you won't find me not being busy, shall we say.

:: 01:24

Yeah, but I think there's something in that isn't there, and that's what I want us to focus on today to help people.

:: 01:31

There's so many things.

:: 01:34

That people get stuck with when it comes to creativity. So I want to talk about that. But I also want to talk about when we're not tapping into that. What I observe is that people.

:: 01:46

Get almost. It's like your brain goes creative inside, but not in a good way. So it gets. It's got to go somewhere. So if you're not doing an outlet, it kind of does it for you. And what I observe is people who know that they're maybe an into music or art or anything, actually. And when they're not doing that.

:: 02:06

Thing that really does something special to them. They can often be quite.

:: 02:11

Low in mood.

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Possibly quite anxious, and I wonder whether you've probably seen quite a bit of that in your time, Emma.

:: 02:18

Especially if you get busy, you often slip out into bad habits, so the and I'm one of those people and the things that you probably do for your own personal self-care and how you look after yourself, you often let.

:: 02:33

It and it's trying to find good habits and even if it's just like 10.

:: 02:38

Minutes a day.

:: 02:39

I'm not really personally spiritual stuff. I like either creative or active, like walking and swimming to clear my mind. Then it's like you say, if you're not doing those things, you often get into your own head and then those thoughts.

:: 02:54

Spiral and like you say, it leads to low mood. Probably not sleeping loads of other things and it just just goes into a down spiral.

:: 03:01

It does. It does. And I think it's a good point that I want to just highlight again, Emma.

:: 03:06

He said that often when we're busy, the thing that kind of keeps us together, so the glue is the thing that gets dropped off.

:: 03:16

Yeah, and and is and that in itself is is a place you.

:: 03:19

Know here we are in.

:: 03:21

se ideas about what we wanted: 2024

:: 03:36

The things that are best for us.

:: 03:39

We don't prioritise because then the other priorities take over. So what? What kind of things have you done? What do you do Emma to to keep yourself?

:: 03:48

Going or what? Do you hear other people saying?

:: 03:51

I often I've got back into swimming because when we're in the winter months, I well usually summer months, I'll just get out for a walk if things aren't right in my head or just need 10 minutes, I'll just literally go outside, get some.

:: 04:05

But in winter months, when it's dark, it's not often as easy. So I've gone back to swimming, and when you say, how do you make sure you do it? I actually put it in my diary. And so it makes me countable. And also so I don't book meetings in because when I don't do it, I then really hate myself. Well, I don't hate myself.

:: 04:25

But I'm thinking, why have I just done that?

:: 04:26

As in book over booked.

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And so one of the top tips one of my friends gave me was just. she said just put it in like a meeting.

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You know, an hour to yourself. It doesn't. So how I get around that is if I go cause I've obviously. I've got a young child. I drop him at school. So some mornings I can get for an early swim, but often I can't.

:: 04:48

And so I might go over my lunch hour. I'm. I'm quite lucky that I can do that because I work for myself.

:: 04:54

But I don't feel guilty because I might do a bit work bit of work later if I need to catch up, but I'll let go of that guilt, as in I find the time and what works for me. And by swimming early it actually makes my energy levels really high. During the day it it just gets my endorphins going and.

:: 05:12

I feel really good for doing it.

:: 05:13

And so just before I came on with you today, I've been for a swim and I know I've got till about 6:00 today because Alfie's in clubs and stuff.

:: 05:21

:: 05:22

So I know she's in my work wherever. But yeah, that's one of the things I do. But before I did swimming, upholstery was my thing. Before I turned it into a business.

:: 05:33

Nice. I think it's important, isn't it? For you individually for us all.

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To almost prove to ourselves that actually prioritising whatever it is, whether it is exercise, whether it is.

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Nourishing yourself in some self-care, and we're obviously going to talk a bit more about creativity in a moment, but I think for me, it's about noticing that it does work, that actually you do have more energy and you do actually feel fresher or you do feel clearer of your mind because when you're just stuck in the doing.

:: 06:08

We don't realise that we're possibly not being as productive or clear or just, yeah, creative, really. I mean, I know that's something that I can often see and feel is I can feel myself. I'm just like, do you know what? I'm not.

:: 06:22

Getting anywhere here so I go and do something else.

:: 06:26

And then I come back and I will probably be more productive and I use the word courage quite a lot when I'm talking about this. It's sometimes when you're very busy and you feel like you've got a lot of pressures.

