May 12, 2025 • 27 mins
Ever wondered how scribbling in a journal could transform your mental health? In this captivating conversation, Susan Hensley shares her remarkable journey from bullied TV journalist to transformational coach and author of "Art for Your Sanity: How to Manage Chaos and Unleash Joy."
Susan's story begins with anonymous notes left on her desk criticizing her on-air performance—a painful experience that could have derailed her dream career but instead taught her profound lessons about resilience. Through subsequent pivots including corporate HR leadership, living abroad in Hong Kong, and eventually discovering art journaling, Susan developed unique insights into navigating life's transitions with creativity and joy.
The heart of our discussion centers on how art journaling provides powerful mental health benefits without requiring artistic talent. "It's not about creating art to show anyone," Susan explains, "it's about using art to process our lives." When we engage in creative play—even for just minutes a day—our brains shift from analytical left-brain thinking to intuitive right-brain flow, increasing dopamine and serotonin while providing a safe space to process complex emotions.
What makes Susan's approach particularly valuable is its accessibility. Using inexpensive supplies and just 10 minutes daily, anyone can tap into this powerful practice. She explains how art helps us embrace duality—holding contradictory emotions simultaneously—and breaks down the brain science explaining why creative expression significantly reduces stress and anxiety.
Whether you're facing a major life transition, struggling with perfectionism, or simply seeking more joy in your daily routine, Susan's insights offer a refreshing perspective on using creativity as a path to wellness. Her challenge to listeners? Spend just three minutes today doing something playful—dance, sing off-key, scribble, or collect leaves—and notice how it changes your emotional state.
Ready to unleash your creativity and transform your mental wellbeing? Listen now and discover how art journaling might be the unexpected solution you've been seeking.
www.susan-hensley.com
Want to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Living the Dream Podcast with
Curveball, if you believe youcan achieve.
Welcome to the Living the Dreamwith Curveball Podcast, a show
where I interview guests thatteach, motivate and inspire.
(00:24):
Today, I am joined bytransformational coach motivate
and inspire.
Today, I am joined bytransformational coach author
and speaker, susan Henley.
Susan is dedicated to helpingpeople navigate life's
transitions with joy, creativityand resilience.
Susan has decades of experienceas a corporate executive and
(00:47):
leadership coach.
So we're going to be talking toSusan about everything that
she's up to, why she does whatshe does and what she's going to
be up to.
So, susan, thank you so muchfor joining me.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Oh, thank you for having me.
I'm really looking forward tothis conversation.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Why don't you start off by telling everybody a
little bit about yourself?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
telling everybody a little bit about yourself.
Sure, well, I've gone through alot of big pivots in my life
career-wise personally and Ithink most people by the time
you get to a certain age havehad to but I've tried to really
study and figure out what'shelped me get through them right
, and so I'm really focusing nowon trying to help people get
through transitions right.
(01:26):
That's why I'm really focusingnow on trying to help people get
through transitions right.
I had a first career as a TVjournalist, then big struggle
with infertility, then a sharpturn to working in HR and a
stint living in Hong Kong.
Then discovered art journalingand wrote a book and teach art
journaling workshops as a way ofgetting in touch with yourself.
(01:47):
So a lot of different paths.
All that build on each other, Iguess, is how I view it.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, talk about your stint as a TV journalist.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Sure.
So you know that's.
In sixth grade I won an essaycontest for the county I was
living in and in sixth grade Igot a $200 savings bond US
savings bond in my picture inthe local paper.
And then, like what happenswith kids, it's like, wow, I
(02:22):
want to be a writer, ajournalist.
And so in sixth grade I wassort of bit by that bug and I
stayed really focused on it andmanaged to get, you know, a
first job in televisionjournalism when I was you know
(02:44):
22.
It's what all my schooling wasfor.
But then I was bullied.
There was a crazy workplacebullying.
I used to get anonymous notesin my desk when I would come in.
I got promoted really quicklyand I ended up being a main
anchor in a small town in anarea of the country where I
didn't grow up and I waslearning, but I wasn't learning
(03:06):
fast enough.
I was making some mistakes onair and someone in the newsroom
I mean, this is I'm talking 30plus years ago now and I still
don't know who these bullieswere I would get these anonymous
notes telling me to go home andoutlining every single mistake.
And it was a really horribleperiod because I thought, oh my
(03:28):
gosh.
You know, my dream, something Ihad wanted to do since sixth
grade was going to, you know,die within a few weeks of
getting this job and it didn't.
I learned a lot about myself,about leadership, about how to
handle adversity, but I, youknow, I talk about it all these
(03:48):
years later and I still feelsort of the shock and horror and
shame of getting in and openingthat drawer and seeing those
anonymous notes.
You know, day, day after day,and I think you know when we
talk about big, pivotal moments.
