January 14, 2025 • 48 mins
Do you feel selfish for slowing down? In this episode, I talk with Lisa-Marie Vecchio about making big life changes to find more peace and:
• Trusting your gut when making decisions for your life and work
• Moving from corporate to freelance work as a creative person
• The importance of having schedule freedom as a highly sensitive person
• Creating moments of art and visual beauty in your home
Lisa-Marie is a Brisbane-based graphic designer and muralist, illustrating art that encourages and uplifts. Her designs are recognised as colourfully eye-catching, created with the intention of communicating hope, joy and empowerment. After ten years working as a designer in the business and corporate sectors, Lisa-Marie started to explore the more creative side of design, seeing a shift in her art style. She then looked for opportunities to recreate her digital artwork as murals, refreshing public spaces with a burst of vibrance and colour.
Keep in touch with Lisa:
• Website: http://www.lisadotdesign.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lisadotdesign
Resources Mentioned:
• Free digital downloads + recipes from Lisa: https://www.lisadotdesign.com/newsletter
• Work with Lisa: https://www.lisadotdesign.com/services
• Lisa’s planners, prints, homewares, and more: https://www.lisadotdesign.com/store
Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
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This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (00:00):
I always tell myself it's important to
(00:01):
make money, but at the cost ofmy health, of my mental health,
of anything else.
I have every right to pull theplug on this job and
respectfully walk away and notthink about it twice because I
feel stressed out for whateverreason.
April Snow (00:16):
So that's been hard, but it's been really beneficial
welcome to sensitive stories,the podcast for the people who
live with hearts and eyes wideopen.
(00:37):
I'm your host, psychotherapistand author, april snow.
I invite you to join me as Ideep dive into rich
conversations with fellow highlysensitive people that will
inspire you to live a morefulfilling life as an HSP
without all the overwhelm.
In this episode, I talk withLisa Marie Vecchio about moving
from corporate to freelance workto feel more freedom and ease
(00:59):
as an HSP, trusting your gut andknowing it's okay to be a
little selfish to get your needsmet, and the importance of
creating moments of visualbeauty all around you.
Lisa Marie is a Brisbane-basedgraphic designer and muralist
illustrating art that encouragesand uplifts.
Her designs are recognized ascolorfully eye-catching, created
(01:21):
with the intention ofcommunicating hope, joy and
empowerment.
After 10 years working as adesigner in the business and
corporate sectors, lisa Mariestarted to explore the more
creative side of design, seeinga shift in her art style, she
then looked for opportunities torecreate her digital art as
murals refreshing public spaceswith a burst of vibrance and
(01:44):
color.
As murals refreshing publicspaces with a burst of vibrance
and color.
For more HSP resources and tosee behind-the-scenes video from
the podcast, join me onInstagram, tiktok or YouTube at
Sensitive Strengths or sign upfor my email list.
Links are in the show notes andat sensitivestoriescom.
And just a reminder that thisepisode is for educational
(02:05):
purposes only and is notintended as a substitute for
treatment with a mental healthor medical professional.
Let's dive in.
Okay, lisa, could you start offby telling us your HSP
(02:34):
discovery story, how or when yourealized that you're a highly
sensitive person?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (02:40):
I realized it, I guess, growing up, but
there was never a label for it,as I guess yourself or like your
listeners would understand thatyou always knew you were
sensitive because you knowfamily would say, oh, it's okay,
it's not a big deal, stopcrying If you were having a
tantrum about something as asmall child or high school.
You just get really upset aboutsomething.
(03:01):
It's always those sort of likeI always knew I had a lot of big
emotions and it was kind oflike, oh well, I would just put
myself in that bucket of like ohyeah, I'm just a drama queen,
it's all good, people still loveme, like it's.
It's just where I sat.
And it wasn't until I was goingthrough a really difficult
(03:22):
season back in 2000, like 2020.
I just had finished, I hadfinalised my divorce the year
before and gone through a lot ofreally deep emotions of grief
and loss and heartache andbetrayal and I was kind of
(03:42):
struggling to move forward withit.
Even though the divorce hadhappened the year before, I was
still sitting with a lot of sortof the residue of what had gone
on.
So I was like I'm starting tosuppress my emotions now because
I don't want to bleed out intoeveryone else because they're
kind of like oh we know, it wasa couple of years ago, why don't
(04:02):
you just get over it now?
Why aren't you dating?
Why aren't you moving on?
I felt really stuck and then Istarted doing art journaling,
which was fantastic because Ifelt all these emotions come out
and I was able to put words toimages.
And then started googling andthat's where you came up.
So I came across your.
(04:23):
It was five ways to access yourstrengths as a highly sensitive
person.
And that's when I like messagedyou.
I was like hey, april, myname's Lisa Like just slid into
your DMs that I was like youhave a really wonderful quote on
this blog post about your beingsensitive as a superpower.
(04:44):
And I'm like may I use thatquote Because I think it'll be
great, it'll be so great.
I'm like I have this idea inmind and got this artwork I want
to do and your words are justgoing to dovetail in really
beautifully.
And you're like yeah,absolutely, and I finish it and
I send it.
And you're like, yay, it waslike really nice, I guess that
was kind of like bonding momentover highly sensitive things, I
(05:08):
guess.
And then I started following youand then things started
clicking into place when Istarted reading your content,
because it was the only thingthat was really like a silver
bullet for me, understandingwhere my sensitivity was like so
heightened and why I wouldexperience things a lot more
(05:28):
dramatically than others.
So you have played a reallyintegral part to put the pieces
together.
And then also listen to yourpodcast, I'm like, oh my gosh,
there's more of us.
This is fantastic.
Listening to their stories anddepths and then just being like
I feel so sane right now and ithas just made everything a lot
(05:51):
more sense in my life now andit's more of a I'm more
accepting of who I am as a beingnow instead of back years ago
being like what's wrong with me,why can't I get over it?
And then I would just shut downor suppress what was going on
here.
April Snow (06:08):
Yeah, we really need that sense of community or
reflecting back.
Oh, I'm not the only one.
I think a lot of us come to therealization that we're not just
sensitive, but highly sensitiveafter kind of a monumental time
of our lives, whether it beloss, grief or something
positively transformative or wejust have these really big
(06:30):
feelings and are sitting withthem for a lot longer than other
people are.
Right, you're saying, a year ortwo years later, you're still
in them, which makes sense whenyou're a deep processor.