:: 06:37

It's having the courage to take yourself off, to have that swim or to go and do whatever it is so that you know that you're gonna come back and actually.

:: 06:46

Probably do a better piece of work, more accurate.

:: 06:51

I don't know. Looking at for yourself, I think would be a tip that I'd like to add today is measure it yourself, you know, don't wait for someone else to tell you to do it. Work it out for yourself. There's so much more in that, isn't there?

:: 07:04

It is, and I agree completely. And that's I got out the habit of swimming as well when we went through lockdown. So I was doing it regularly, but then it got taken away and I just didn't go back to it. And I was just thinking.

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What am I?

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Doing I already knew it worked. I've just kind of fell.

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Out of.

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Habit or whatever it was and.

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Now I've gone back to.

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It I feel just like.

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100% better when you say measuring the results. I can absolutely see.

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The benefits energy, level wise and also.

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Just physically cause it's just.

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It's doing both, isn't it? You can do something that hits both buttons, it's.

:: 07:40

Even better, two for one, are a big fan of two for one if you can do that.

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:: 07:46

OK, so we know that we've got to prioritise.

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Sometimes these things, which sounds crazy, but they're often the thing that gets.

:: 07:55

Dropped off with the other pressures. We know we need to prioritise it and then we'll also say in check it, measure it for yourself that whether this works for you? I know it will, but obviously you've got to work it. But now I want to focus on this idea of creativity because we know that that is part of this whole piece about.

:: 08:15

Being in that.

:: 08:16

Best version of ourselves being able to tap into creativity, but I think something that is important for us to highlight is sometimes where the blockages come from and I know you've got some experience from this summer is we can often what does creativity mean to us?

:: 08:32

Well, we're all so different. Everybody has different ways of getting creative and being creative and also some of our blockages can come from our childhood. So tell us a little bit more, Emma, about you and what you hear people say.

:: 08:48

It's yeah, it was one of the things we were chatting about before. It's often in the workshops when I get a lot of people either not coming because they hold themselves back because they don't think they're creative enough and don't think they have the skills.

:: 09:00

:: 09:02

It's often from childhoods, maybe school where they've just been told that they can't. They're not creative. I think, because like subjects like art, food, technology, things that you have a physical output for, that's where the received messages and subconsciously that's going to have an impact.

:: 09:22

Later on in life. But creativity isn't just about a physical thing. Most people need creativity in a job in terms of creative thinking, and it's just how you visualise that can limit your beliefs in terms of what you do.

:: 09:38

And so that's often when I'm talking to people. They just have to let that go because I suppose when they're coming to me, they're just trusting the process, that they'll get the output. And when they do have that, they feel so good. And it's not just a physical piece of furniture that they're getting. It's almost like their belief and the sense of accomplishment.

:: 09:59

And all of the things have a massive knock on effect afterwards that it then allows them to go on and do so much more than just.

:: 10:07

And just the upholstery and that.

:: 10:09

I love the hot love.

:: 10:10

That's what I love about.

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What I do?

:: 10:13

A lot of.

:: 10:13

People say it could be a coach and I said I don't want to be a coach. I'm just chatting to people about life experiences, about things that I've gone through myself and obviously seeing the same things and the people that walk through the door at the Chapel and they it's just so lightbulb moments

:: 10:29

And that's why I love what I do. It's just those glowing.

:: 10:32

Like wow, it's just like it's coming to life, but it allows those other things to dissipate and its reflection I think after the meet.

:: 10:40

:: 10:41

I often hear back from people afterwards. What it's allowed them to do and that's what I love the most.

:: 10:46

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:: 10:48

I really like that. I think the practical aspect of that is if you are wanting to tap into something creative, it could be something that you've done before, something that you've never done before, something that you aspire to do is to sort of almost imagined on that.

:: 11:03

Scale. There is all sorts of different beliefs, and sometimes there might be. You've got to deal with the belief at the beginning because it's connected to what you were told as a child. That, I mean, that was probably my experience with creativity. I can absolutely tap into that. I wasn't very good at art and I think I have have got this a bit of a blanket.

:: 11:23

Belief that I'm not that creative.

:: 11:26

So we need to check in with it here, but I think what else is really important when you do have a go and and like you say, your workshops are brilliant for this is actually then to notice that you've started to dispel that belief by actually you can create something.

:: 11:38

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And it doesn't have to be anything like the person's next to it. But it's your creation and I love that.