That was a big one because Ihad to grow up a lot and figure
(04:09):
out some things during thatperiod so that I then went on to
other TV stations and biggerjobs and there's a whole lot
wrapped in that story.
But as I think, of the 11 yearsI spent working as a television
reporter and anchor andproducer, that of all the
(04:32):
stories is the one that reallysticks out because it formed
everything else I do.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Well, you also lived in Hong Kong, so talk to the
listeners about you.
Know why you were over thereand what it was like to live
abroad.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, so that was as recently as 10 years ago.
I had switched careers after wehad our son I mentioned.
There were several years ofstruggling with infertility and
I was working for a globalcompany at the time and my son
loved to travel.
He used to come on someinternational business trips
(05:11):
with me as we could, and I'm apassionate traveler.
And this opportunity came up inHong Kong with the same company
, but it was a big stretch.
It was more about working infinance and operations and I was
really have spent most of mytime in working in, you know, HR
and training and strategy.
(05:32):
But we thought opportunitiesdon't like this don't come along
very often, right, I try andseize opportunities that are
unique and that come in a wayyou weren't expecting.
I think that's really importantin my coaching practice to have
people really think about whyis this opportunity presenting
(05:53):
itself and what does it mean.
And you know I learned so muchduring that time about working
across multiple cultures, Quitehonestly, what it's like to be
the only one in an office whodoesn't speak the language of
origin.
I joke that a typhoon was comingthrough town and although the
(06:15):
whole staff was talking about it, they were talking about it in
Cantonese and I hadn't watchedthe weather that morning.
It wasn't particularly stormyout and there had been alerts
going out that everyone had toevacuate buildings and go home
because they were going to shutdown public transit and shut
down the roads.
I mean, it's a greatpreparation system, but think of
(06:37):
being in the US and likemissing that maybe a hurricane's
coming right, and all thepreparation.
And finally someone asked me ifI was going to shut the office
and I said, well, right, and allthe preparation.
And finally someone asked me ifI was going to shut the office
and I said, well, why?
And they said, well, typhoon iscoming.
And I'll tell you how humblingthat was.
Because they assumed I knew andthey, because I was the leader
(06:59):
in the office, that I justwasn't sending them home, that I
wanted people to keep workingand that I was willing to, you
know, put the business over oursafety.
And it was so interesting thelesson about not making
assumptions and how you talk topeople when you don't know
what's going on, because we getsort of afraid to ask questions
(07:22):
when we're confused or whenwe're an outsider.
So I learned a huge amountliving in Hong Kong and we
traveled tons, so lots of great,great experiences.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Okay, Well, talk to the listeners about art
journaling.
Explain what art journaling is,why you decided to get into it
and how it helps with life'stransitions had a terrific side
(08:01):
hustle as an artist.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
She's a terrific artist and you know a few of us
are standing around, you know,having coffee, and saying we
can't draw at all, and she'slike, well, it's not really
about drawing, you know it's.
But come over to my house on aSaturday for a couple hours and
I'll teach you guys a few basics.
So we go over there's only, youknow, four of us and it's a
rainy Saturday and she'steaching the other couple people
about the color wheel and I'min the corner.
(08:22):
She's given us some paints andI am just playing with paint and
I feel like my innerfive-year-old artist has come
alive.
I am free and I'm making a mess, right, and it's this big brown
splotch.
But one thing I've learnedthrough all the years and my
coaching, training and workingwith lots of people, executives
(08:45):
and just people on their careersand in life transitions, is
when something really excitesyou, when something makes you
curious, when something lightsyou up, right, pay attention,
just spend a little bit of time.
And I didn't leave her housethat day thinking, oh, I'm going
to be an artist.
But what I did realize is Icould use an outlet that felt
(09:08):
really playful and creative andwe still had some crayons and
things like that at our houseand so I just started playing a
few minutes a day scribbling,doodling with, with crayons,
with the stuff I loved as a kid,with some watercolors, I got a
glue stick and tore up some youknow, catalogs and magazines and
(09:30):
collage.
So I was just playing along andI did this for four years just
because, quite honestly, it wasfun and I noticed it was an.
It was sort of an outlet for meand pandemic hit and work was
crazy.
We're all trapped inside lots ofanxiety and I really sort of if
I say double down on thepractices, I started to pay a
(09:51):
lot more attention to how muchstress relief I got during it
and how it was such a safe placeto process difficult emotions,
like I would draw a littlescreaming face on days I was
frustrated or angry, orlightning bolts or whatever it
was.
And there it is on this pageversus you know me taking it out
(10:12):
on anyone or you know having abad habit.
You can literally flip orfiguratively.
You just flip the page and theemotion's there and safe and
you've processed it.
And after doing it for a numberof years, I just got more and
more curious about the brainscience of it, the mental health
benefits.
