August 28, 2025 • 44 mins
Susan Hensley reveals how art journaling and creative play can transform our approach to life's biggest challenges by shifting us from perfectionism to freedom, from fear to curiosity. We explore how even 10 minutes of deliberate mess-making can bypass our inner critic and unlock solutions our analytical brain can't find.
• Perfectionism and left-brain dominance keep us stuck in patterns of self-criticism and fear
• The brain science behind creativity shows how right-brain activities reduce stress and increase problem-solving
• Art journaling requires no artistic talent – just willingness to scribble, play, and express without judgment
• Major life transitions have three stages: endings (requiring grief), the messy middle, and new beginnings
• Playing with art activates curiosity, which is the true opposite of fear
• Simple practices like drawing what you loved as a child can reconnect you with joy and possibility
• Creative expression provides a safe outlet for processing difficult emotions without harming relationships
• Making a deliberate mess for just 2-3 minutes can interrupt thought loops and open new perspectives
Visit Susan-Hensley.com to download a free quick starter guide for art journaling.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cassandra (00:01):
A good day out there to all of my listeners and I'd
like to welcome you to Is yourWay In your Way and for my new
listeners out there.
Is your Way In your Way isactually the title of my book,
so I thought why not call thepodcast Is your Way In your Way?
And also for my new listeners.
It's all about what I would sayindividuals who are feeling
(00:26):
stuck.
Now let me ask you this haveyou ever faced a major life
change, a career shift,infertility, grief, felt
paralyzed by fear or uncertainty, or divorce?
So what if I told you there'sanother way, a way filled with
(00:49):
creativity, play and joy, evenin the most uncertain seasons of
life?
I know that's probably hard tobelieve, but today, on Is your
Way In your Way, I'm sittingdown with a transformational
coach, speaker and author by thename of Susan Hensley, a woman
who's mastered mastered the artof thriving through change.
(01:13):
So if you are ready to stopletting fear be your guide and
stop navigating change withconfidence and curiosity, stay
tuned, because we talk abouttopics related to personal
development, personalimprovement, business
development, and also this willenable you to do some
(01:33):
self-reflection.
Oh, let me bring to the stageSusan Hensley.
Susan (01:39):
Hi Susan, hi there, thanks for having me.
It's so fun to be here.
Cassandra (01:45):
Yeah, we're going to talk about fun, because fun is
good, as Dr Seuss always says,and sometimes we don't even have
a lot of fun these days, youknow.
But before we get started, Iwant to read your bio to my
(02:09):
listeners so they willunderstand what qualifies you to
do the work that you do, andour topic today is creating your
best life by making a mess.
Now, susan, as I indicated, isa transformational coach,
speaker and author who helpsindividuals navigate life's
crossroads with creativity,resilience and joy.
With a career spanningcorporate leadership, human
resources, coaching andjournalism, she empowers clients
(02:32):
to unlock their inner wisdomand rediscover their authentic
selves during times of change.
Having coached everyone from anentry-level employee to a
C-suite executive, and eventhrough Stanford's University
SEED program, she brings aglobal, seasoned perspective to
(02:58):
the art of transformation.
Based in Austin, texas, afterliving in Hong Kong, london and
across the US, she blendsserious expertise with a spirit
of adventure, inspiring othersto face uncertainty, not fear,
but with playful curiosity, andshe has written a book called
(03:19):
the Art for your Sanity.
Wow, that's something.
I'm looking forward to us todiscuss it further, because my
listeners want to have some joyand they actually want to
transition with certainty andtry to eliminate some of that
fear.
Um, what was, what was theinspiration behind the work that
(03:46):
you do?
Or, or let me ask you were you?
Susan (04:01):
triggered in your childhood to do anything about
art.
No, as a young child I lovedpainting, play-doh, the big
thick paste and glue sticks.
Loved all of that.
Us get the message that that'snot our thing.
(04:27):
What did happen to me was insixth grade I won an essay
contest and got my picture inthe paper, actually won a
savings bond.
I don't even know if they stillhave US savings bonds, so that
set me off on.
I think I'm going to be awriter.
But it was really about being ajournalist, which is someone
else's story, not creating.
So I didn't view myself ever ascreative.
(04:48):
Actually, I became a prettyintense perfectionist due to
some bullying and society andexpectations.
So this turn toward mess andplay is really.
It started as I needed anoutlet and then, as I really
(05:10):
followed the outlet with myother experiences, I realized I
wanted to share it because ofthe difference it made in my
life and as I got scared aboutsharing it because it's not a
real traditional message and Ireally did get very afraid, I
(05:30):
had to keep going back to why doI want to share this?
What am I trying to do here?
And it was help people andhelping us get unstuck sometimes
is really getting at the whyand play and playing with art
and creativity help us moveforward and we'll talk about all
(05:52):
that.
But no, I did not identifymyself as creative, and still
don't, quite honestly, becausecreativity comes in a lot of
ways.
I use.
I use a lot of play andcuriosity these days.
Cassandra (06:07):
Okay, okay, let's talk about art.
Let's define that.
You know, and I asked thatbecause art can be like acting,
yeah, you know, like I likeBroadway plays.
How would you as an as an anartist, now that I'm calling you
(06:29):
for someone who wrote that bookhow do you define the word art?
Because what I'd like for us todo is kind of kind of unpack
how that can help one'sself-discovery, based on the
transitions that happen in ourlives.
Susan (06:47):
Sure.
So it's a really thoughtfulquestion.
I appreciate you asking itbecause art is a huge category,
because it can be, to your point, acting music, singing clay.
It can be going to a museumobserving art, listening to
(07:09):
music.
You can be both a participantin it, a maker, as well as be
inspired by it.
When I was writing my book, Iwanted to include some research
about why, playing with and forour purposes.
When I talk about artjournaling, I'm just talking
about you scribbling and makinga mess, you going back to that
(07:29):
five year old self and playingwith colors.
But when I was doing theresearch for the book as to why
it's so powerful, there's thisthere's been a few really good
studies come out, but a bookcalled your Brain on Art.
It's big and thick andwell-researched, but it talks
about both what happens when wedo and, to your point, it could
(07:52):
be singing, dancing.
You know, at the beginning ofyour show, the movement, what it
feels like to both play insomething that's artistic as
well as to watch it and to beexposed to it.
So both are the case.
So art to answer your questionis a big umbrella For our
discussion.
I'm really talking about yourlisteners doing something, and I
(08:17):
suggest scribbling with crayonsbecause it's such a low barrier
.
People get very afraid if I say,go in a room and sing alone or
sing in the shower right,there's something about a few of
those or dance, but dancingalone in a room, singing, any of
that also works, because whatwe're talking about is moving to
the right side of our brains,that place of play and curiosity
(08:40):
, where our inner critic I meanthink of the title of your book,
the title of the podcast isyour way, in your way.
When you're in your way, youare living in that left side of
your brain, which we do mainly.
It's the logical, it's thediscerning, it's also the
judgmental and the critical.
(09:01):
It's what helps us get throughour to-do lists, but it also can
drive us in a verynon-supportive way, the way we
talk to ourselves.
Playing with art gets you out ofthat.
It truly gets you out of yourway for a few minutes, and
(09:22):
that's that muscle when I workwith people you want to start
building is what does it feellike to play for 10 minutes with
art, to have that inner criticthat's judging and has shoulds
and fears and all the things weexperience?
We're all human, right?
It's not that this goes away,but it's how do we sort of make
(09:44):
friends with it and give it alittle bit of a break.
And I have found when peopleplay with the sort of art things
they love to do as a kid, itreally frees them up for just a
few minutes and then you startto do the work from there and
then you start to do the workfrom there.
Cassandra (10:00):
Wow, I like that.
So the brain science behind thebenefits is amazing.
And how it is the left side ofyour brain that can keep you
stuck because you're so busy,would you say well, would you
say the logic.