:: 11:45

:: 11:47

And then it's allowing them to be able to go on and try new experiences.

:: 11:49

Because sometimes.

:: 11:51

We are our own worst enemy and we put these fears up and we stop and we we almost we deny ourselves these experiences and I think when I thought it was.

:: 12:04

Basically I thought.

:: 12:05

That all these things that I wanna do and it's only.

:: 12:07

Me. That's stopping me from doing them.

:: 12:09

So sometimes you just need to say yes to.

:: 12:12

Things obviously, you've got to review the element of risk if there's some things.

:: 12:16

In there but.

:: 12:17

It's just those things then allow you to energetically challenge yourself, and when you see yourself doing more of those things, you you think the positive benefits of it. And I suppose that's all I'm trying to share with people. At the end of it, that's a bonus.

:: 12:33

But it's more the you're getting something physical that can be proud of, but it's more the after effects of what it does to you as a person on the inside.

:: 12:42

Yeah, because it does it. It literally challenges this whole belief that you're not a creative person and you that and that you can.

:: 12:50

Work out how to do something like you, say, guided, and there's so many different things, it'd be great to let's have a little think about what else. When we think about creativity and what what kind of things could people be thinking about?

:: 13:05

It doesn't have to. Like we were saying earlier, it doesn't have to be a a physical thing. So a lot of people reflect and think creativity is like crafts. So doing knitting, like physical hobbies, art and.

:: 13:17

That type of stuff.

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Creativity comes through writing. Gardening your house. I just mean that in terms of how you express yourself through the visual things, in terms of what?

:: 13:29

You see colour.

:: 13:30

In terms of what you wear as well, that's.

:: 13:32

Creativity. I mean, a lot of.

:: 13:34

People express themselves through clothing.

:: 13:38

So you can explore it in all sorts of different ways you it doesn't have to be going to learn how to paint or crochet or doing that type of thing. It could be writing, journaling, doing creative writing. It can be absolutely anything. What you want to try.

:: 13:53

And I think we'll chat a bit later about knowing what's right for you, because sometimes it can be a little bit overwhelming us to know what it is because the personal thing for me was when I turned my because obviously at the beginning upholstery was a hobby for me and then I turned it into a business and then I felt a little bit lost, you know, when we said those bad habits.

:: 14:13

I didn't have anything, so for a few years I was then thinking what what's my thing?

:: 14:19

And I think during lockdown I realised I actually don't really need another hobby. I've got enough in my life in terms of I've got, I've got a garden I love to do. I love to do projects in the House, so I dip in and out of different stuff. I don't have a consistency if that makes sense. So I'm. I'm never trying to be really good at art.

:: 14:39

I love going to an odd painting class and and doing physical producing something because that's an experience and I love it.

:: 14:47

And so yeah, it's down to individuality, I think and how much time you've got in your life, maybe later on when I'm I've not got an 8 year old and other stuff.

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I've got enough in my life so I was realising I didn't need to punish myself to think I don't. How you know what I.

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Mean, I said.

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I was. I was. I was trying to push something in that I.

:: 15:08

Didn't have time for.

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So it didn't.

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Deliver the output that I wanted it to, but I've got enough going on around me to feel satisfied.

:: 15:15

I think that's the the critical thing here, isn't it? Is is the feeling satisfied with what you've got on? You know, everything's about work and there's nothing that's sort of social or creative or for you then you're probably going to have a bit of a bumpy ride. But equally equally, we can't be just signing up to every single creative class.

:: 15:35

:: 15:37

Or maybe you can, I don't know. But I know I certainly couldn't. But I think for me, it's about helping people. Just remember that the broad spectrum of what can be creativity. I know something. For me personally, I love dancing. So you know that to me is a is a sort of creative outlet.

:: 15:56

To just go and and I love music and I love dancing, so I think it can be absolutely anything, can't it? And I think we need to be mindful that not having anything is where the problem is going to lie. And I think most people who are listening in their challenges.

:: 16:13

Whatever it might be, you might know what it is. Then let's think about how we're going to get you into that. But I think what I'd like us to talk about now is when.

:: 16:21

People don't know.

:: 16:23

You know you I think you've got some ideas, can't you? About how would you know what's going to be? Maybe the best thing to try.

:: 16:30

Yes. And so some top tips are have a think back to what you enjoyed in your childhood because if you enjoyed it, enjoyed it in your childhood, it's often likely that you'll like it again now.