(10:33):
And it's not about creating artto show anyone right, it's
about using art to process ourlives and I realized I was
talking a lot about it andsharing it with people, with
people I worked with withcoaching clients that eventually
(10:53):
I wrote a book and created someonline training and do
workshops because it's a reallyaccessible tool right, you can
do it like 10 minutes a day.
I have people buy the mostinexpensive supplies they can
find because if we use fancystuff, our inner critic really
gets going and it's amazing theoutlet it provides people and
(11:17):
really can help people processdifficult things going on in
their lives.
It's helped me and it's helpeda number of clients through the
years.
So I stumbled into it and foundI really, really loved it and
there were some terrificbenefits to it.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Okay, well, speaking of your book, tell the listeners
about your book.
Tell us what we can expect whenwe read it, and you know what
we can pick it up and why youdecide to write it sure.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
So the book's called art, for your sanity, and the
subtitle is how to manage chaosand unleash joy, and you can get
it wherever you you buy books.
It's available online.
You can buy an e-version frommy website.
It's in bookstores Most of thetime.
You have to order it and it'san easy short book.
(12:09):
But it's got really threesegments.
One is my personal journey,what it sort of did for me.
The next component of it isreally how to get started,
because people have lots ofquestions and my website has a
free downloadable guide of howto get started.
And the third part is reallywhat's happening in our brains.
Why does this work right?
(12:30):
What are the mental health andphysical well-being benefits
when we move from the left sideof our brain that really
analytical move from the leftside of our brain, that really
analytical, logical side of ourbrain, sort of the judgmental
side over to the right side,which is much more holistic,
intuitive, connected andrelaxing.
(12:58):
Because that's what's happening, and I'm not a brain scientist,
but there's a lot of reallygreat work that I was able to
distill so that you understandwhy you're feeling the way you
do while you create and play.
So that's a little bit how Idesigned the book some videos of
different exercises to getpeople started.
(13:20):
Because the biggest battle weall face is that inner sort of
critic creeping in or tellingourselves we should be an artist
.
And I really like for people totap into play.
And if you tap into play,that's where creativity lives.
You're following your curiosityand you keep doing that and it
(13:41):
really leads you, you know, toyour inner wisdom, to your
authentic self, and it doesn'tfeel heavy or burdened.
It's a real source of of joyand that's why I felt so
important in working withcompany that published my book,
that the part of the title is,you know, unleashing Joy.
(14:04):
It's art for your sanity andunleashing joy.
So it's not about becoming anartist.
I tell everyone that it'sreally about tapping into your
authentic self.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So what are the most common misconceptions about
creativity you address in yourbook?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah.
So the first one is that mostof us are told by about age
eight or nine that somehow wearen't creative right, we've
been rewarded for something elseor we get compared.
It's hard to know.
And that creativity we're allcreative by our nature, but to
(14:42):
access creativity as an adult,we really want to tap into
something that feels like playand fun.
That if we want to stop tellingourselves that story.
I joke that creativity isnothing more than a little bit
of play with a little bit ofcuriosity.
Like what happens if I mix, youknow, yellow and blue.
(15:07):
You may think you know it makesgreen, but what does it really
look like?
What does it feel like?
What is it like to draw as anadult?
What I used to love to drawwhen I was five or six, even if
it's just a tree or a heart, tolet yourself play really fuels
that creativity that's in all ofus.
(15:29):
And then it's like why doesthis feel so good?
And it's like well, I'm notjudging myself, I'm not just
scrolling through my phonebecause we all have some time.
I'll tell you I scroll likeanyone else or play games or do
that, but if I repurpose justone, say, five or 10 minute
session of like phone numbingout with something like drawing,
(15:53):
coloring, collaging boy, do Ifeel more present, more relaxed
and better.
So I try and make a reallystrong case for creativity
versus just like passivelytaking things in.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Okay, well, you also talk about the concept of
duality, working with color inyour books, so explain that to
listeners.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, one thing that I originally struggled with and
then I've seen clients is how wecan feel not just two things at
once, but many things, andthat's sort of what the duality
is.
You know, one of the bestdescriptions I can give that
people can relate to is likewatching a loved one have a
(16:40):
milestone.
So, say, if you have a child,watching them graduate from high
school, you can be really happyand proud of them and sad at
the same time.
Right, we use the phrase a lotbittersweet, right.
That's duality, that both ofthose things can be true.
What happens a lot is we don'tlike to have, because it's
(17:00):
uncomfortable to have what soundlike they're conflicting
feelings happening at the sametime.
And when you're playing withcolor or with art, you actually
realize what makes the mostinteresting pictures or what
feels like the best release isthat sort of contrast, almost of
(17:23):
color, that multiple things canbe happening when you're
scribbling or painting orcollaging on the page, and it's
all okay and it really helps uswith our emotions recognizing
it's okay to feel grateful andto appreciate what you have and
to feel very frustrated ordesirous of something else or
(17:46):
unsatisfied, right.