But if you don't know that,you're like what's going on with
me?
So what is wrong?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (06:45):
right, and so we go to google yeah, google,
sometimes a great thing,sometimes it's not and you're
like, okay, great, I have cancer, I'm dying.
April Snow (06:55):
But right, and other times it's like oh, this is the
missing puzzle piece.
Yes, you're like, I foundcommunity which is yeah, amazing
so and it's so sweet toremember that moment.
We met each other.
We were chatting about itbefore the.
We said we officially startedand it's like, oh yeah, it's
been a few years now and threeyears, yeah, yes.
(07:16):
And how sweet that we're stillin contact, and I mean the fact
that you're expressingsensitivity through art and
creativity, I think is soimportant because we're so.
I don't know if this is yourexperience, but for me, words
are so limiting to share how Ifeel yeah, yep they're just.
We need more color and image.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (07:38):
Yeah, yeah, movement, and especially what
they say.
Uh, pictures worth a thousandwords.
Yes, like it's so true drawing.
It's like I could, you know, sitdown with a therapist and talk
everything out, which is great,but to draw everything out and
use colors and be like right,this color makes me feel a
certain way.
I'm gonna use this one andbring it together and it helps
(08:01):
just me.
Sort of expressing myself inthat way helps me feel seen and
it also helps the people aroundme kind of get a glimpse into
that highly sensitive brain andbeing like, oh I.
It bridges the gap of like Idon't understand you to like oh,
we've got, like I can I seethat you've created something.
I get you.
(08:21):
I understand a little bit moreabout what's going on so you've
been able to communicate morewith people by sharing your art
yes yeah and, in turn,connecting with random people on
the internet as well, likethat's been really helpful,
because other HSBs or, you know,even people that are like
(08:45):
really empathetic they'll findme somewhere in the algorithm on
Instagram and be like oh, thisspoke to me today.
Like this exactly hits the nailon the head.
And then I'm like oh, again, itmakes our world feel that more
small.
You're like oh, I'm not alone inany of this.
I have someone on the otherside of the world that's like
yeah, I get you.
(09:05):
I don't know you, but I get Iget it.
April Snow (09:08):
Yeah, isn't that such an amazing experience.
You know, there's thatuniversality.
However, you want to say thatthat we all have this through
line, that we share this thread,like we're all different, like
you and I are living very farapart, but there's ways that we
overlap and same with lots ofother sensitive people.
It's such a beautifulexperience and now you're now
sharing and inspiring people andspreading the word of
(09:32):
sensitivity, educating peopleand letting them know like, hey,
this is a thing I think that'sso beautiful.
Thank you.
What other roles has creativityplayed in your life as an HSP?
You said, like use it tocommunicate, communicate emotion
.
Are there other ways it showsup for you?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (09:46):
it's mainly through my art.
I'm trying to think of otherways.
I guess it's like, yeah, randomthings.
Like if I'm setting up dinnerand I'll arrange a fruit platter
, oh yeah, just the littletouches.
And they're like, oh, that'sreally nice.
I'm like, oh yeah, I assembledit into a rose because I thought
it was going to be really cute.
Or I put the fruit in color, orlike just random little things
(10:09):
that people see and they go, oh,that's really nice.
And then they'll be like, oh,that that's so wholesome.
And then it's this really nicemoment that's created when I
guess a lot of the world rightnow is quite chaotic and it's
quite concerning at times, likehaving my creativity come
through in those ways and otherpeople HSBs and non-HSBs to pick
(10:32):
up on it and be like oh, that'snice, yeah or like yeah, just
like noticing stuff that peopleusually wouldn't notice.
Well, it's not more socreativity, but it's more so
like I'll remember friends,birthdays, just the little
details that are overlooked.
(10:53):
I'll kind of just remember orrandom memories from years ago.
People like oh, I totallyforgot about that.
Like do you remember the timewhen?
Like this isn't that, and I'llgo into like a really in-depth
story.
Oh yeah, I've like totallyblanked on that.
Thanks, thanks bringing that up.
That was like a really nicemoment or whatever.
Yeah, it just comes through increative ways and non-creative
(11:15):
ways just that attention todetail and visuals?
April Snow (11:20):
yeah, and I hadn't thought about you know,
creativity does show up in somany different ways in our lives
, and just thinking about howthose little extra touches
really impact people.
And like you said, hsps are not.
They notice and they feel it.
Yeah, yeah.
So like putting down a spreador a nice arrangement on the
(11:41):
table, it's like, ah, it justgives things a little bit of
something extra.
Yeah, and for folks watchingthe video right now, looking at
one of lisa's murals behind her,and it's like this is I don't
know, just, it's a little bit ofsomething visual, but it's
impactful and it's inspiring andI don't know, I just add some
(12:02):
color to life, literally andfiguratively yeah, yeah, yeah,
because it's yeah, I mean,life's hard enough as it is.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (12:09):
It's like why not make it beautiful in
your own way and let thatpositivity radiate and affect
others for good, yes, instead ofjust floating around being like
, yeah, another day, well, let'ssee what happens?
Right?
It's like the power to createbeauty and nice things, just for
(12:31):
the sake of it being nice tolook at.
April Snow (12:35):
I love that we don't have to have a reason, just let
it be beautiful, that's beautyfor beauty's sake.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (12:41):
That's it, yeah.
April Snow (12:42):
I love that, and so you obviously create art for
yourself and for your friendsand family, but you also create
art for other people.
In your work as a muralist, asa designer, do you have any
favorite memories or things thatstand out from that work with
people that you'd like to share?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (12:58):
yeah, I really love when and it's
nothing huge or significant,it's just when either I'm doing
a mural in public or I don'tknow it's just always that
passing comment of thanks fordoing what you're doing.
It's always like I see you andI appreciate it.
Yeah, or a young kid walks pastwith their parent and the
(13:18):
parent's like that's a muralist,and then the kid like wants to
ask questions and I'm likemodeling a really admirable job
that's doesn't.
That's usually overlookedsometimes, or it's like oh, you
don't want to be an artist orwhatever.
They're like never making moneyor whatever it's like no like
(13:40):
I'm creating a life for myself,that I can do the things I want
to do, and I set it at the pacethat I want to go.
So it's always, yeah, thelittle comments of thank you for
doing what you're doing and allthat artwork, this murals, just
helped me Like I get randommessages in, not even when I'm
on site, but years later I'llget a message and someone will
(14:05):
like drive past a mural andthey'll be like you have no idea
.