Or either the right side of thebrain is more fun, would you
(10:23):
say yeah, or it gets out of yourway, yeah.
Susan (10:27):
And it's simplest forms and the research I've done like.
So there's a few really goodbooks.
We want to have a very balancedbrain.
Unfortunately, what's happenedin our culture and the way
things work very time oriented,very task oriented.
You know, every day I've got mylist of to do's and if you're
working, that all uses that leftside of the brain.
So if the left side of the brainis that, that logical, task
(10:51):
oriented, and when I sayjudgment, it can also be
discerning Is this good for meor not?
Does it right?
But it's unfortunately whereour inner critic can live and
it's where a lot ofperfectionism sits.
The right side of our brainmuch more holistic, creative,
connected.
It's where the stress getsrelieved.
(11:13):
It's where we feel Sometimes ifyou go out on a really
beautiful day or you see like abeautiful flower, you just feel
connected sort of, and are youhere singing or you see a great
piece of art.
That's what the right side ofour brain gives us and part of
what we want to do is just get alittle more balanced.
I'm not saying you're going tostop being able to stay to a
(11:37):
time schedule, but we are soover-focused on that left side
that that creativity is whatleads to curiosity and invention
, and it's really good forpeople to just spend a few
minutes a day in that zone.
Cassandra (11:55):
I like that because for me, I actually unfortunately
, and too much in the left side.
You know my to-do list, myperfectionism, so give me a
break.
How can I get a break?
And what you're saying?
And we want to talk a littlebit about the art journaling.
(12:17):
Like what is that?
But art journaling helps youwith the right side, where you
start having more fun, youbecome more creative, You're not
so stuck.
It's like OK, because many ofus don't have fun.
You know, if I think aboutlittle kids, children, Wow, they
(12:37):
don't have a worry.
And you know, and I rememberbeing a lot younger and I'm like
I can't wait to grow up, Ican't wait to get on my own, and
now I'm like I would love to bea child, you know.
So I like that perspective thatyou have put on it.
How can harnessing creativity,or provide some insight on
(13:03):
harnessing creativity for yourpersonal growth?
How can that help you?
Your personal growth?
Yeah, the creativity.
Susan (13:15):
So it helps in so many ways.
First of all, what creativitydoes is it opens us up.
If we know we want to grow, itcan be very hard to think our
way through because we can getrigid or we can come up with
reasons why we're stuck, allabout sort of why not, or what
(13:47):
if, or what would happen if,where you don't immediately say
no, right, it's about me makinga mess.
And when you come at it throughthat sense of play, and when I
talk about art journaling orplay, I mean I'm talking 10
minutes a day and I knowpersonally I will spend at least
that on my phone If somethinghappens you start to scroll.
I joke that.
(14:08):
Take one of those sessionswhich can suck 10 minutes out of
your day instantly and playwith crayons, scribble, doodle,
whatever feels good, and it'sjust for you.
You are not creating somethingto show to someone else, you are
playing.
Because when you start playing,all of a sudden you get curious
.
It's like how did that feel, orthat felt great, or gosh, what
(14:32):
came up, or that reminds me.
You give your mind that abilityto wander Then from curiosity.
That's where you get creativeright.
And it's like in your life whenyou know you need to make a
move.
And people I know people will doendless, they'll do
spreadsheets, they will docomparisons At the end of the
(14:55):
day something feels more rightto them.
How many times, even with themost analytical people, do we
know, and all the comparisons,they're looking for a right
answer.
And life just doesn't have thatkind of certainty.
And when you're playing andyou're looking for that answer,
(15:16):
if you will, through playsometimes I've even put
different colored question marksjust on a page and turned the
page.
I mean the insights come slowlyover time.
But when you stop sort of whatI call grinding or over-focusing
, that obsessive thought loops,those are in our left side of
(15:37):
our brain, those loops that goround and round, you play a
little, it frees it.
One thing I'll ask you and Iask this question a lot is have
you ever had an answer or anidea come to you in like the
shower or a tub?
Yeah Right, that's very common.
And you know why?
Because you're not thinkingabout it right.
(15:57):
You're immersed, water's warm,there's whatever about it.
Right You're, you're immersed,water's warm, there's whatever
you know smells of the soap.
That's a little bit whatallowing play into your life for
just 10 minutes does for you.
Cassandra (16:11):
Wow, interesting.
It's just like, uh, walking,you know cause you're not really
thinking and you walk andyou're like, oh, okay, cause
that's how I discovered the, thetitle of my next book, just by
walking one day, and I was like,oh my gosh, you know, because I
was just free spirited outthere, not being very serious.
(16:32):
So I love that concept.
Now tell me about abreakthrough moment that you may
have had, or or maybe um youryour clients, a breakthrough
moment that you may have had, oror maybe um your clients, a
breakthrough moment resultingfrom the practice of journaling
or art of journaling sure I'llshare um two.
Susan (16:53):
The first is very short.
I was doing a workshop, uh,last fall and it's.
I have people do two very shortexercises in this particular
workshop.
It was two three minuteexercises.
And afterwards a lovelyaccomplished woman came, came up
to me.
She's raised three children,she's worked professionally,
(17:15):
she's got big circle friends.
And she came up to me and thesetwo three minute exercises are
about filling a page of paperright and with, while some
music's playing, they'rescribbling, they only have two
crayons and I've given themdifferent objectives.
She came up to me and she saidand she had a beautiful smile on
her face she goes do you knowthat that is the first time in
(17:40):
my adult life that I did not tryand follow my a direction or a
to do or a recipe?
She goes it has dawned on meand there were like tears in her
eyes and, like I said, she'sgot three raised children.
So I don't know her exact age.
So, to be fair, let's assumeshe's somewhere maybe in that 50
(18:01):
to 60 range that she alwayslooks to follow a rule and to do
what someone else told her to.
And in those two exercises ofjust play one, she said it felt
fantastic to do for what shewanted to do for just a few
(18:26):
moments, and it was freeing.
Now I don't know fully what allshe's going to do.
For just a few moments, and itwas freeing.
Now I don't know fully what allshe's going to do with that,
but at this life stage, havingjust become an empty nester and
making some of these changes,the recognition to not always
look for what someone else tellsyou to do was so profound it
actually it gave me chillsbecause of how fast that
(18:52):
realization occurred For myself.
And that's just when the client, once others happen slowly or
they will start to understand animage better.
I had told myself a series ofstories about my next career
transition when I was going toleave my corporate job.
(19:13):
I was going to have a plan.
I was going to stay three moreyears.
I couldn't just quit becauseI've got too much energy.
I'd go crazy and well-meaningpeople would say that.
And what I noticed in my ownjust playing with art practice
because I had started this yearsbefore is, um, I ended up with
a lot of catalogs.
I think it was during COVID thatthis had happened and my job
(19:35):
got very difficult and I we'rechecking the mail and still
getting things in the mail, yes,and I had all these windy,
foggy paths that I was collagingand I went back.
I didn't really know why, right, and I was sort of questioning
and knew my life just wasn'tfitting anymore.
(19:58):
I was feeling a lot of anger,quite honestly.
I kept thinking as I wasdrawing these little screaming
faces with my crayons and flames, and I'm thinking what has
happened to me?
How have I become such an angryperson?
You know I view myself as thispositive person, but when you're
just playing, it's amazing whatyou don't stuff down and what
(20:19):
comes out.
And I finally realized throughtime and this is why it can be
helpful to work with a coachthis was the discovery I made is
why it can be helpful to workwith a coach is I was this was
the discovery I made is I neededto sort of take that leap.
I needed to go on that windy,unclear path and be comfortable
with it.
Didn't mean I wasn't afraid yes, it didn't, but it was becoming
(20:41):
too hard to stay stuck Rightand that's an interesting moment
for people who are stuck.
There's a quote I used in mybook.
It's it's.
You know to paraphrase it,because I'm not remember the
exact thing.