:: 16:42

In terms of, you've dropped it, so that's where I said I loved art. I loved swimming. I did those all throughout my childhood. It just stopped when I got busy later on with career. So for me, those are things I've gone back to. The other things are how do you like learning? So do you like to be in person? Do you want to?

:: 17:00

Be in a group.

:: 17:01

Because some classes, if they're online and you sign up to if you're if you don't learn that way.

:: 17:06

That just stay clear of it. Sign up to something that you can physically go to. Also, when's your best time of the day. So as in are you tip top on a morning or night for example, I did a pottery class at night time and I had nothing left, as you know, went to it and I was just like, what? What do I need to do with?

:: 17:27

It I just didn't have any.

:: 17:28

Brain functionality left, whereas if you're a night owl.

:: 17:30

Obviously turn up to a night school.

:: 17:32

And also some other things are. Do you want it for social to be social as well? So do you want to make friendships from it or do you want to have something that you can personally do at home? So for me, I like hobbies that I can do and dip in and out of it in my own time, but I know some people do it.

:: 17:52

And they want to make friendships and have something in common.

:: 17:55

And and to bounce around from. So I know there's quite a few things to navigate through, but if you answer some of those questions, you then come up with, well, I'll need a I need to study in person and I'm looking for something on the morning. What did I enjoy at school or what would you like the look of and then try something?

:: 18:15

Just don't sign up to a million things. Just have and see if there's anywhere that will allow you to do like a taste of session as well. That way you're not embarking on.

:: 18:27

Something way spend loads of money signing up to like conservative classes and like spending loads of money on equipment because the last thing you wanna do is have a cupboard of stuff.

:: 18:36

That you never use again.

:: 18:37

And so they're my top tips.

:: 18:39

Yeah, like a great time because I think it just pauses.

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To just maybe get a little bit closer.

:: 18:47

To something that.

:: 18:48

You want to have a go at if you haven't got a clear idea.

:: 18:52

And I think that's is helpful to just pause because like you say, you might really fancy something, but it's not gonna work for you because the timing's wrong. So then at least you know that you can find a different way. But I love that tapping into your childhood. I mean, there, I've answered my own question, didn't I had answered all my childhood and I rode horses all my childhood.

:: 19:11

And there are two things that definitely would help keep me kind of intact.

:: 19:18

Absolutely. So good. Tell everyone a bit more about your courses and things because I know you've hinted at it, but I think it'd be really good just to share a bit.

:: 19:27

More about what people can expect.

:: 19:29

Yeah. So I I used to have an upholstery business where I was making and designing furniture, but about three years ago, a number of people have been asking me about teaching and I've just never had the time to do it. So I sat back and reflected and worked out where I wanted to go.

:: 19:46

And I'm gonna be honest, I love it now, that's all I do. And so I run workshops where individuals. And so say homeowners, hobbyists or somebody just looking for an experience can come along and learn upholstery skills or sewing and interior design skills. And you make and produce a piece of furniture.

:: 20:07

Like a one day workshop.

:: 20:08

But I also run these creative workshops for businesses as well. So it's where we were saying, if you are a creative business or businesses that need creative thinking, it's another alternative to allow people to step away from the workplace, tap back into their creativity or allow people to explore.

:: 20:29

What it allows them to do, and then often those individuals go back to the workplace feeling refreshed and accomplished.

:: 20:36

You basically get the same output whether you come as an individual or a business. You get the same feelings, it's just some people are coming to learn to do a bit more than just make something in the day and so we are looking to explore it as a hobby. We can help you on that journey as well.

:: 20:53

Brilliant. And I think something that you tapped into there, which I'm interested in is is.

:: 21:00

What happens with the mind when you are using your hands? Because there's definitely a connection. Head, heart, hand. I often talk about and when maybe you've got.

:: 21:11

A question, a problem. Something that you can't solve. Wonder whether using creativity actually allows you to be focused on something else, which means maybe the answer might come, or maybe the something fresh.

:: 21:27

You have absolutely just answered what it does, so by having busy hands, your mind gets distracted away from the things. Well, the noise is the business of the day.

:: 21:38

And you often just get clarity on it, and most of the time, if I'm having blocks when I'm at the computer or trying to get my creativity going, I just spend some time in the workshop because it for me it's just a process. I'm just going through doing what I'm making and it allows my mind to empty. It's similar to walking or swimming.

:: 21:58

All of those have the same impact for me. And then you get the answer.