Too often in our society wewant things to just be one way,
and I think playing with art orI know playing with art and
color in this way helps us bemuch more accepting of all the
nuance out there.
I joke that it's all the colors, right, we need all the colors
to, you know, really set offeach other.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
So let's talk about journaling and mental health.
What are the main benefits youknow in regards to mental health
when?
It comes to our journaling.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah.
So the first one is relaxationand stress reduction.
And what's happening in yourbrain when you are playing with
art is it's increasing thosedopamine and serotonin levels
that we hear a lot about, thatsome of the pharmaceuticals have
, because you've moved to thatright side of the brain.
(18:45):
You're doing something playful,something creative.
So that's the first, the nextand that's what helps release
stress.
The other thing that helpsrelease stress about it is
actively engaging your eyes,your hands, the feel of the
paper you could be doing thiswith clay right, your hands, the
(19:06):
feel of the paper.
You could be doing this withclay right.
When we get our bodies in on itand we're focused just on
creating right, stress levels godown, the helpful hormone
levels go up.
And then the third real benefitis it can help us really
process very difficult emotions.
They've used a lot ofresearchers and psychotherapists
(19:27):
have used a lot of art therapy,both with children and, in many
cases, with people experiencingPTSD.
And there's a reason for thatbecause it allows you to process
things that we don't have wordsfor.
If you think of how often maybeyou're seeing someone be
interviewed on the news after adisaster or something and they
(19:49):
say I don't have words.
We're experiencing emotions andthoughts and feelings that we
don't have the right language.
But by playing with color andI'm talking, you know scribbling
, collaging.
I'm not talking about drawing aperfect bowl of fruit, I'm
talking about expressingyourself it really helps give
(20:09):
voice and a place for processingemotions more quickly and in a
way that feels safe.
So three main benefits of artfor mental health right, stress
reduction, an increase indopamine hits and serotonin
levels, and then really a way toprocess difficult emotions.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Well, in your book you explain how adult play plays
such a crucial role increativity, so go through that
for the listeners.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, it's sort of sad being an adult.
We get busy, right, and wethink we've outgrown play.
Play is something kids do.
We don't have time for play orif we have some time, we need to
zone out right, we need tobinge on Netflix or game or
whatever it is, and we sort ofput play at the bottom.
But play is really what unlockscreativity.
(21:07):
It's a terrific place to start.
You know, you may hear yourfavorite musician talk about
they were just playing one daywith some chords or some notes
or some lyrics.
I mean, you hear reallycreative people talk about how
they were just messing aroundand an idea came.
Now I'm not saying people arereading the book or myself are
(21:30):
going to come up with a sort ofa game changing either invention
or piece of art, but so muchcreativity and innovation is
really born through that playfulcuriosity, like what happens if
Tell us about any upcomingprojects that you're working on
(21:51):
that people need to know about.
Sure, Well, I have a TED Talkcoming out and it'll be out
sometime this summer.
I've been doing a couple talksabout the place of creativity
and how art journaling can helpwith, you know, battling
perfectionism, as well aslinking some of this to
(22:13):
leadership and how we lead teams.
So I'm looking forward to that.
Got a few speaking engagementsand starting just starting to
work on uh next, next book okay,so listeners can keep up with
everything that you're up to.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Go out your contact info sure easiest.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Easiest way is just my website, which is susan dash,
hensley, h-e-n-s-l-e-ycom, andasi said there's a free
downloadable pdf on how to getstarted art journaling.
There's some videos with someexercises, book information,
online course and I answer anyemail.
(22:54):
So if you have a question justhit the contact button and I get
back to folks.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Speaking of that online course.
Tell listeners about thatonline course.
What can we expect if we decideto take it?
Speaker 2 (23:24):
the exercises with you, and then there's a workbook
to analyze different things.
So in the six, seven modules init, right, we start with what
does play feel like and whereare your creative blocks to,
what are some of the emotionsthat you're feeling coming up,
to how to tap into your innerwisdom and figure out what's
next in your life, and there's aworkbook that helps people go
(23:46):
through all of that.
Yeah, it's funny because yourealize, with the online
training and me demonstratingthings, I could go a lot deeper
in some ways than I could evenin the book.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Okay, well, go at your website one more time and
close us out with some finalthoughts.
Maybe, if that was something Iforgot to talk about, that you
would like to touch on, or anyfinal thoughts you have for the
listeners.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Sure, so the website's just susan-hensleycom,
and really, the final thought Iwant to leave people with is no
matter what it is, is you'relistening to this.
There's a challenge here to dosomething playful for three
(24:31):
minutes today.
Right, find a song, maybe onyour phone, and maybe dance,
sing off key scribble, go out,collect some leaves or rocks.