I needed to hear that messagetoday and this is incredible
that the words never get old andit's public, it's there.
April Snow (14:16):
People will see it for years to come and it's just
that lasting legacy of what Icreated just, you know, so long
ago, and it's just nice thatthings still impact people today
what a beautiful contributionto make and and to know that
your work is not just meaningfulin the moment but it lasts, it
(14:39):
continues to impact people andyou're sharing these messages
that stand the test of time, andI think that's so incredible.
You know, we talked about kindof connecting with people over
distance, but just knowingthere's so many people that are
inspired by your work thatyou'll never meet or know, yeah,
it's so incredible which isincredible.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (14:59):
But I'm the kind of person that's like I
want to meet them all.
Yes, I want to, like, I want toknow their story, but we won't
ever get to know.
But I'm always curious to findout why and how and all the
details.
April Snow (15:13):
So, yeah, that's the one thing I'm like it's great,
but I only get like this muchlike this slice of the pie
sometimes sure right, you onlyhear, maybe get an email or dm,
instead of really getting to bewith that person and their
experience.
Yeah, that has to be tough.
I'm just thinking like for meas a therapist, I am in the room
(15:34):
with people for sometimes years, but then to not be able to get
that sense of what's happeningfor them, yeah, I would be
curious and want more connectionthere.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (15:45):
Yeah, a hundred percent.
April Snow (15:46):
Yeah, have there been moments where you have felt
that sense of depth withsomeone?
You got to build a maybe alittle bit of a strong
relationship.
Not that you have to name names, I'm just curious if you ever
get that need satisfiedsometimes I'm trying to think,
not off the top of my head.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (16:03):
Usually it's other artists that I'll connect
with, either here in australiaor overseas, and we'll like form
a instagram, relate like aonline friendship, my internet
buddy, or whatever yep, andthey'll be like much as like
yourself, like over here, youalways, or whatever Yep, and
they'll be like much as likeyourself, like over here, you
always check in with each other.
Or you'll be like oh, I reallyloved that.
Like the article that you wrote.
(16:24):
This podcast is amazing.
Like thank you.
Yes, it's sort of those.
But a handful of othercreatives that are out in the
same like what I'm doing.
They're out there making artand it's like up and down being
a freelancer.
So we connect over that andit's like, yeah, I feel so, seen
(16:45):
, they're out there doing thesame thing.
April Snow (16:46):
They're creating art that makes them happy and other
people happy yeah, that's soimportant right to have that
shared experience with otherpeople.
And you mentioned freelancing.
You're now a freelancer, butyou this isn't where you started
, right, you used to work in thecorporate world yes, I went to
uni and I graduated like 2008,right, so 2008 to 2021.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (17:13):
So there was like a big chunk there in and
out of like retail jobs becauseI wasn't landing graphic design
jobs as a junior because, again,being highly sensitive, it's
like you're in the real world.
You got to keep up or you're out, yeah.
So it was like a good threeyears of me just struggling with
(17:35):
trying to get my foot in thedoor with corporate stuff and
finally got a break in thecorporate design world, sat in
that job for about four years,moved on to another job for
about six years, so there was abig 10-year block of me just
(17:56):
doing designs for other peopleand, yeah, yeah, it was not like
impactful, it was like not forprofits or things like that, but
by the end of it I wasn't doingany artwork for me, it was just
art for other people.
And I was wondering why, again,I was getting so burnt out and
I'm just like I'm not thatspark's gone.
(18:16):
So many years of doing that andthen I'm kind of like
something's got to change, andthat was around the time I was
like what's?
April Snow (18:26):
wrong with me?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (18:26):
everything's happening, yeah, everything
happens like kind of like,really came to a head around
COVID and I know for a lot ofpeople that it all you get that
epiphany of what am I doing withmy life, and so it was.
It was a crazy time, but it wasreally great because by the end
of 2021, I knew I wanted topursue freelancing.
(18:48):
I'm like this is a thing that'sjust gonna be the burden off my
shoulders in a way, like youtake one off.
Okay, now I gotta learn how torun a business.
Right, you just traded, yeah,you just trade it, but it's like
at least I'm gonna.
This is new and exciting and Ican do murals here, whereas in
previous jobs I couldn't,because it was all corporate,
(19:08):
unless I could land somethingthat was like, yeah, you could
paint our company wall and thenget back right with our logo
maybe.
Yeah, it was just never anythingI wanted to do.
So I was like no, that's allgood, I'll want to start my own
business and it's all just medoing my thing, and if people
(19:30):
want that they can come to me.
I don't really want to pick upsuper corporate stuff anymore
because I'm done with that.
So that was quite a scary leap,but I was.
But you, I knew.
In my spirit I was like I needto do this or else I'm just
gonna go for another year andget so resentful and not be a
nice person?
April Snow (19:48):
yeah, it sounds like you, really, after 10 years of
being in these more structuredsettings where you said I'm not
doing anything for me, I'm notcreating art for me, you can
sort of lose yourself and youhit that limit of like it's time
, even though, like you said,there's a whole new set of
things to learn and maybe newstruggles to sit with.
(20:12):
It sounded like this was theonly choice for you, would you
say.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (20:16):
I could have , not really.
I mean, I could have totallygot another job elsewhere or
could have changed careers, likeI had that freedom of
flexibility, but I was like no,I feel very strongly that I need
to start my own freelancingbusiness, even though I hate
doing taxes.
I don't understand yeah all thatstuff, just everything logical
(20:40):
and mathematical I'm like Idon't get it.
But I was at the point where Iwas like I'm so committed to
freelancing, I will learn thesethings just so I can do the
beautiful, fun stuff of workingfor myself and having that
freedom and especially, on topof that, having freedom over my
schedule, which is very enticingfor a hsp, because being
(21:03):
freelance like you choose whenyou wake up and get to work, you
choose what days you have,whereas I don't have to ask
anyone hey, can I have time offover christmas?
Like I call the shots now.
And so that's been such a plusfor me as, being someone highly
sensitive, I'm like, no, I'mgonna take a day off, I'm gonna
(21:24):
take a day off and then I'llsort it out later and I'll, yeah
, generate the money or, youknow, I'll make up for it down
the track.
Today, in the moment, I need torest.