It's like we don't bud untilit's too hard to stay stuck.
That it's how resistant humansare to to change, and so you're
(21:05):
trying to just find easier waysto get comfortable with change,
and I really work with clientson what's the smallest, smallest
thing you can do today.
You don't have to write anentire book.
Can you write for 10 minutesbadly?
I have a person who wants I'mworking with a person who wants
to write a book, but she insistson editing as she writes, and
(21:28):
that is the death of creativity,because you are both creator
and immediate judge and I'mreally working with her to do 10
minutes of bad writing andstick it in a folder and say my
intention is to actually writebadly, where you're telling
yourself I am giving my selfpermission.
(21:51):
I don't need an editor to writebadly, I don't need a judge,
I'm just going to spew.
I know it's not going to begood and then I'm just going to
save it in a folder and I'm onlygoing to do it for 10 minutes,
because that's going to feeluncomfortable and that's
actually the way a lot of peopleget stuff done, but it's so
hard to get out of our way,which is once again why I love
(22:13):
the title.
Yeah, yeah.
Cassandra (22:15):
So let me ask you, like my listeners that are stuck
and in the beginning I talkedabout, particularly this time
when people are losing theirjobs based on the administration
that we have here in the WhiteHouse and there's a lot of
ambiguity that's out there andpeople are just so on edge,
(22:37):
which they have a right to be.
You know, these are careers andyou know, you never think, I
would never think that thegovernment would lay people off
because that was unheard of.
Now that things have changed,you know, because that was
unheard of.
So, now that things havechanged, you know, and that can
be part of a grief, you know youlost your job, grieving like we
(22:57):
talked about infertility,paralyzed by fear.
So, my listeners listening toyou, so my listeners listening
to you, how would you walk themthrough?
I guess it would be the artjournaling in order to
transition.
And when you talked about thebud, it made me think about the
(23:19):
butterfly.
That was a worm, chrysalis,that's right.
And all of a sudden it becomesthis beautiful, it transforms,
and it just like wow, wow, isn'tthis amazing?
But just don't but think ofwhat they go through, why they
are worms, because I used to beafraid of them and I used to
also step on them.
I was very young then.
(23:40):
It wasn't that I was a cruelkid, but I was no, I was afraid
of them.
What can my listeners do as itrelates to art journaling, to
get them in the right side oftheir brain, like, how would you
navigate?
(24:00):
Or tell them, like, this is aworkshop, a mini little workshop
, and they're liking whatthey're hearing, but how do they
get started?
What would they do?
Susan (24:09):
So the first thing I would say is there's three
stages to any transition andunfortunately they're not linear
as much as we want them to belinear.
So there is the ending and youneed to.
If you have had a shock, youhave been laid off and you never
thought you would be laid off.
A relationship has ended,suddenly Something has happened
(24:31):
to you that is a shock.
You need to give yourself somespace, even if maybe you're
doing other things because ofeconomics, looking for a job, to
just grieve.
You can use art journaling toprocess that emotion, right.
Like I said, you can cry intoit, you can drop tears, it's
whatever you're seeing.
(24:52):
You can use it as a place toprocess, but it's very important
to honor when something hasended Okay and to spend some
time.
This is what we talk about insome of the life, if you will,
transformation coaching, becauseif you just try and get through
that, you carry the grief, theheaviness with you and it can
(25:15):
really zap your energy.
So there does need to be alittle bit of allowing yourself
to process.
Then there's this big messymiddle, and we hate the big
messy middle because we want toknow.
Right to the new thing, the newlife.
Unfortunately, in the messymiddle, you're going backwards,
you're going sideways, you dosort of two steps forward
(25:37):
because you don't know.
Right, if I'm going to keepusing your analogy or your
example of someone who'srecently lost their, their job
Right, what is the job market?
What do they want to do?
How do they even marketthemselves?
All the stories you're tellingyourself is this the time for a
career pivot?
Right, because there's allthese things you want to do.
(25:58):
You can be using playing withart and the art journal to
process these feelings andseeing what comes up.
Right, you can be askingyourself certain questions, like
one day you could work on, whatdid I love about my job and
career?
What am I happy to not doanymore?
What does this make possible?
(26:20):
Now, after you've done somegrieving In that messy middle,
which can go on for a long time,you're just looking for what I
call glimmers glimmers of hope,glimmers of joy, things that
light you up.
Yes, the what if that makes youfeel sort of giddy versus
(26:41):
afraid.
Right, the last stage is thenew beginning and although we
all want to get there, the newbeginning can come with some
surprises too.
It may not be quite what youthought.
It may be disorienting andremembering to give yourself a
lot of time.
So in your caterpillar tobutterfly analogy the old really
(27:02):
dissolves, and if you think ofwhat it would be like to
dissolve that old self and thenfight your way out of a cocoon
to fly, that's what's happeningin a major life transition.
It's why I do that coachingRight, and it's why art
journaling can sort of help youwork, work through it.
(27:23):
My I have a online course thatreally does sort of try and walk
people through that with aworkbook, the different stages,
because, as much as we want itto be over, that's how we grow
through those experiences.
Cassandra (27:37):
Right, yeah, yeah, and, as you indicated, like it's
a process that you can't reallydo by yourself.
You know you need someone tohelp and guide you through that
process, Because in artjournaling, do you have to?
It's like like always, likewhat is it Sip?
(27:59):
And art, like you know, you gosomewhere and but I'm like I
don't know how to draw, you know, so can they can be held back
because they're like I don'tknow what to do, I don't know
what to draw, so they just drawanything, just do anything.
Susan (28:15):
Yeah, so for art journaling.
Ideally people view it as yourwritten journal and it's
whatever you feel like.
So the exercise I have peoplestart with is just take two
crayons and find a song on theirphone three minutes, something
upbeat and just fill a smallsheet of paper, maybe five by
(28:36):
seven, just fill it.
So it's a constrained exercise.
You're just playing.
As a kid you played withcrayons and art.
You weren't always followingthings, you just.
Your favorite drawings were notthe drawings where you were in
a color book as a kid.
Cassandra (28:52):
Yes.
Susan (28:52):
They were you drawing whatever.
I have another exercise whereyou think of what you used to
love to draw.
I know it's a lot of women.
It's like hearts, rabbits,trees, house, and you do that
for four minutes.
You just think about what itwas as a kid that you loved to
draw.
If it was a shape, if it was asmiley face, if it was butterfly
(29:15):
wings right, yeah, a bird.
You learned something that wasreally simple.
What does it feel like for fourminutes just to draw that Again
on a page?
You can throw the page away,away.
You can be keeping it in a, ina book, so it's not so much.
What do I, uh, what am I goingto draw?
You can look at the page, sayhow do I feel today?
(29:37):
Maybe you're feeling really sad.
How do you want to express that?
It can be a sad face, it can bean eye.
I mean, it could be anything.
I'm just telling you some of thesymbols I use.
Or I've seen people use.
I've seen people use clouds, awet blanket, a stick figure
laying on the ground right Witha foot coming down right.
(30:00):
That's what's sort of creative,but a little bit it starts with
the.
I'm going to take 10 minutes.
How am I feeling?
Or, or sometimes it's like whatwould be fun to draw on a
cloudy day.
Sometimes I'll just draw a sunif I want to see the sun, right,
so it doesn't have to startmeaningful or deep.
It's that I want to just playfor a few minutes versus reading
(30:25):
the news?
I will tell you, yes, if you'vegot news on your phone, take
one of those times where youmight read it today, or scroll
on Instagram or whatever yoursocial media is, and draw, even
with just a pen, for fiveminutes Doodle something and
you'll feel a little bit lightera little bit lighter.
Cassandra (30:54):
Yeah, yeah it's.
It's kind of like, how does acurious?
Susan (30:56):
mindset be key to transition.