Just give yourself nothing morethan three minutes and just
inject a little bit of sort ofplay in your day and then see
how you feel.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Absolutely.
Ladies and gentlemen, please besure to visit susan-hensleycom
to check out everything thatSusan's up to Susan-Hensleycom,
to check out everything thatSusan's up to her online courses
, her book, and keep up witheverything that she's up to
Follow rate review.
Share this episode to as manypeople as possible, especially
(25:15):
those that love creativity.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast app.
Visit wwwcurveball337.com formore information on the Living
the Dream with Curveball podcast.
Thank you for listening andsupporting the show and, susan,
thank you for all that you do tohelp us navigate life's
transformations and thank youfor joining me.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Oh, thank you so much for having me.
You have a great day.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
For more information on the Living the Dream with
Curveball podcast.
For more information on theLiving the Dream with Curveball
podcast, visitwwwcurveball337.com.
Until next time, keep livingthe dream.
Welcome to the Living the Dream Podcast with
Curveball, if you believe youcan achieve.
Welcome to the Living the Dreamwith Curveball Podcast, a show
where I interview guests thatteach, motivate and inspire.
(00:24):
Today, I am joined bytransformational coach motivate
and inspire.
Today, I am joined bytransformational coach author
and speaker, susan Henley.
Susan is dedicated to helpingpeople navigate life's
transitions with joy, creativityand resilience.
Susan has decades of experienceas a corporate executive and
(00:47):
leadership coach.
So we're going to be talking toSusan about everything that
she's up to, why she does whatshe does and what she's going to
be up to.
So, susan, thank you so muchfor joining me.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Oh, thank you for having me.
I'm really looking forward tothis conversation.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Why don't you start off by telling everybody a
little bit about yourself?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
telling everybody a little bit about yourself.
Sure, well, I've gone through alot of big pivots in my life
career-wise personally and Ithink most people by the time
you get to a certain age havehad to but I've tried to really
study and figure out what'shelped me get through them right
, and so I'm really focusing nowon trying to help people get
through transitions right.
(01:26):
That's why I'm really focusingnow on trying to help people get
through transitions right.
I had a first career as a TVjournalist, then big struggle
with infertility, then a sharpturn to working in HR and a
stint living in Hong Kong.
Then discovered art journalingand wrote a book and teach art
journaling workshops as a way ofgetting in touch with yourself.
(01:47):
So a lot of different paths.
All that build on each other, Iguess, is how I view it.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, talk about your stint as a TV journalist.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Sure.
So you know that's.
In sixth grade I won an essaycontest for the county I was
living in and in sixth grade Igot a $200 savings bond US
savings bond in my picture inthe local paper.
And then, like what happenswith kids, it's like, wow, I
(02:22):
want to be a writer, ajournalist.
And so in sixth grade I wassort of bit by that bug and I
stayed really focused on it andmanaged to get, you know, a
first job in televisionjournalism when I was you know
(02:44):
22.
It's what all my schooling wasfor.
But then I was bullied.
There was a crazy workplacebullying.
I used to get anonymous notesin my desk when I would come in.
I got promoted really quicklyand I ended up being a main
anchor in a small town in anarea of the country where I
didn't grow up and I waslearning, but I wasn't learning
(03:06):
fast enough.
I was making some mistakes onair and someone in the newsroom
I mean, this is I'm talking 30plus years ago now and I still
don't know who these bullieswere I would get these anonymous
notes telling me to go home andoutlining every single mistake.
And it was a really horribleperiod because I thought, oh my
(03:28):
gosh.
You know, my dream, something Ihad wanted to do since sixth
grade was going to, you know,die within a few weeks of
getting this job and it didn't.
I learned a lot about myself,about leadership, about how to
handle adversity, but I, youknow, I talk about it all these
(03:48):
years later and I still feelsort of the shock and horror and
shame of getting in and openingthat drawer and seeing those
anonymous notes.
You know, day, day after day,and I think you know when we
talk about big, pivotal moments.
That was a big one because Ihad to grow up a lot and figure
(04:09):
out some things during thatperiod so that I then went on to
other TV stations and biggerjobs and there's a whole lot
wrapped in that story.
But as I think, of the 11 yearsI spent working as a television
reporter and anchor andproducer, that of all the
(04:32):
stories is the one that reallysticks out because it formed
everything else I do.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Well, you also lived in Hong Kong, so talk to the
listeners about you.
Know why you were over thereand what it was like to live
abroad.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, so that was as recently as 10 years ago.
I had switched careers after wehad our son I mentioned.
There were several years ofstruggling with infertility and
I was working for a globalcompany at the time and my son
loved to travel.
He used to come on someinternational business trips
(05:11):
with me as we could, and I'm apassionate traveler.
And this opportunity came up inHong Kong with the same company
, but it was a big stretch.
It was more about working infinance and operations and I was
really have spent most of mytime in working in, you know, HR
and training and strategy.