I need to go to the beach andsee my family like, yeah,
calling the shots instead of me,subjective to someone else's
(21:46):
wants or needs, schedule wise,not even work wise, so right
right.
April Snow (21:52):
I mean there's room, when you work for yourself, for
the ebb and the flow ofwherever your energy and your
emotions are, because it's sohard, you know, even when I
create a schedule, because Ialso work for myself and love
that freedom of deciding when Ihave off and when I don't but
even when I create my ownschedule, I still need
flexibility.
Yeah, to kind of move aroundlike you know what, today I had
(22:15):
this plan, but I I really needto rest or I want to go and do
something that's going to, youknow, nourish me.
Yeah, I'll do it tomorrow ornext week.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (22:24):
yeah, it's the future of me, exactly right,
like right now, I'm not feelingit and I need to.
You know, you very is room tobe intuitive, whereas though I
never allowed myself space to beintuitive, whereas I never
allowed myself space to beintuitive, because it's like, no
, you go to school like you'vegot rules and like structure,
which is great, but as a kid,you can't say mom and dad, I
(22:46):
want a day off, because they'llbe like go to school exactly
like I'm sick, like the onlytime.
It's like you would stay homefrom school.
It's like if you werephysically sick, which is right,
that's it, yeah, that's it, butlike I'm like oh actually I
need like mental health days,and no one can make me feel bad
for having those.
April Snow (23:06):
Yeah, there's more nuance.
When you entered into thisfreelance lifestyle, was that
pretty effortless to drop intolistening to your intuition
going with your own rhythm, ordid it take a while to adjust to
?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (23:19):
great question because when I back in
2020, when everything was justlike chaotic for me, I was at
the point I was like you knowwhat?
Do you know what I really need?
I need six months off work.
So I was like you know, I'mgonna.
Just, I was at that point.
I was like I don't care how badthis looks on my resume or like
how many people I'm gonna.
Just, I was at that point.
I was like I don't care how badthis looks on my resume, or
(23:39):
like how many people I'm gonnaput out whatever.
I'm taking six months off on myown, like I funded it myself.
I was that like sold out tojust be, like I need time for
myself.
So having six months off andhaving no agenda, no schedule
for that six months was sofreeing.
But it took me about a month,two months, for my mind to
(24:02):
actually unwind and the tensionto come off, being like I need
to perform, I need to, I needstuff, I need to show up
somewhere.
Like after two months I waslike oh, I actually feel really
refreshed now and all thatstress and anxiety and you know,
heartache and grief, that'sreally subsiding, that's really
(24:22):
coming off me.
Now I'm like great, this iswhat I needed.
So having that six months wasgreat because I could be like oh
yeah, go at my own pace.
So then, when I went back tofull-time work, I was like, no,
I need, I need to implement whatI learnt in my six months and
implement that into my everydaylife.
So that's why freelancing wasscary, but it was a choice.
(24:45):
I was like I need to do thisfor future, lisa, because she
ain't coping now, like thingsneed to change.
I don't want to go back to how.
I need to create something waymore fulfilling.
So the longevity is there foryears to come, or else I'm just
burnt out and I'm, you know, notdoing okay and that's.
April Snow (25:07):
No one wants to be in that spot no, they really
don't, and you really gaveyourself a reset and you don't
want to waste that reset Becauseit's, you know, it's, I love it
and you're like I need thistime, because we do.
We need those times to pauseand just catch up with ourselves
(25:27):
.
Sometimes it's six months,sometimes it's a month,
sometimes it's a year, dependingon circumstances, but we need
those regularly.
What did you bring with youfrom that time into present day?
Was there any practices orroutines that you've kept up
with?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (25:45):
I always enjoy getting home from gym and
making a proper breakfast and bythe time I do gym and have a
proper breakfast, sometimes Idon't start work till 11 o'clock
in the morning and I'm likethis is just my life, because
I'll probably work until sixo'clock that afternoon or I'll
make another hour elsewhere.
(26:07):
But I'm like I just having slowmornings is important and
obviously, working from home,living by myself as well,
there's that freedom andflexibility to no one's pushing
you, no one's hustling you, justasking questions about why
you're cooking breakfast like Igot my own pace.
(26:27):
I don't have to answer toanyone.
So yeah, having that back in mysix months off, I was like I
want that slower pace of life.
I don't want to be somewhere at8 30 in the morning.
You know, in my like businessattire in a meeting unless I
want to be.
And I get like some days aremore structured than others.
(26:48):
I've got to meet clients andthings, but on the days where I
don't need to be rushed, I'mlike I'm going to take full
advantage of this and go at myown pace and let my body relax.
Yeah, yeah, because you'rehustling.
Every other time you've got tobe like where's the?
Where's the peace?
April Snow (27:07):
exactly.
Where's the peace?
I think we don't give enoughcredit to slow mornings.
I also, I, unless I have to, Idon don't start before 11.
Right, yep, it's like the magichour for me, you know, just
having that space to wake up, totake care of yourself, to have
a nice breakfast.
It really sets a foundation,because if we are jumping out of
(27:31):
bed, we're running offsomewhere.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (27:34):
You don't get to unwind that
overstimulation the rest of theday and then it just builds on
each other and then you have acoffee and that's like right,
like we're so overstimulated andthat's great because it's
productive, but that's for likecorporate stuff and yeah, I get
it, we get results and that'samazing and yeah, we need to do
(27:55):
the work.
I'm not saying we don't need todo the work but, like what
happens when we put ourselveslast exactly exactly when we put
ourselves last.
April Snow (28:07):
It just becomes that chronic overstimulation,
dysregulation where you end upin burnout, you end up needing
to take six months off but if we?
Can right, and I've had, I'vebeen there too, and but if we
take some time every day, itdoesn't get to that place.
Or maybe we take six months off, but we do it out of leisure
(28:28):
yeah, just, I just want to gotravel or, like you know, just
go volunteer somewhere else.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (28:35):
That fills my cup, you know just anything,
anything else.
But like we were like grindingand on emails and all that stuff
, it's so important to unplug itreally is, it's just essential.
April Snow (28:51):
So freelancing has allowed you to.
It's like to be more in yourrhythm as an hsp, to listen to
yourself.
Anything else freelancing hastaught you to be more in your
rhythm as an HSP, to listen toyourself.