Difficult life transition, yeah, In a difficult in any life
transition, but the moredifficult when you feel like
your the rug has been ripped outfrom under you in my Like the
rug has been ripped out fromunder you.
In the certification program Itook on helping to coach people
through life transitions.
(31:16):
We call some of these like lifequakes.
It's one thing when we have onetransition, but sometimes we
end up with multiple.
A job could be lost.
We have to move.
Maybe a relationship has ended,Maybe you're having to leave
other people, and I just want tosay it felt like my life got
flushed down the toilet Right.
So when that is going on, right, it is important to mourn what
(31:40):
is lost, but the other side ofthat question is to also be
thinking about what is all of asudden made possible.
What wasn't ideal about thesesituations?
What does this allow me to donow, With people facing health
things?
Many times there is no upside.
I will be really clear.
(32:01):
But there is a question is whodo I want to be during this?
Sometimes people become freer,more open, more vulnerable.
How can I get through this withgrace?
Sometimes that's a verymotivating question when we are
in a situation where we feellike we have very little control
(32:24):
to think about what is in ourcontrol, to think about what is
in our control, which can bechoosing in a moment to read
some jokes, to ask for help.
So you know we've gone very,very broad.
But I think there is somethingimportant in transitions where
(32:46):
you're honoring what's beinglost and how jarring that is, as
well as starting to look, notwhen you're in your most sad
moment, but in a moment wherethere's a little bit of levity
or lightness about like huh,what positive thing is this
bringing up?
How can I follow that?
(33:07):
How can I add a little more ofthat to my life?
Cassandra (33:12):
Right.
So you're not saying, as soonas something happens, like the
job loss or the grief for, or um, you or, or, either you want to
get promoted, you're just sickof being in this job.
We're not to say that you doart right away because you like
(33:32):
what, you know.
That's just.
You know what.
What do you mean?
I just lost such and such.
I just lost my job.
But, like you said, I liked itwhen you said, when you have a
space like, okay, you know, ifyou go out there and you use
that right side of the brain, itmay free you up.
(33:53):
And then, as you are freed upand you use this, but you may
discover then you know what,Maybe I'll, Maybe I'll do some
art journaling.
You know it doesn't, becauseyou know I don't want listeners
to think, OK, right, I'm not inthe mood for this.
But and I always say, do youwant to get better?
(34:15):
You can either be better orbetter, Absolutely yeah.
You have to make a decisionbecause we have within ourselves
what it is that we can do.
We can't make anybody doanything.
So I just wanted to highlightthat, to say that you want to.
I mean, it's something insideyou want to, but maybe not right
(34:38):
then.
But it could be a time thatyou're like, okay, I'm ready now
I'm ready to get better.
Susan (34:44):
Absolutely.
It can also be, as a person whohas screamed alone in my car,
made myself hoarse, screaming,screamed into a pillow.
We need to release sometimesand finding healthy ways and
when I say healthy wayssometimes when we're overwhelmed
, times when we're overwhelmed,we can take it out on another
(35:12):
person or overburdened.
So that is also where, like Isaid, shooting flames, writing
whatever words feel good in adark color in an art journal
page and you can turn the page.
I think we need outlets atcertain times when we're
overwhelmed, so you can use artin that case for a safe space as
(35:32):
the energy builds in our bodywhen we're upset.
Finding a release.
Sometimes you know jumpingjacks and people say I just have
to run around the block, I justhave to scream, right, I try
and find things for anyone I'mworking with that helps them
feel empowered and doesn't dodamage to someone else, and it's
(35:53):
in trying to find a positiveway to express it.
That stays positive for you,right?
(36:14):
Which is why I like sometimesthat the screaming is hugely
cathartic, not at someone Cause.
The problem is when we release,when we unleash on someone,
then there's a guilt loop.
When you're alone, or screaminginto a pillow, you may scare If
you have a pet.
I have definitely scared mycats, but it didn't negatively
(36:38):
impact a family member, right.
Cassandra (36:42):
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, right .
Susan (36:43):
And it honored that I was feeling that upset.
Cassandra (36:48):
Exactly, exactly, and I like this perspective
creating your best life bymaking a mess, yeah, and because
and I'm so hung up, what youtalked about that right side and
that left side brain side andthat left side brain it's kind
of like it's good to loosen upif you can.
(37:11):
You know it's good to, and it'sokay to make a mess because we,
I know I'm I'm a perfectionist,you know I do everything, just
right, you know.
So if I do anything and it'sout of the line or whatever, I'm
like, oh my goodness, but whatyou're saying, it's okay, you
(37:33):
know, just scribble on a sheetof paper, get that side of your
brain to have a little more joyand fun, like a kid, like a
child.
You know the wonder that achild has is just amazing.
You know like wow, and we werelike oh, okay, but we were that
wow when we were younger, and soI like what you're talking
about is just the perspective,the simplicity and authenticity
(37:57):
of a child's perspective.
I think that's a wonder, wonder, wow.
So, susan, you have a call toaction that I'd like for you to
share with my listeners, whichis a quick starter guide.
Would you explain a quickstarter guide?
Susan (38:16):
for them.
Sure, sure do On my website,download it, it's free, it's
just one page.
And if any of this is intriguedand you think, okay, I sort of
from talk, I want to start artjournaling, it just sort of gets
you started on it.
Like I said, it's free, it'sjust on the website.
What I love about playing withart and art journaling is anyone
(38:37):
listening to this, as long asthey're not like actively
driving can find usually a pieceof like scrap paper and
something to doodle with, rightright down in a purse or in a
backpack somewhere and can play.
So it's a really low barrierthing.
So, yeah, on my website there'sa free guide to get you started
(38:57):
okay, and what's the uh?
Cassandra (39:00):
what's your website?
Susan (39:01):
it's just susan dash hensley and hensley's
h-e-n-s-l-e-ycom, so I tried tokeep it simple yeah, that is
simple, the simplicity of achildlike spirit.
Cassandra (39:13):
I love that, wow.
Well, is there anything thatyou else would like to share
with my listeners who have um,um, want to stop letting fear be
their, their guide and startnavigating change with
confidence and curiosity?
Susan (39:33):
Yeah, so if you think of the flip side of fear, it's not
necessarily bravery, it'scuriosity, I think.
And when you're in fear you'rethinking like what if I don't
want this to happen, I don'twant to happen.
When you flip that and you lookaround and it's like what's
possible, it can be verymotivating.
(39:57):
When we're in fear, we shrink.
Yes, right, when we are curious, it expands us.
We are curious, it expands usand I think that's what I'd like
to really leave your listenerswith is fear keeps us so small
and shrunken, whereas curiosityand you get to curiosity through
(40:17):
play, sometimes put on yourfavorite upbeat song and like
dance, in a few minutes youshake that off.
You feel so much more open thanwhen you're shrunken and sort
of pulled within your sideyourself because you're afraid.
So I like people to sort of usetheir body and try and just flip
, if only for a few minutes,because it's not dangerous for a
(40:39):
few minutes, just to do alittle bit of play.
Right, we all remember aschildren, to your point you're
talking about the awe and wonder.
We remember it, we feel it andyou tell yourself it's only for
two minutes.
Can I do this for two minutes,for three minutes?
And the answer is yes yes, Ilove that.
Cassandra (40:59):
So, listeners, we have heard susan hensley and I
know that many of you have heardsomething that has given you an
awe or a moment.
Think about that right side ofthe brain, that left side of the
brain and we're not saying thatthis will take everything away
(41:20):
immediately, based on thesemajor life changes, but yet to
know that it's all possible, andI want to thank Susan for her.
I'm calling this a differentmodality on how you transition
out of things for the better,and I'd like for you listeners
(41:40):
to share this podcast withsomeone that you know it will
bless.
Podcast with someone that youknow it will bless.