:: 22:02

That you're looking.

:: 22:02

For and we've.

:: 22:04

Pressed yourself so hard to do and.

:: 22:06

You're inside. You're.

:: 22:08

Hitting yourself and saying you're pushing yourself.

:: 22:10

And you're not getting what you want to. Yeah, because I see them. People are stuck ploughing on, trying to find the answer, getting stressed, getting worried and concerned because they they haven't quite. They're not sure what to do and actually stepping away or creating something. And again, I think, you know, we need to use this word.

:: 22:27

Courage. We've got to have the courage to stop.

:: 22:30

Doing the the thing and.

:: 22:32

Actually tap into this space.

:: 22:34

Yeah. And that's often we say sometimes you need to stop, slow down to be able to start back up and that's something that I allowed you to do as well.

:: 22:44

It's it's just.

:: 22:45

It's like anything. It's just trying something that works for.

:: 22:47

You it definitely does deliver those results.

:: 22:50

Yeah, I love that. And I think for me, I used to specialise in neurodiverse people, so people with some sort of neuro difference, so it could be dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, kind of aspergers.

:: 23:06

And many of the other neurodiverse.

:: 23:10

Spaces that people find themselves in. You know, for me, tapping into that creativity, tapping into that inner genius.

:: 23:17

As we used to call the company I worked for was called Junius within, and I think having that outlet.

:: 23:24

I know quite a few people who, when they're on a really important phone call, they'll be walking around the garden.

:: 23:31

Doing bits of gardening and some people might look at them and think, wow, you know, that's a really important call, but actually they can process when they are just doing something with their hands.

:: 23:44

So it's a thing, you know, and again what I see is when people aren't tapping into some sort of creativity, some sort of self.

:: 23:52

Activity. Then the mind will become super active and it doesn't always play to our strengths.

:: 24:02

So important, isn't it? Brilliant. OK. So, any any last little top tips for anyone before we go?

:: 24:10

I would just say have a go. If you've been thinking about it just.

:: 24:16

Just try it. Just stop. Don't stop yourself. I'm not.

:: 24:19

One for new.

:: 24:20

Year's resolutions, because I'm very much intentional and if I want to have a go, I'll do it anytime, not just thinking of the new year, but we are heading into that direction and.

:: 24:30

I'll just say just try something and see whether you get any results. If it's not the right thing for you, then have a go or something else. You've not lost anything.

:: 24:39

I think that's important, isn't it? The have a go is a brilliant final tip, but I think the one I want to add there is that it your, your stage or the space that you might be at the moment.

:: 24:49

If you're not doing.

:: 24:51

Whatever it is that you're looking for.

:: 24:53

It mean it.

:: 24:54

Doesn't mean that you have to find that thing instantly, does it? We we you might need to try a couple of things you might need to go along to. It might be like you say some tasters or something that you're gonna tap into for you. Then to know whether that is the thing that's gonna work for you.

:: 25:10

Or if you were doing something before start doing it again and stop.

:: 25:15

Getting out of bad habits? Start looking after you.

:: 25:18

Yeah, I think you've. I think that's given me the nudge I need to go and get back dancing, which I know there's a couple of people who listen to this podcast who also dancers. And I might see you there.

:: 25:34

Yeah, after you've done the dance session.

:: 25:36

I'd be thinking I should have done.

:: 25:37

This a long time ago.

:: 25:38

Hello. You do you feel great? And it is because you are. You are focused on something physical. You are doing something obviously in this.

:: 25:45

Case it's your feet, but then your hands and everything. It's just so powerful. It's just so powerful.

:: 25:52

Brilliant. Thank you so much, Emma, for your time today for coming and sharing your thoughts on creativity and in the show notes, there will be all of Emma's contacts. So if anyone does fancy, and if, if you do contact Emma, do tell her that you heard heard about this from this podcast.

:: 26:11

Thank you very much it.

:: 26:11

Has been lovely to chat to you today.

:: 26:17

Key for listening and sharing in this episode of Mental Wealth. Remember, you can subscribe wherever you get your podcast. My last question to you is what is the?

:: 26:28

One small thing.

:: 26:29

That you can take action on from this episode. Message me.

:: 26:34

On Instagram or through our website with questions you'd like me to explore.

:: 26:38

You'll find the links in the show notes.

:: 26:41

I'll be back with more tools and tips to make sense of your mind in the next step of the. In the meantime, be kind to yourself. Bye for now.