Anything else freelancing hastaught you or you've been able
to do as an HSP.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (29:05):
It's really and like I've just spoken about
all the really beautiful things,but I think the really hard
learning curves are like I don'thave a HR department to go and
complain to and for them toadvocate on my behalf.
I am that person now.
So like, again, I'm giving up.
I'm like, oh no, I don't needto work in an office or whatever
(29:28):
.
But also I kind of miss thesupport in the community and if
that's not there in myfreelancing job, I need to go
out and find it, which is mespeaking up and using my voice,
which is sometimes that's hardand it's yeah.
I like I don't want to have toask people these things.
You kind of just want people tointuitively know that what you
(29:48):
need, yes, why can't they For me, like having to always be on
searching for answers, fixingstuff, troubleshooting like I
knew that was a part of the job,but it's made me be like next
level.
Okay, I can speak up for myselfand this is not a bad thing.
It's just how I'm going tooperate in my freelancing life
(30:11):
now.
So, obviously, speaking up andyou're met with opposition, or
someone doesn't want you topaint I don't know a certain way
or whatever I'm like thatstarts and ends with me.
If I don't feel safe, like on apainting site or whatever, I
have every right.
And I always tell myself I'mlike, yeah, it's important to
(30:33):
make money, but I'm like at thecost of my health, of my mental
health, yeah, of anything else.
If I'm like absolutely scaredto be somewhere, I'm like, no, I
have every right to pull theplug on this job and
respectfully walk away and notthink about it twice because I
feel, you know, stressed out forwhatever reason.
(30:57):
So that's been hard but it'sbeen really beneficial because
I'll get through a season ofsaying no to people or speaking
up for my rights or whatever.
And especially me being young,like coming across quite young,
being female.
It's sometimes, unfortunately,people think they can just talk
over you or be like, no, no,you'll be fine, they'll glaze
(31:21):
over it.
But me, being hsp, I'm like, no, you don't understand.
I'm actually really strugglingin like an environment where
it's you feel safe and you dothis every day, but for me it's
not my cup of tea.
So actually, this is, thisjob's not going to work or
whatever.
I'm not feeling bad to walkaway from fantastic
opportunities.
(31:41):
I don't be like this would havejust been amazing if I just
sucked it up and did the job orwhatever.
But I'm like you know what,it's actually not worth it if I
get hurt.
Or and then if I do get injuredon a work site, I'm like
insurance isn't going to pay forthat, like I've always got to
be that extra level cautious andalways speaking up for myself
(32:02):
and having my own back, becauseat the end of the day no one
really has my back in business.
So it's been challenging, butit helps me be like oh, I can be
a HSP and I can be assertivewith my boundaries and not feel
bad.
April Snow (32:18):
I love that.
Yeah, I mean because you haveto be your own advocate when you
work for yourself, and not justfor your physical health, your
mental health, but I imaginealso for your integrity and art
and business.
To think about that big pictureis important as well 100 yeah,
yeah.
So this has really helped youkind of grow your muscle
(32:40):
self-preservation,self-protection and you said
something interesting which isnot think twice about it.
Is that something you've beenable to do?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (32:48):
just feel really solid in your decisions
yeah, because I guess it's likelearning to trust my gut.
First reaction's always thereaction that we should go with,
but we always talk about beinglike oh, but what they're gonna
say, I'm gonna miss out on money, reputation.
I'm like no gut feeling.
(33:09):
I've been learning to tap intothat and not try and people,
please, or for my way intocompromise because it just down
the track, I'm like why did Iagree to it now I'm in this job
I don't even want to do?
And then I have to later on belike actually, you know what?
You changed my mind right inthe contract, like, and I'm like
(33:31):
no, I should be upfront andhonest all the time and if it's
gonna offend someone or hurtsomeone, that's not on me to
carry.
So it's always.
Yeah, I always have to be likeno, gut knows, gut is the second
brain, just go with it and notyes, try and talk myself out of
it.
April Snow (33:50):
Yes, the gut is the second brain and I can't tell
you the times where I've ignoredthat gut feeling and then it
was so much harder later to getout of it.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (34:01):
We really create rods for our backs just
to keep other people happy.
Yes, oh yeah, this will begreat in other ways for me.
But you're like no, mentallythis is a no for me.
April Snow (34:12):
But then, yeah, down the track it'll come out to
haunt us and we're like great,should have just been honest
yeah, right, exactly, andthat'll free up energy to do
something that is a good fit,that you do want to do, that is
safe for you, that you love todo.
I always think that there's asilver lining.
It's uncomfortable in themoment, but it's so much better
(34:34):
than dealing with conflict downthe road when you're more
entwined with the project.
Or maybe it takes away energyfrom something else you could
have done.
I just think about that.
Try to think about that bigpicture when I'm like taking on
a client or saying yes to acommitment or whatever it is.
Yeah, such a good reminder.
Listen to your gut.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (34:53):
Yeah, especially as HSPs don't
overwrite it.
Yeah, and I guess, growing upand we're HSPs in a non-HSP
world, we get the messages ofget over it, suck it up, push
through.
Pushing through is good, yes,in certain circumstances and we
weigh that up, but, like,sometimes, we don't need to push
(35:14):
through, we need to chooseanother way exactly that's so
valid it's so valid?
April Snow (35:20):
yeah, because we're.
I'm just thinking about wherethose messages come from.
They're often coming from folkswho sometimes are trying to be
caring, like we want you to fitin, we want you not to give up,
you know.
But they're coming from peoplewho have a very different lived
experience.
Yes, don't have the same levelof sensitivity, perception,
intuition, which is totally okay.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (35:41):
We need those people too, yeah it's yeah
, it's all about a balance.
We need them because I'mactually I'm feeling like I can
push through something and I doit.
I'm like I'm glad I had thatconfidence.
I'm like not going to have tomy gut says no.
April Snow (36:02):
Exactly.
How do you personally, if youhave a sense, differentiate
between I'm going to push alittle or I'm going to say no?
Is it a gut feeling or is itsomething else?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (36:07):
It's definitely that gut feeling, but
I also feel, being a Christian,it's like Holy Spirit is that
little voice that's like I'mletting you know you're going to
say no and I'll be like yes,and then down the track it will
just blow up and I'm like HolySpirit was right, why did I say
no to my gut?
Why did I say no to that, tothe spirit trying to warn me?
(36:30):
So now I'm just like, yeah, Ineed to be more in tune with
yeah, but going back to thatinitial reaction because I'm
like, let's, because holy spiritknows what's gonna happen.