I am definitely going to dosome art journaling, because I'm
a journaler anyway, but it justtickles me to just scribble on
paper just for a couple minutessometimes, so that I can get out
of that the right side of theno, it's the left side of the
(42:02):
brain and I cause I'm in it toomuch and I need to start
enjoying life and I need tostart having more fun, just like
my listeners do as well.
So, again, susan, thank you somuch for your insight and, as I
share with my listeners, I'llsay God bless, if you like this
(42:22):
podcast that comes on everyWednesday one o'clock live.
Please like it and subscribe it, to subscribe to it and share
with your friends.
So for all of you I'll say Godbless.
Thanks again and bye for now.
Thanks again, susan, goodbye.
A good day out there to all of my listeners and I'd
like to welcome you to Is yourWay In your Way and for my new
listeners out there.
Is your Way In your Way isactually the title of my book,
so I thought why not call thepodcast Is your Way In your Way?
And also for my new listeners.
It's all about what I would sayindividuals who are feeling
(00:26):
stuck.
Now let me ask you this haveyou ever faced a major life
change, a career shift,infertility, grief, felt
paralyzed by fear or uncertainty, or divorce?
So what if I told you there'sanother way, a way filled with
(00:49):
creativity, play and joy, evenin the most uncertain seasons of
life?
I know that's probably hard tobelieve, but today, on Is your
Way In your Way, I'm sittingdown with a transformational
coach, speaker and author by thename of Susan Hensley, a woman
who's mastered mastered the artof thriving through change.
(01:13):
So if you are ready to stopletting fear be your guide and
stop navigating change withconfidence and curiosity, stay
tuned, because we talk abouttopics related to personal
development, personalimprovement, business
development, and also this willenable you to do some
(01:33):
self-reflection.
Oh, let me bring to the stageSusan Hensley.
Susan (01:39):
Hi Susan, hi there, thanks for having me.
It's so fun to be here.
Cassandra (01:45):
Yeah, we're going to talk about fun, because fun is
good, as Dr Seuss always says,and sometimes we don't even have
a lot of fun these days, youknow.
But before we get started, Iwant to read your bio to my
(02:09):
listeners so they willunderstand what qualifies you to
do the work that you do, andour topic today is creating your
best life by making a mess.
Now, susan, as I indicated, isa transformational coach,
speaker and author who helpsindividuals navigate life's
crossroads with creativity,resilience and joy.
With a career spanningcorporate leadership, human
resources, coaching andjournalism, she empowers clients
(02:32):
to unlock their inner wisdomand rediscover their authentic
selves during times of change.
Having coached everyone from anentry-level employee to a
C-suite executive, and eventhrough Stanford's University
SEED program, she brings aglobal, seasoned perspective to
(02:58):
the art of transformation.
Based in Austin, texas, afterliving in Hong Kong, london and
across the US, she blendsserious expertise with a spirit
of adventure, inspiring othersto face uncertainty, not fear,
but with playful curiosity, andshe has written a book called
(03:19):
the Art for your Sanity.
Wow, that's something.
I'm looking forward to us todiscuss it further, because my
listeners want to have some joyand they actually want to
transition with certainty andtry to eliminate some of that
fear.
Um, what was, what was theinspiration behind the work that
(03:46):
you do?
Or, or let me ask you were you?
Susan (04:01):
triggered in your childhood to do anything about
art.
No, as a young child I lovedpainting, play-doh, the big
thick paste and glue sticks.
Loved all of that.
Us get the message that that'snot our thing.
(04:27):
What did happen to me was insixth grade I won an essay
contest and got my picture inthe paper, actually won a
savings bond.
I don't even know if they stillhave US savings bonds, so that
set me off on.
I think I'm going to be awriter.
But it was really about being ajournalist, which is someone
else's story, not creating.
So I didn't view myself ever ascreative.
(04:48):
Actually, I became a prettyintense perfectionist due to
some bullying and society andexpectations.
So this turn toward mess andplay is really.
It started as I needed anoutlet and then, as I really
(05:10):
followed the outlet with myother experiences, I realized I
wanted to share it because ofthe difference it made in my
life and as I got scared aboutsharing it because it's not a
real traditional message and Ireally did get very afraid, I
(05:30):
had to keep going back to why doI want to share this?
What am I trying to do here?
And it was help people andhelping us get unstuck sometimes
is really getting at the whyand play and playing with art
and creativity help us moveforward and we'll talk about all
(05:52):
that.
But no, I did not identifymyself as creative, and still
don't, quite honestly, becausecreativity comes in a lot of
ways.
I use.
I use a lot of play andcuriosity these days.
Cassandra (06:07):
Okay, okay, let's talk about art.
Let's define that.
You know, and I asked thatbecause art can be like acting,
yeah, you know, like I likeBroadway plays.
How would you as an as an anartist, now that I'm calling you
(06:29):
for someone who wrote that bookhow do you define the word art?
Because what I'd like for us todo is kind of kind of unpack
how that can help one'sself-discovery, based on the
transitions that happen in ourlives.
Susan (06:47):
Sure.
So it's a really thoughtfulquestion.
I appreciate you asking itbecause art is a huge category,
because it can be, to your point, acting music, singing clay.
It can be going to a museumobserving art, listening to
(07:09):
music.
You can be both a participantin it, a maker, as well as be
inspired by it.
When I was writing my book, Iwanted to include some research
about why, playing with and forour purposes.
When I talk about artjournaling, I'm just talking
about you scribbling and makinga mess, you going back to that
(07:29):
five year old self and playingwith colors.
But when I was doing theresearch for the book as to why
it's so powerful, there's thisthere's been a few really good
studies come out, but a bookcalled your Brain on Art.
It's big and thick andwell-researched, but it talks
about both what happens when wedo and, to your point, it could
(07:52):
be singing, dancing.
You know, at the beginning ofyour show, the movement, what it
feels like to both play insomething that's artistic as
well as to watch it and to beexposed to it.
So both are the case.
So art to answer your questionis a big umbrella For our
discussion.
I'm really talking about yourlisteners doing something, and I
(08:17):
suggest scribbling with crayonsbecause it's such a low barrier
.
People get very afraid if I say,go in a room and sing alone or
sing in the shower right,there's something about a few of
those or dance, but dancingalone in a room, singing, any of
that also works, because whatwe're talking about is moving to
the right side of our brains,that place of play and curiosity
(08:40):
, where our inner critic I meanthink of the title of your book,
the title of the podcast isyour way, in your way.
When you're in your way, youare living in that left side of
your brain, which we do mainly.
It's the logical, it's thediscerning, it's also the
judgmental and the critical.
(09:01):
It's what helps us get throughour to-do lists, but it also can
drive us in a verynon-supportive way, the way we
talk to ourselves.
Playing with art gets you out ofthat.
It truly gets you out of yourway for a few minutes, and
(09:22):
that's that muscle when I workwith people you want to start
building is what does it feellike to play for 10 minutes with
art, to have that inner criticthat's judging and has shoulds
and fears and all the things weexperience?
We're all human, right?
It's not that this goes away,but it's how do we sort of make
(09:44):
friends with it and give it alittle bit of a break.
And I have found when peopleplay with the sort of art things
they love to do as a kid, itreally frees them up for just a
few minutes and then you startto do the work from there and
then you start to do the workfrom there.
Cassandra (10:00):
Wow, I like that.
So the brain science behind thebenefits is amazing.
And how it is the left side ofyour brain that can keep you
stuck because you're so busy,would you say well, would you
say the logic.
Or either the right side of thebrain is more fun, would you
(10:23):
say yeah, or it gets out of yourway, yeah.
Susan (10:27):
And it's simplest forms and the research I've done like.
So there's a few really goodbooks.
We want to have a very balancedbrain.
Unfortunately, what's happenedin our culture and the way
things work very time oriented,very task oriented.
You know, every day I've got mylist of to do's and if you're
working, that all uses that leftside of the brain.
So if the left side of the brainis that, that logical, task
(10:51):
oriented, and when I sayjudgment, it can also be
discerning Is this good for meor not?