(05:32):
But we thought opportunitiesdon't like this don't come along
very often, right, I try andseize opportunities that are
unique and that come in a wayyou weren't expecting.
I think that's really importantin my coaching practice to have
people really think about whyis this opportunity presenting
(05:53):
itself and what does it mean.
And you know I learned so muchduring that time about working
across multiple cultures, Quitehonestly, what it's like to be
the only one in an office whodoesn't speak the language of
origin.
I joke that a typhoon was comingthrough town and although the
(06:15):
whole staff was talking about it, they were talking about it in
Cantonese and I hadn't watchedthe weather that morning.
It wasn't particularly stormyout and there had been alerts
going out that everyone had toevacuate buildings and go home
because they were going to shutdown public transit and shut
down the roads.
I mean, it's a greatpreparation system, but think of
(06:37):
being in the US and likemissing that maybe a hurricane's
coming right, and all thepreparation.
And finally someone asked me ifI was going to shut the office
and I said, well, right, and allthe preparation.
And finally someone asked me ifI was going to shut the office
and I said, well, why?
And they said, well, typhoon iscoming.
And I'll tell you how humblingthat was.
Because they assumed I knew andthey, because I was the leader
(06:59):
in the office, that I justwasn't sending them home, that I
wanted people to keep workingand that I was willing to, you
know, put the business over oursafety.
And it was so interesting thelesson about not making
assumptions and how you talk topeople when you don't know
what's going on, because we getsort of afraid to ask questions
(07:22):
when we're confused or whenwe're an outsider.
So I learned a huge amountliving in Hong Kong and we
traveled tons, so lots of great,great experiences.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Okay, Well, talk to the listeners about art
journaling.
Explain what art journaling is,why you decided to get into it
and how it helps with life'stransitions had a terrific side
(08:01):
hustle as an artist.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
She's a terrific artist and you know a few of us
are standing around, you know,having coffee, and saying we
can't draw at all, and she'slike, well, it's not really
about drawing, you know it's.
But come over to my house on aSaturday for a couple hours and
I'll teach you guys a few basics.
So we go over there's only, youknow, four of us and it's a
rainy Saturday and she'steaching the other couple people
about the color wheel and I'min the corner.
(08:22):
She's given us some paints andI am just playing with paint and
I feel like my innerfive-year-old artist has come
alive.
I am free and I'm making a mess, right, and it's this big brown
splotch.
But one thing I've learnedthrough all the years and my
coaching, training and workingwith lots of people, executives
(08:45):
and just people on their careersand in life transitions, is
when something really excitesyou, when something makes you
curious, when something lightsyou up, right, pay attention,
just spend a little bit of time.
And I didn't leave her housethat day thinking, oh, I'm going
to be an artist.
But what I did realize is Icould use an outlet that felt
(09:08):
really playful and creative andwe still had some crayons and
things like that at our houseand so I just started playing a
few minutes a day scribbling,doodling with, with crayons,
with the stuff I loved as a kid,with some watercolors, I got a
glue stick and tore up some youknow, catalogs and magazines and
(09:30):
collage.
So I was just playing along andI did this for four years just
because, quite honestly, it wasfun and I noticed it was an.
It was sort of an outlet for meand pandemic hit and work was
crazy.
We're all trapped inside lots ofanxiety and I really sort of if
I say double down on thepractices, I started to pay a
(09:51):
lot more attention to how muchstress relief I got during it
and how it was such a safe placeto process difficult emotions,
like I would draw a littlescreaming face on days I was
frustrated or angry, orlightning bolts or whatever it
was.
And there it is on this pageversus you know me taking it out
(10:12):
on anyone or you know having abad habit.
You can literally flip orfiguratively.
You just flip the page and theemotion's there and safe and
you've processed it.
And after doing it for a numberof years, I just got more and
more curious about the brainscience of it, the mental health
benefits.
(10:33):
And it's not about creating artto show anyone right, it's
about using art to process ourlives and I realized I was
talking a lot about it andsharing it with people, with
people I worked with withcoaching clients that eventually
(10:53):
I wrote a book and created someonline training and do
workshops because it's a reallyaccessible tool right, you can
do it like 10 minutes a day.
I have people buy the mostinexpensive supplies they can
find because if we use fancystuff, our inner critic really
gets going and it's amazing theoutlet it provides people and
(11:17):
really can help people processdifficult things going on in
their lives.
It's helped me and it's helpeda number of clients through the
years.
So I stumbled into it and foundI really, really loved it and
there were some terrificbenefits to it.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Okay, well, speaking of your book, tell the listeners
about your book.
Tell us what we can expect whenwe read it, and you know what
we can pick it up and why youdecide to write it sure.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
So the book's called art, for your sanity, and the
subtitle is how to manage chaosand unleash joy, and you can get
it wherever you you buy books.