So I'm like, okay, cool, I needto be more in tune with that,
instead of being like, oh, Idon't want to say no, because
then people are gonna get mad atme and I need to want them to
(36:52):
be friends with me.
Only you know, whatever reason,whatever, yeah, just being in
tune with that is very helpful.
April Snow (37:00):
Yeah, tapping into something bigger than yourself.
Yes, yeah, your spirituality,spirituality, your religion,
your guides, whatever you lookto is so important, right, and
especially as hsps, we're moreattuned to that it can be such a
resource.
Yeah, I love that.
Yeah, so it sounds likefreelancing has been a great
(37:21):
decision for you yeah, so far,so good, can't complain.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (37:26):
Yeah, that was two years, going on to three
years now.
April Snow (37:30):
Mm-hmm, that's very very fast.
What's different now than threeyears ago, I think?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (37:36):
just having that belief in myself.
I mean, I did start.
I was like, yeah, yeah, I'mgoing to do the things.
But it was always that likeokay, if this doesn't work out,
I'll just find another full-timejob, go back to work.
Whatever it was.
Always I'm just going to jumpout and see what happens and see
(37:56):
how it progresses for me.
But now I'm sort of into it andI'm establishing my business
and freelancing.
I'm like, okay, this is where Iwant to stay for a few years
and keep growing it and havingthat.
Yeah, getting through impostersyndrome.
Imposter syndrome is stillreally hard.
(38:16):
So, like, I know I have a skill, I know I'm good at it, I know
I can get jobs, but it's alwaysthat like, is this gonna sustain
me for the next five, ten years?
I don't know, but I'm focusingwhat I can do right now and,
yeah, always just being like,okay, I can do this, like having
more confidence and faith in me.
(38:38):
And confidence as a HSP doesn'tcome naturally.
Sometimes we get our confidenceknocked a lot and then we're
like, okay, well, I'm not gonnado it because.
But yeah, knowing that I can doit, and if I do make mistakes
and stuff up, I'm like that'sokay, I keep.
I keep at it because this is alifestyle I want to keep at and
(38:59):
because it's just so freeing tocreate art and do all the things
that make me happy yeah, it'sbeen wonderful to watch you over
the last few years just getmore prolific in your art and
take on new opportunities andkind of grow into this role.
April Snow (39:19):
And it's working right.
Like you said, you know thatyou can do it.
Just a matter of reallytrusting in yourself.
It's hard as an HSP.
We've been told our experienceisn't accurate, so that doubt
comes on pretty easily.
But you're seeing like it playout in your life like, okay,
this is working, let's hopeit'll keep working.
Is there anything you wouldtell 2021 Lisa?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (39:43):
my goodness, I would tell her that you can
do it.
April Snow (39:51):
Yeah.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (39:51):
You can do hard stuff and it does take work
.
But it's also important to putyourself first and not feel
selfish, because once your cup'sfilled, you've got capacity to
pour out to others, instead ofthe other way around, how I was
operating I pour out to othersand I'm empty and then I'm like,
(40:14):
okay, time to refill.
It's no, it's actually.
It's so okay to be selfish,it's okay to let people down and
I did do an artwork about that.
It's hey, it's okay to letpeople down.
And there's like littlesparkles around it and it's
quite a deep message because I'mjust like, oh, my gosh, like I
hate letting people down andpeople pleasing is just so much
(40:37):
easier.
But I'm like no, I need tostand up for myself.
Let people down and let them.
Let them, not me having tocater to fixing their emotional
state.
I stand up for me.
You do you no hard feelingslike exactly right.
April Snow (40:55):
It's okay to pour into yourself.
You don't have to hold everyoneelse's emotions.
I know we feel like we should,but we don't have to.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (41:02):
We can't even yeah, but I feel like I
guess, because we are so intuned, it's easy for us to be
like, oh, tell me about, tell meabout everything that's been
going on, because, yes, we loveconnecting over deep stuff, but
we don't realize that it'sactually quite draining as well
and we're like, oh, I reallyenjoy this, but now it's just so
(41:24):
.
I've got no capacity now.
April Snow (41:27):
So it's, yeah, being in tune, yeah, and pacing
ourselves with how much we takeon of others, yeah.
And just like you talked aboutyour morning routine, you give
to yourself first, same in everyother area, like make sure we
have our fuel before we go onthat trip with someone.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (41:45):
Yeah, yeah, do not want to run out.
No, all you want to do is go ona trip and you're like, oops,
we ran out of fuel and we're inthe middle of nowhere and now we
need to leave.
Exactly Right.
It's not wise, no, no, it's notWith our emotional capacity,
with our physical capacity,because it's like it's good to
(42:08):
be, it's good to hustle, it'sgood to be productive, because
it looks so lazy, it's so badnot to just rest.
April Snow (42:21):
Yeah, which we need.
So, yes, exactly, we really doneed it, and I mean, you're a
testament to this.
Look what happens when you takea pause you do rest and
recharge and then you get tostep into something more
fulfilling.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (42:36):
Yeah.
April Snow (42:36):
Yeah.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (42:38):
Yeah, it's a good reset.
I highly recommend it.
If people are listening to thisand they're like should I?
Yeah, do it.
Yes, it's really hard and itwas really scary for me to
actually tell my workplace, eventhough they're the nicest
people ever.
Scary for me to actually tellmy workplace, even though
they're the nicest people everfor me to actually have that
confidence, to approach them andbe like would you consider
holding my job for six months.
They could turn around and say,no, that's not going to work
(43:01):
for us.
But they were so gracious to belike yeah, we would love to
give you that six months off.
Come back in six months' time.
We'd love to know how you'redoing.
It was hard to tell family andfriends because they're like we
don't understand.
We know you're struggling, butwe didn't know it was that bad
that you need to take time offI've just been like keeping my
(43:22):
head above water for many years.
I don't want to annoy anyoneright, right.
April Snow (43:27):
We're often we're trained to keep that in right.
Our emotions are too big so wetend to tuck it away and people
don't realize and also whatwe're feeling at such a deep
level.
Someone else would probablyonly be feeling that at a
fraction of this.
You know the same emotion, soit doesn't look big to them, but
for us it is it is yeah andit's something I try and I
(43:49):
always kind of get a little bitupset.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (43:50):
I'm like, why can't they understand?
And I'm like, well, they can'tbecause they hate the non-HSP.