Does it right?
But it's unfortunately whereour inner critic can live and
it's where a lot ofperfectionism sits.
The right side of our brainmuch more holistic, creative,
connected.
It's where the stress getsrelieved.
(11:13):
It's where we feel Sometimes ifyou go out on a really
beautiful day or you see like abeautiful flower, you just feel
connected sort of, and are youhere singing or you see a great
piece of art.
That's what the right side ofour brain gives us and part of
what we want to do is just get alittle more balanced.
I'm not saying you're going tostop being able to stay to a
(11:37):
time schedule, but we are soover-focused on that left side
that that creativity is whatleads to curiosity and invention
, and it's really good forpeople to just spend a few
minutes a day in that zone.
Cassandra (11:55):
I like that because for me, I actually unfortunately
, and too much in the left side.
You know my to-do list, myperfectionism, so give me a
break.
How can I get a break?
And what you're saying?
And we want to talk a littlebit about the art journaling.
(12:17):
Like what is that?
But art journaling helps youwith the right side, where you
start having more fun, youbecome more creative, You're not
so stuck.
It's like OK, because many ofus don't have fun.
You know, if I think aboutlittle kids, children, Wow, they
(12:37):
don't have a worry.
And you know, and I rememberbeing a lot younger and I'm like
I can't wait to grow up, Ican't wait to get on my own, and
now I'm like I would love to bea child, you know.
So I like that perspective thatyou have put on it.
How can harnessing creativity,or provide some insight on
(13:03):
harnessing creativity for yourpersonal growth?
How can that help you?
Your personal growth?
Yeah, the creativity.
Susan (13:15):
So it helps in so many ways.
First of all, what creativitydoes is it opens us up.
If we know we want to grow, itcan be very hard to think our
way through because we can getrigid or we can come up with
reasons why we're stuck, allabout sort of why not, or what
(13:47):
if, or what would happen if,where you don't immediately say
no, right, it's about me makinga mess.
And when you come at it throughthat sense of play, and when I
talk about art journaling orplay, I mean I'm talking 10
minutes a day and I knowpersonally I will spend at least
that on my phone If somethinghappens you start to scroll.
I joke that.
(14:08):
Take one of those sessionswhich can suck 10 minutes out of
your day instantly and playwith crayons, scribble, doodle,
whatever feels good, and it'sjust for you.
You are not creating somethingto show to someone else, you are
playing.
Because when you start playing,all of a sudden you get curious
.
It's like how did that feel, orthat felt great, or gosh, what
(14:32):
came up, or that reminds me.
You give your mind that abilityto wander Then from curiosity.
That's where you get creativeright.
And it's like in your life whenyou know you need to make a
move.
And people I know people will doendless, they'll do
spreadsheets, they will docomparisons At the end of the
(14:55):
day something feels more rightto them.
How many times, even with themost analytical people, do we
know, and all the comparisons,they're looking for a right
answer.
And life just doesn't have thatkind of certainty.
And when you're playing andyou're looking for that answer,
(15:16):
if you will, through playsometimes I've even put
different colored question marksjust on a page and turned the
page.
I mean the insights come slowlyover time.
But when you stop sort of whatI call grinding or over-focusing
, that obsessive thought loops,those are in our left side of
(15:37):
our brain, those loops that goround and round, you play a
little, it frees it.
One thing I'll ask you and Iask this question a lot is have
you ever had an answer or anidea come to you in like the
shower or a tub?
Yeah Right, that's very common.
And you know why?
Because you're not thinkingabout it right.
(15:57):
You're immersed, water's warm,there's whatever about it.
Right You're, you're immersed,water's warm, there's whatever
you know smells of the soap.
That's a little bit whatallowing play into your life for
just 10 minutes does for you.
Cassandra (16:11):
Wow, interesting.
It's just like, uh, walking,you know cause you're not really
thinking and you walk andyou're like, oh, okay, cause
that's how I discovered the, thetitle of my next book, just by
walking one day, and I was like,oh my gosh, you know, because I
was just free spirited outthere, not being very serious.
(16:32):
So I love that concept.
Now tell me about abreakthrough moment that you may
have had, or or maybe um youryour clients, a breakthrough
moment that you may have had, oror maybe um your clients, a
breakthrough moment resultingfrom the practice of journaling
or art of journaling sure I'llshare um two.
Susan (16:53):
The first is very short.
I was doing a workshop, uh,last fall and it's.
I have people do two very shortexercises in this particular
workshop.
It was two three minuteexercises.
And afterwards a lovelyaccomplished woman came, came up
to me.
She's raised three children,she's worked professionally,
(17:15):
she's got big circle friends.
And she came up to me and thesetwo three minute exercises are
about filling a page of paperright and with, while some
music's playing, they'rescribbling, they only have two
crayons and I've given themdifferent objectives.
She came up to me and she saidand she had a beautiful smile on
her face she goes do you knowthat that is the first time in
(17:40):
my adult life that I did not tryand follow my a direction or a
to do or a recipe?
She goes it has dawned on meand there were like tears in her
eyes and, like I said, she'sgot three raised children.
So I don't know her exact age.
So, to be fair, let's assumeshe's somewhere maybe in that 50
(18:01):
to 60 range that she alwayslooks to follow a rule and to do
what someone else told her to.
And in those two exercises ofjust play one, she said it felt
fantastic to do for what shewanted to do for just a few
(18:26):
moments, and it was freeing.
Now I don't know fully what allshe's going to do.
For just a few moments, and itwas freeing.
Now I don't know fully what allshe's going to do with that,
but at this life stage, havingjust become an empty nester and
making some of these changes,the recognition to not always
look for what someone else tellsyou to do was so profound it
actually it gave me chillsbecause of how fast that
(18:52):
realization occurred For myself.
And that's just when the client, once others happen slowly or
they will start to understand animage better.
I had told myself a series ofstories about my next career
transition when I was going toleave my corporate job.
(19:13):
I was going to have a plan.
I was going to stay three moreyears.
I couldn't just quit becauseI've got too much energy.
I'd go crazy and well-meaningpeople would say that.
And what I noticed in my ownjust playing with art practice
because I had started this yearsbefore is, um, I ended up with
a lot of catalogs.
I think it was during COVID thatthis had happened and my job
(19:35):
got very difficult and I we'rechecking the mail and still
getting things in the mail, yes,and I had all these windy,
foggy paths that I was collagingand I went back.
I didn't really know why, right, and I was sort of questioning
and knew my life just wasn'tfitting anymore.
(19:58):
I was feeling a lot of anger,quite honestly.
I kept thinking as I wasdrawing these little screaming
faces with my crayons and flames, and I'm thinking what has
happened to me?
How have I become such an angryperson?
You know I view myself as thispositive person, but when you're
just playing, it's amazing whatyou don't stuff down and what
(20:19):
comes out.
And I finally realized throughtime and this is why it can be
helpful to work with a coachthis was the discovery I made is
why it can be helpful to workwith a coach is I was this was
the discovery I made is I neededto sort of take that leap.
I needed to go on that windy,unclear path and be comfortable
with it.
Didn't mean I wasn't afraid yes, it didn't, but it was becoming
(20:41):
too hard to stay stuck Rightand that's an interesting moment
for people who are stuck.
There's a quote I used in mybook.
It's it's.
You know to paraphrase it,because I'm not remember the
exact thing.
It's like we don't bud untilit's too hard to stay stuck.
That it's how resistant humansare to to change, and so you're
(21:05):
trying to just find easier waysto get comfortable with change,
and I really work with clientson what's the smallest, smallest
thing you can do today.
You don't have to write anentire book.
Can you write for 10 minutesbadly?
I have a person who wants I'mworking with a person who wants
to write a book, but she insistson editing as she writes, and
(21:28):
that is the death of creativity,because you are both creator
and immediate judge and I'mreally working with her to do 10
minutes of bad writing andstick it in a folder and say my
intention is to actually writebadly, where you're telling
yourself I am giving my selfpermission.