It's available online.
You can buy an e-version frommy website.
It's in bookstores Most of thetime.
You have to order it and it'san easy short book.
(12:09):
But it's got really threesegments.
One is my personal journey,what it sort of did for me.
The next component of it isreally how to get started,
because people have lots ofquestions and my website has a
free downloadable guide of howto get started.
And the third part is reallywhat's happening in our brains.
Why does this work right?
(12:30):
What are the mental health andphysical well-being benefits
when we move from the left sideof our brain that really
analytical move from the leftside of our brain, that really
analytical, logical side of ourbrain, sort of the judgmental
side over to the right side,which is much more holistic,
intuitive, connected andrelaxing.
(12:58):
Because that's what's happening, and I'm not a brain scientist,
but there's a lot of reallygreat work that I was able to
distill so that you understandwhy you're feeling the way you
do while you create and play.
So that's a little bit how Idesigned the book some videos of
different exercises to getpeople started.
(13:20):
Because the biggest battle weall face is that inner sort of
critic creeping in or tellingourselves we should be an artist
.
And I really like for people totap into play.
And if you tap into play,that's where creativity lives.
You're following your curiosityand you keep doing that and it
(13:41):
really leads you, you know, toyour inner wisdom, to your
authentic self, and it doesn'tfeel heavy or burdened.
It's a real source of of joyand that's why I felt so
important in working withcompany that published my book,
that the part of the title is,you know, unleashing Joy.
(14:04):
It's art for your sanity andunleashing joy.
So it's not about becoming anartist.
I tell everyone that it'sreally about tapping into your
authentic self.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So what are the most common misconceptions about
creativity you address in yourbook?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah.
So the first one is that mostof us are told by about age
eight or nine that somehow wearen't creative right, we've
been rewarded for something elseor we get compared.
It's hard to know.
And that creativity we're allcreative by our nature, but to
(14:42):
access creativity as an adult,we really want to tap into
something that feels like playand fun.
That if we want to stop tellingourselves that story.
I joke that creativity isnothing more than a little bit
of play with a little bit ofcuriosity.
Like what happens if I mix, youknow, yellow and blue.
(15:07):
You may think you know it makesgreen, but what does it really
look like?
What does it feel like?
What is it like to draw as anadult?
What I used to love to drawwhen I was five or six, even if
it's just a tree or a heart, tolet yourself play really fuels
that creativity that's in all ofus.
(15:29):
And then it's like why doesthis feel so good?
And it's like well, I'm notjudging myself, I'm not just
scrolling through my phonebecause we all have some time.
I'll tell you I scroll likeanyone else or play games or do
that, but if I repurpose justone, say, five or 10 minute
session of like phone numbingout with something like drawing,
(15:53):
coloring, collaging boy, do Ifeel more present, more relaxed
and better.
So I try and make a reallystrong case for creativity
versus just like passivelytaking things in.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Okay, well, you also talk about the concept of
duality, working with color inyour books, so explain that to
listeners.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, one thing that I originally struggled with and
then I've seen clients is how wecan feel not just two things at
once, but many things, andthat's sort of what the duality
is.
You know, one of the bestdescriptions I can give that
people can relate to is likewatching a loved one have a
(16:40):
milestone.
So, say, if you have a child,watching them graduate from high
school, you can be really happyand proud of them and sad at
the same time.
Right, we use the phrase a lotbittersweet, right.
That's duality, that both ofthose things can be true.
What happens a lot is we don'tlike to have, because it's
(17:00):
uncomfortable to have what soundlike they're conflicting
feelings happening at the sametime.
And when you're playing withcolor or with art, you actually
realize what makes the mostinteresting pictures or what
feels like the best release isthat sort of contrast, almost of
(17:23):
color, that multiple things canbe happening when you're
scribbling or painting orcollaging on the page, and it's
all okay and it really helps uswith our emotions recognizing
it's okay to feel grateful andto appreciate what you have and
to feel very frustrated ordesirous of something else or
(17:46):
unsatisfied, right.
Too often in our society wewant things to just be one way,
and I think playing with art orI know playing with art and
color in this way helps us bemuch more accepting of all the
nuance out there.
I joke that it's all the colors, right, we need all the colors
to, you know, really set offeach other.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
So let's talk about journaling and mental health.
What are the main benefits youknow in regards to mental health
when?
It comes to our journaling.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah.
So the first one is relaxationand stress reduction.
And what's happening in yourbrain when you are playing with
art is it's increasing thosedopamine and serotonin levels
that we hear a lot about, thatsome of the pharmaceuticals have
, because you've moved to thatright side of the brain.
(18:45):
You're doing something playful,something creative.
So that's the first, the nextand that's what helps release
stress.
The other thing that helpsrelease stress about it is
actively engaging your eyes,your hands, the feel of the
paper you could be doing thiswith clay right, your hands, the
(19:06):
feel of the paper.