And like, how would I?
I'm like, no, it's one of thosethings I think I've had to
accept being like they might notever understand, and that's
okay, but I know that they stilllove me and they meet me where
I'm at and that's that's.
That's like perfect.
And I'm like, okay, cool, Ifind my own HSP community and
(44:13):
connect with them on that levelbecause that's where I feel the
most seen and understood there,so it's like there's a balance,
because they're the people thatare like come on, you can do it.
Yes, they're the talkers and theHSP take the break, so yes,
both.
April Snow (44:30):
We need both.
That's such a good point.
I've never thought about that.
Yeah, the non-hsps in your life, with the people that are going
to kind of pump you up a bit,yeah, and then the hsps are
going to let you know it's timeto come back down and rest and
we need both.
I mean, that's just kind of amicrocosm of what why we need
both.
In society, we have the peoplethat are pushing the action and
then the others are like let's'srest, let's observe, let's take
(44:52):
a beat.
We need that balance.
We do, yeah, yeah.
Well, lisa, this has been justa lovely conversation and I
appreciate you so much sharingyour own story and kind of
giving a glimpse into this bigtransformation you made in your
own life and what that's beenlike over the last few years.
I definitely want folks to beable to connect with you, so
(45:14):
I'll be sure to share yourwebsite, your Instagram.
You have a lovely newsletter.
I'll share all that in the shownotes.
Let's say, listeners areintrigued about working with you
.
What does that look like?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (45:23):
They can definitely work with me.
I have an online store whichI've got, you know, artwork and
products and merchandise.
I also do murals.
If they're local, I can travelas well.
But if murals aren't available,we can always look at designing
wallpapers and things like thatto ship over and then, on top
(45:44):
of that branding, I also dographic design and branding,
tapping back into my corporateskills.
But the way I do branding isfor businesses that like have
heart and soul and everything'sright and then like things are
just different.
It's not, yes, it's justusually for small businesses
(46:05):
that have all that personalitythat they want to get out
through their branding.
And, yeah, finding that sort ofmy niche of clients, it's just
fantastic because there's a lotof beautiful people out there to
work with.
So, yeah, if any of thoseservices tickles their fancy,
they can totally reach out to me.
I would love to work with themLove that.
April Snow (46:26):
I'll also share your online store.
I forgot to mention that andit's great you have that and
people can work with you in alot of different ways or, at the
very least, connect with you onInstagram and keep up with your
HSP inspired art and justeverything that you share 100%.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (46:41):
Yeah, there's many different ways.
April Snow (46:43):
Beautiful.
Well, thank you so much forthis conversation, Lisa.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (46:46):
You're so welcome.
Thanks, april.
Welcome, thanks, april.
April Snow (46:56):
Thanks so much for joining me and Lisa for today's
conversation.
I hope you're feeling inspiredto make some subtle or not so
subtle changes in your life, toslow down and feel more
spaciousness, to work with Lisaor buy her colorful art prints,
planners and other goods.
You can visit her website,lisadesigncom.
(47:16):
That'sL-I-S-A-D-O-T-D-E-S-I-G-Ncom.
The link is also in the shownotes.
If you enjoyed this episode,subscribe to the Sensitive
Stories podcast so you don'tmiss our upcoming conversations.
Reviews and ratings are alsohelpful and appreciated For
(47:38):
behind-the-scenes content andmore HSB resources.
You can sign up for my emaillist or follow Sensitive
Strengths on Instagram, tiktokand YouTube.
Check out the show notes orsensitivestoriescom for all the
resources from today's episode.
Thanks for listening.
I always tell myself it's important to
(00:01):
make money, but at the cost ofmy health, of my mental health,
of anything else.
I have every right to pull theplug on this job and
respectfully walk away and notthink about it twice because I
feel stressed out for whateverreason.
April Snow (00:16):
So that's been hard, but it's been really beneficial
welcome to sensitive stories,the podcast for the people who
live with hearts and eyes wideopen.
(00:37):
I'm your host, psychotherapistand author, april snow.
I invite you to join me as Ideep dive into rich
conversations with fellow highlysensitive people that will
inspire you to live a morefulfilling life as an HSP
without all the overwhelm.
In this episode, I talk withLisa Marie Vecchio about moving
from corporate to freelance workto feel more freedom and ease
(00:59):
as an HSP, trusting your gut andknowing it's okay to be a
little selfish to get your needsmet, and the importance of
creating moments of visualbeauty all around you.
Lisa Marie is a Brisbane-basedgraphic designer and muralist
illustrating art that encouragesand uplifts.
Her designs are recognized ascolorfully eye-catching, created
(01:21):
with the intention ofcommunicating hope, joy and
empowerment.
After 10 years working as adesigner in the business and
corporate sectors, lisa Mariestarted to explore the more
creative side of design, seeinga shift in her art style, she
then looked for opportunities torecreate her digital art as
murals refreshing public spaceswith a burst of vibrance and
(01:44):
color.
As murals refreshing publicspaces with a burst of vibrance
and color.
For more HSP resources and tosee behind-the-scenes video from
the podcast, join me onInstagram, tiktok or YouTube at
Sensitive Strengths or sign upfor my email list.
Links are in the show notes andat sensitivestoriescom.
And just a reminder that thisepisode is for educational
(02:05):
purposes only and is notintended as a substitute for
treatment with a mental healthor medical professional.
Let's dive in.
Okay, lisa, could you start offby telling us your HSP
(02:34):
discovery story, how or when yourealized that you're a highly
sensitive person?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (02:40):
I realized it, I guess, growing up, but
there was never a label for it,as I guess yourself or like your
listeners would understand thatyou always knew you were
sensitive because you knowfamily would say, oh, it's okay,
it's not a big deal, stopcrying If you were having a
tantrum about something as asmall child or high school.
You just get really upset aboutsomething.
(03:01):
It's always those sort of likeI always knew I had a lot of big
emotions and it was kind oflike, oh well, I would just put
myself in that bucket of like ohyeah, I'm just a drama queen,
it's all good, people still loveme, like it's.
It's just where I sat.
And it wasn't until I was goingthrough a really difficult
(03:22):
season back in 2000, like 2020.
I just had finished, I hadfinalised my divorce the year
before and gone through a lot ofreally deep emotions of grief
and loss and heartache andbetrayal and I was kind of
(03:42):
struggling to move forward withit.