(21:51):
I don't need an editor to writebadly, I don't need a judge,
I'm just going to spew.
I know it's not going to begood and then I'm just going to
save it in a folder and I'm onlygoing to do it for 10 minutes,
because that's going to feeluncomfortable and that's
actually the way a lot of peopleget stuff done, but it's so
hard to get out of our way,which is once again why I love
(22:13):
the title.
Yeah, yeah.
Cassandra (22:15):
So let me ask you, like my listeners that are stuck
and in the beginning I talkedabout, particularly this time
when people are losing theirjobs based on the administration
that we have here in the WhiteHouse and there's a lot of
ambiguity that's out there andpeople are just so on edge,
(22:37):
which they have a right to be.
You know, these are careers andyou know, you never think, I
would never think that thegovernment would lay people off
because that was unheard of.
Now that things have changed,you know, because that was
unheard of.
So, now that things havechanged, you know, and that can
be part of a grief, you know youlost your job, grieving like we
(22:57):
talked about infertility,paralyzed by fear.
So, my listeners listening toyou, so my listeners listening
to you, how would you walk themthrough?
I guess it would be the artjournaling in order to
transition.
And when you talked about thebud, it made me think about the
(23:19):
butterfly.
That was a worm, chrysalis,that's right.
And all of a sudden it becomesthis beautiful, it transforms,
and it just like wow, wow, isn'tthis amazing?
But just don't but think ofwhat they go through, why they
are worms, because I used to beafraid of them and I used to
also step on them.
I was very young then.
(23:40):
It wasn't that I was a cruelkid, but I was no, I was afraid
of them.
What can my listeners do as itrelates to art journaling, to
get them in the right side oftheir brain, like, how would you
navigate?
(24:00):
Or tell them, like, this is aworkshop, a mini little workshop
, and they're liking whatthey're hearing, but how do they
get started?
What would they do?
Susan (24:09):
So the first thing I would say is there's three
stages to any transition andunfortunately they're not linear
as much as we want them to belinear.
So there is the ending and youneed to.
If you have had a shock, youhave been laid off and you never
thought you would be laid off.
A relationship has ended,suddenly Something has happened
(24:31):
to you that is a shock.
You need to give yourself somespace, even if maybe you're
doing other things because ofeconomics, looking for a job, to
just grieve.
You can use art journaling toprocess that emotion, right.
Like I said, you can cry intoit, you can drop tears, it's
whatever you're seeing.
(24:52):
You can use it as a place toprocess, but it's very important
to honor when something hasended Okay and to spend some
time.
This is what we talk about insome of the life, if you will,
transformation coaching, becauseif you just try and get through
that, you carry the grief, theheaviness with you and it can
(25:15):
really zap your energy.
So there does need to be alittle bit of allowing yourself
to process.
Then there's this big messymiddle, and we hate the big
messy middle because we want toknow.
Right to the new thing, the newlife.
Unfortunately, in the messymiddle, you're going backwards,
you're going sideways, you dosort of two steps forward
(25:37):
because you don't know.
Right, if I'm going to keepusing your analogy or your
example of someone who'srecently lost their, their job
Right, what is the job market?
What do they want to do?
How do they even marketthemselves?
All the stories you're tellingyourself is this the time for a
career pivot?
Right, because there's allthese things you want to do.
(25:58):
You can be using playing withart and the art journal to
process these feelings andseeing what comes up.
Right, you can be askingyourself certain questions, like
one day you could work on, whatdid I love about my job and
career?
What am I happy to not doanymore?
What does this make possible?
(26:20):
Now, after you've done somegrieving In that messy middle,
which can go on for a long time,you're just looking for what I
call glimmers glimmers of hope,glimmers of joy, things that
light you up.
Yes, the what if that makes youfeel sort of giddy versus
(26:41):
afraid.
Right, the last stage is thenew beginning and although we
all want to get there, the newbeginning can come with some
surprises too.
It may not be quite what youthought.
It may be disorienting andremembering to give yourself a
lot of time.
So in your caterpillar tobutterfly analogy the old really
(27:02):
dissolves, and if you think ofwhat it would be like to
dissolve that old self and thenfight your way out of a cocoon
to fly, that's what's happeningin a major life transition.
It's why I do that coachingRight, and it's why art
journaling can sort of help youwork, work through it.
(27:23):
My I have a online course thatreally does sort of try and walk
people through that with aworkbook, the different stages,
because, as much as we want itto be over, that's how we grow
through those experiences.
Cassandra (27:37):
Right, yeah, yeah, and, as you indicated, like it's
a process that you can't reallydo by yourself.
You know you need someone tohelp and guide you through that
process, Because in artjournaling, do you have to?
It's like like always, likewhat is it Sip?
(27:59):
And art, like you know, you gosomewhere and but I'm like I
don't know how to draw, you know, so can they can be held back
because they're like I don'tknow what to do, I don't know
what to draw, so they just drawanything, just do anything.
Susan (28:15):
Yeah, so for art journaling.
Ideally people view it as yourwritten journal and it's
whatever you feel like.
So the exercise I have peoplestart with is just take two
crayons and find a song on theirphone three minutes, something
upbeat and just fill a smallsheet of paper, maybe five by
(28:36):
seven, just fill it.
So it's a constrained exercise.
You're just playing.
As a kid you played withcrayons and art.
You weren't always followingthings, you just.
Your favorite drawings were notthe drawings where you were in
a color book as a kid.
Cassandra (28:52):
Yes.
Susan (28:52):
They were you drawing whatever.
I have another exercise whereyou think of what you used to
love to draw.
I know it's a lot of women.
It's like hearts, rabbits,trees, house, and you do that
for four minutes.
You just think about what itwas as a kid that you loved to
draw.
If it was a shape, if it was asmiley face, if it was butterfly
(29:15):
wings right, yeah, a bird.
You learned something that wasreally simple.
What does it feel like for fourminutes just to draw that Again
on a page?
You can throw the page away,away.
You can be keeping it in a, ina book, so it's not so much.
What do I, uh, what am I goingto draw?
You can look at the page, sayhow do I feel today?
(29:37):
Maybe you're feeling really sad.
How do you want to express that?
It can be a sad face, it can bean eye.
I mean, it could be anything.
I'm just telling you some of thesymbols I use.
Or I've seen people use.
I've seen people use clouds, awet blanket, a stick figure
laying on the ground right Witha foot coming down right.
(30:00):
That's what's sort of creative,but a little bit it starts with
the.
I'm going to take 10 minutes.
How am I feeling?
Or, or sometimes it's like whatwould be fun to draw on a
cloudy day.
Sometimes I'll just draw a sunif I want to see the sun, right,
so it doesn't have to startmeaningful or deep.
It's that I want to just playfor a few minutes versus reading
(30:25):
the news?
I will tell you, yes, if you'vegot news on your phone, take
one of those times where youmight read it today, or scroll
on Instagram or whatever yoursocial media is, and draw, even
with just a pen, for fiveminutes Doodle something and
you'll feel a little bit lightera little bit lighter.
Cassandra (30:54):
Yeah, yeah it's.
It's kind of like, how does acurious?
Susan (30:56):
mindset be key to transition.
Difficult life transition, yeah, In a difficult in any life
transition, but the moredifficult when you feel like
your the rug has been ripped outfrom under you in my Like the
rug has been ripped out fromunder you.
In the certification program Itook on helping to coach people
through life transitions.
(31:16):
We call some of these like lifequakes.
It's one thing when we have onetransition, but sometimes we
end up with multiple.
A job could be lost.
We have to move.
Maybe a relationship has ended,Maybe you're having to leave
other people, and I just want tosay it felt like my life got
flushed down the toilet Right.
So when that is going on, right, it is important to mourn what
(31:40):
is lost, but the other side ofthat question is to also be
thinking about what is all of asudden made possible.