You could be doing this withclay right.
When we get our bodies in on itand we're focused just on
creating right, stress levels godown, the helpful hormone
levels go up.
And then the third real benefitis it can help us really
process very difficult emotions.
They've used a lot ofresearchers and psychotherapists
(19:27):
have used a lot of art therapy,both with children and, in many
cases, with people experiencingPTSD.
And there's a reason for thatbecause it allows you to process
things that we don't have wordsfor.
If you think of how often maybeyou're seeing someone be
interviewed on the news after adisaster or something and they
(19:49):
say I don't have words.
We're experiencing emotions andthoughts and feelings that we
don't have the right language.
But by playing with color andI'm talking, you know scribbling
, collaging.
I'm not talking about drawing aperfect bowl of fruit, I'm
talking about expressingyourself it really helps give
(20:09):
voice and a place for processingemotions more quickly and in a
way that feels safe.
So three main benefits of artfor mental health right, stress
reduction, an increase indopamine hits and serotonin
levels, and then really a way toprocess difficult emotions.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Well, in your book you explain how adult play plays
such a crucial role increativity, so go through that
for the listeners.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, it's sort of sad being an adult.
We get busy, right, and wethink we've outgrown play.
Play is something kids do.
We don't have time for play orif we have some time, we need to
zone out right, we need tobinge on Netflix or game or
whatever it is, and we sort ofput play at the bottom.
But play is really what unlockscreativity.
(21:07):
It's a terrific place to start.
You know, you may hear yourfavorite musician talk about
they were just playing one daywith some chords or some notes
or some lyrics.
I mean, you hear reallycreative people talk about how
they were just messing aroundand an idea came.
Now I'm not saying people arereading the book or myself are
(21:30):
going to come up with a sort ofa game changing either invention
or piece of art, but so muchcreativity and innovation is
really born through that playfulcuriosity, like what happens if
Tell us about any upcomingprojects that you're working on
(21:51):
that people need to know about.
Sure, Well, I have a TED Talkcoming out and it'll be out
sometime this summer.
I've been doing a couple talksabout the place of creativity
and how art journaling can helpwith, you know, battling
perfectionism, as well aslinking some of this to
(22:13):
leadership and how we lead teams.
So I'm looking forward to that.
Got a few speaking engagementsand starting just starting to
work on uh next, next book okay,so listeners can keep up with
everything that you're up to.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Go out your contact info sure easiest.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Easiest way is just my website, which is susan dash,
hensley, h-e-n-s-l-e-ycom, andasi said there's a free
downloadable pdf on how to getstarted art journaling.
There's some videos with someexercises, book information,
online course and I answer anyemail.
(22:54):
So if you have a question justhit the contact button and I get
back to folks.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Speaking of that online course.
Tell listeners about thatonline course.
What can we expect if we decideto take it?
Speaker 2 (23:24):
the exercises with you, and then there's a workbook
to analyze different things.
So in the six, seven modules init, right, we start with what
does play feel like and whereare your creative blocks to,
what are some of the emotionsthat you're feeling coming up,
to how to tap into your innerwisdom and figure out what's
next in your life, and there's aworkbook that helps people go
(23:46):
through all of that.
Yeah, it's funny because yourealize, with the online
training and me demonstratingthings, I could go a lot deeper
in some ways than I could evenin the book.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Okay, well, go at your website one more time and
close us out with some finalthoughts.
Maybe, if that was something Iforgot to talk about, that you
would like to touch on, or anyfinal thoughts you have for the
listeners.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Sure, so the website's just susan-hensleycom,
and really, the final thought Iwant to leave people with is no
matter what it is, is you'relistening to this.
There's a challenge here to dosomething playful for three
(24:31):
minutes today.
Right, find a song, maybe onyour phone, and maybe dance,
sing off key scribble, go out,collect some leaves or rocks.
Just give yourself nothing morethan three minutes and just
inject a little bit of sort ofplay in your day and then see
how you feel.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Absolutely.
Ladies and gentlemen, please besure to visit susan-hensleycom
to check out everything thatSusan's up to Susan-Hensleycom,
to check out everything thatSusan's up to her online courses
, her book, and keep up witheverything that she's up to
Follow rate review.
Share this episode to as manypeople as possible, especially
(25:15):
those that love creativity.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast app.
Visit wwwcurveball337.com formore information on the Living
the Dream with Curveball podcast.
Thank you for listening andsupporting the show and, susan,
thank you for all that you do tohelp us navigate life's
transformations and thank youfor joining me.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Oh, thank you so much for having me.
You have a great day.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
For more information on the Living the Dream with
Curveball podcast.
For more information on theLiving the Dream with Curveball
podcast, visitwwwcurveball337.com.
Until next time, keep livingthe dream.
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