What wasn't ideal about thesesituations?
What does this allow me to donow, With people facing health
things?
Many times there is no upside.
I will be really clear.
(32:01):
But there is a question is whodo I want to be during this?
Sometimes people become freer,more open, more vulnerable.
How can I get through this withgrace?
Sometimes that's a verymotivating question when we are
in a situation where we feellike we have very little control
(32:24):
to think about what is in ourcontrol, to think about what is
in our control, which can bechoosing in a moment to read
some jokes, to ask for help.
So you know we've gone very,very broad.
But I think there is somethingimportant in transitions where
(32:46):
you're honoring what's beinglost and how jarring that is, as
well as starting to look, notwhen you're in your most sad
moment, but in a moment wherethere's a little bit of levity
or lightness about like huh,what positive thing is this
bringing up?
How can I follow that?
(33:07):
How can I add a little more ofthat to my life?
Cassandra (33:12):
Right.
So you're not saying, as soonas something happens, like the
job loss or the grief for, or um, you or, or, either you want to
get promoted, you're just sickof being in this job.
We're not to say that you doart right away because you like
(33:32):
what, you know.
That's just.
You know what.
What do you mean?
I just lost such and such.
I just lost my job.
But, like you said, I liked itwhen you said, when you have a
space like, okay, you know, ifyou go out there and you use
that right side of the brain, itmay free you up.
(33:53):
And then, as you are freed upand you use this, but you may
discover then you know what,Maybe I'll, Maybe I'll do some
art journaling.
You know it doesn't, becauseyou know I don't want listeners
to think, OK, right, I'm not inthe mood for this.
But and I always say, do youwant to get better?
(34:15):
You can either be better orbetter, Absolutely yeah.
You have to make a decisionbecause we have within ourselves
what it is that we can do.
We can't make anybody doanything.
So I just wanted to highlightthat, to say that you want to.
I mean, it's something insideyou want to, but maybe not right
(34:38):
then.
But it could be a time thatyou're like, okay, I'm ready now
I'm ready to get better.
Susan (34:44):
Absolutely.
It can also be, as a person whohas screamed alone in my car,
made myself hoarse, screaming,screamed into a pillow.
We need to release sometimesand finding healthy ways and
when I say healthy wayssometimes when we're overwhelmed
, times when we're overwhelmed,we can take it out on another
(35:12):
person or overburdened.
So that is also where, like Isaid, shooting flames, writing
whatever words feel good in adark color in an art journal
page and you can turn the page.
I think we need outlets atcertain times when we're
overwhelmed, so you can use artin that case for a safe space as
(35:32):
the energy builds in our bodywhen we're upset.
Finding a release.
Sometimes you know jumpingjacks and people say I just have
to run around the block, I justhave to scream, right, I try
and find things for anyone I'mworking with that helps them
feel empowered and doesn't dodamage to someone else, and it's
(35:53):
in trying to find a positiveway to express it.
That stays positive for you,right?
(36:14):
Which is why I like sometimesthat the screaming is hugely
cathartic, not at someone Cause.
The problem is when we release,when we unleash on someone,
then there's a guilt loop.
When you're alone, or screaminginto a pillow, you may scare If
you have a pet.
I have definitely scared mycats, but it didn't negatively
(36:38):
impact a family member, right.
Cassandra (36:42):
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, right .
Susan (36:43):
And it honored that I was feeling that upset.
Cassandra (36:48):
Exactly, exactly, and I like this perspective
creating your best life bymaking a mess, yeah, and because
and I'm so hung up, what youtalked about that right side and
that left side brain side andthat left side brain it's kind
of like it's good to loosen upif you can.
(37:11):
You know it's good to, and it'sokay to make a mess because we,
I know I'm I'm a perfectionist,you know I do everything, just
right, you know.
So if I do anything and it'sout of the line or whatever, I'm
like, oh my goodness, but whatyou're saying, it's okay, you
(37:33):
know, just scribble on a sheetof paper, get that side of your
brain to have a little more joyand fun, like a kid, like a
child.
You know the wonder that achild has is just amazing.
You know like wow, and we werelike oh, okay, but we were that
wow when we were younger, and soI like what you're talking
about is just the perspective,the simplicity and authenticity
(37:57):
of a child's perspective.
I think that's a wonder, wonder, wow.
So, susan, you have a call toaction that I'd like for you to
share with my listeners, whichis a quick starter guide.
Would you explain a quickstarter guide?
Susan (38:16):
for them.
Sure, sure do On my website,download it, it's free, it's
just one page.
And if any of this is intriguedand you think, okay, I sort of
from talk, I want to start artjournaling, it just sort of gets
you started on it.
Like I said, it's free, it'sjust on the website.
What I love about playing withart and art journaling is anyone
(38:37):
listening to this, as long asthey're not like actively
driving can find usually a pieceof like scrap paper and
something to doodle with, rightright down in a purse or in a
backpack somewhere and can play.
So it's a really low barrierthing.
So, yeah, on my website there'sa free guide to get you started
(38:57):
okay, and what's the uh?
Cassandra (39:00):
what's your website?
Susan (39:01):
it's just susan dash hensley and hensley's
h-e-n-s-l-e-ycom, so I tried tokeep it simple yeah, that is
simple, the simplicity of achildlike spirit.
Cassandra (39:13):
I love that, wow.
Well, is there anything thatyou else would like to share
with my listeners who have um,um, want to stop letting fear be
their, their guide and startnavigating change with
confidence and curiosity?
Susan (39:33):
Yeah, so if you think of the flip side of fear, it's not
necessarily bravery, it'scuriosity, I think.
And when you're in fear you'rethinking like what if I don't
want this to happen, I don'twant to happen.
When you flip that and you lookaround and it's like what's
possible, it can be verymotivating.
(39:57):
When we're in fear, we shrink.
Yes, right, when we are curious, it expands us.
We are curious, it expands usand I think that's what I'd like
to really leave your listenerswith is fear keeps us so small
and shrunken, whereas curiosityand you get to curiosity through
(40:17):
play, sometimes put on yourfavorite upbeat song and like
dance, in a few minutes youshake that off.
You feel so much more open thanwhen you're shrunken and sort
of pulled within your sideyourself because you're afraid.
So I like people to sort of usetheir body and try and just flip
, if only for a few minutes,because it's not dangerous for a
(40:39):
few minutes, just to do alittle bit of play.
Right, we all remember aschildren, to your point you're
talking about the awe and wonder.
We remember it, we feel it andyou tell yourself it's only for
two minutes.
Can I do this for two minutes,for three minutes?
And the answer is yes yes, Ilove that.
Cassandra (40:59):
So, listeners, we have heard susan hensley and I
know that many of you have heardsomething that has given you an
awe or a moment.
Think about that right side ofthe brain, that left side of the
brain and we're not saying thatthis will take everything away
(41:20):
immediately, based on thesemajor life changes, but yet to
know that it's all possible, andI want to thank Susan for her.
I'm calling this a differentmodality on how you transition
out of things for the better,and I'd like for you listeners
(41:40):
to share this podcast withsomeone that you know it will
bless.
Podcast with someone that youknow it will bless.
I am definitely going to dosome art journaling, because I'm
a journaler anyway, but it justtickles me to just scribble on
paper just for a couple minutessometimes, so that I can get out
of that the right side of theno, it's the left side of the
(42:02):
brain and I cause I'm in it toomuch and I need to start
enjoying life and I need tostart having more fun, just like
my listeners do as well.
So, again, susan, thank you somuch for your insight and, as I
share with my listeners, I'llsay God bless, if you like this
(42:22):
podcast that comes on everyWednesday one o'clock live.
Please like it and subscribe it, to subscribe to it and share
with your friends.
So for all of you I'll say Godbless.
Thanks again and bye for now.
Thanks again, susan, goodbye.
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