Even though the divorce hadhappened the year before, I was
still sitting with a lot of sortof the residue of what had gone
on.
So I was like I'm starting tosuppress my emotions now because
I don't want to bleed out intoeveryone else because they're
kind of like oh we know, it wasa couple of years ago, why don't
(04:02):
you just get over it now?
Why aren't you dating?
Why aren't you moving on?
I felt really stuck and then Istarted doing art journaling,
which was fantastic because Ifelt all these emotions come out
and I was able to put words toimages.
And then started googling andthat's where you came up.
So I came across your.
(04:23):
It was five ways to access yourstrengths as a highly sensitive
person.
And that's when I like messagedyou.
I was like hey, april, myname's Lisa Like just slid into
your DMs that I was like youhave a really wonderful quote on
this blog post about your beingsensitive as a superpower.
(04:44):
And I'm like may I use thatquote Because I think it'll be
great, it'll be so great.
I'm like I have this idea inmind and got this artwork I want
to do and your words are justgoing to dovetail in really
beautifully.
And you're like yeah,absolutely, and I finish it and
I send it.
And you're like, yay, it waslike really nice, I guess that
was kind of like bonding momentover highly sensitive things, I
(05:08):
guess.
And then I started following youand then things started
clicking into place when Istarted reading your content,
because it was the only thingthat was really like a silver
bullet for me, understandingwhere my sensitivity was like so
heightened and why I wouldexperience things a lot more
(05:28):
dramatically than others.
So you have played a reallyintegral part to put the pieces
together.
And then also listen to yourpodcast, I'm like, oh my gosh,
there's more of us.
This is fantastic.
Listening to their stories anddepths and then just being like
I feel so sane right now and ithas just made everything a lot
(05:51):
more sense in my life now andit's more of a I'm more
accepting of who I am as a beingnow instead of back years ago
being like what's wrong with me,why can't I get over it?
And then I would just shut downor suppress what was going on
here.
April Snow (06:08):
Yeah, we really need that sense of community or
reflecting back.
Oh, I'm not the only one.
I think a lot of us come to therealization that we're not just
sensitive, but highly sensitiveafter kind of a monumental time
of our lives, whether it beloss, grief or something
positively transformative or wejust have these really big
(06:30):
feelings and are sitting withthem for a lot longer than other
people are.
Right, you're saying, a year ortwo years later, you're still
in them, which makes sense whenyou're a deep processor.
But if you don't know that,you're like what's going on with
me?
So what is wrong?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (06:45):
right, and so we go to google yeah, google,
sometimes a great thing,sometimes it's not and you're
like, okay, great, I have cancer, I'm dying.
April Snow (06:55):
But right, and other times it's like oh, this is the
missing puzzle piece.
Yes, you're like, I foundcommunity which is yeah, amazing
so and it's so sweet toremember that moment.
We met each other.
We were chatting about itbefore the.
We said we officially startedand it's like, oh yeah, it's
been a few years now and threeyears, yeah, yes.
(07:16):
And how sweet that we're stillin contact, and I mean the fact
that you're expressingsensitivity through art and
creativity, I think is soimportant because we're so.
I don't know if this is yourexperience, but for me, words
are so limiting to share how Ifeel yeah, yep they're just.
We need more color and image.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (07:38):
Yeah, yeah, movement, and especially what
they say.
Uh, pictures worth a thousandwords.
Yes, like it's so true drawing.
It's like I could, you know, sitdown with a therapist and talk
everything out, which is great,but to draw everything out and
use colors and be like right,this color makes me feel a
certain way.
I'm gonna use this one andbring it together and it helps
(08:01):
just me.
Sort of expressing myself inthat way helps me feel seen and
it also helps the people aroundme kind of get a glimpse into
that highly sensitive brain andbeing like, oh I.
It bridges the gap of like Idon't understand you to like oh,
we've got, like I can I seethat you've created something.
I get you.
(08:21):
I understand a little bit moreabout what's going on so you've
been able to communicate morewith people by sharing your art
yes yeah and, in turn,connecting with random people on
the internet as well, likethat's been really helpful,
because other HSBs or, you know,even people that are like
(08:45):
really empathetic they'll findme somewhere in the algorithm on
Instagram and be like oh, thisspoke to me today.
Like this exactly hits the nailon the head.
And then I'm like oh, again, itmakes our world feel that more
small.
You're like oh, I'm not alone inany of this.
I have someone on the otherside of the world that's like
yeah, I get you.
(09:05):
I don't know you, but I get Iget it.
April Snow (09:08):
Yeah, isn't that such an amazing experience.
You know, there's thatuniversality.
However, you want to say thatthat we all have this through
line, that we share this thread,like we're all different, like
you and I are living very farapart, but there's ways that we
overlap and same with lots ofother sensitive people.
It's such a beautifulexperience and now you're now
sharing and inspiring people andspreading the word of
(09:32):
sensitivity, educating peopleand letting them know like, hey,
this is a thing I think that'sso beautiful.
Thank you.
What other roles has creativityplayed in your life as an HSP?
You said, like use it tocommunicate, communicate emotion
.
Are there other ways it showsup for you?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (09:46):
it's mainly through my art.
I'm trying to think of otherways.
I guess it's like, yeah, randomthings.
Like if I'm setting up dinnerand I'll arrange a fruit platter
, oh yeah, just the littletouches.
And they're like, oh, that'sreally nice.
I'm like, oh yeah, I assembledit into a rose because I thought
it was going to be really cute.
Or I put the fruit in color, orlike just random little things
(10:09):
that people see and they go, oh,that's really nice.
And then they'll be like, oh,that that's so wholesome.
And then it's this really nicemoment that's created when I
guess a lot of the world rightnow is quite chaotic and it's
quite concerning at times, likehaving my creativity come
through in those ways and otherpeople HSBs and non-HSBs to pick
(10:32):
up on it and be like oh, that'snice, yeah or like yeah, just
like noticing stuff that peopleusually wouldn't notice.
Well, it's not more socreativity, but it's more so
like I'll remember friends,birthdays, just the little
details that are overlooked.
(10:53):
I'll kind of just remember orrandom memories from years ago.
People like oh, I totallyforgot about that.
Like do you remember the timewhen?
Like this isn't that, and I'llgo into like a really in-depth
story.
Oh yeah, I've like totallyblanked on that.
Thanks, thanks bringing that up.
That was like a really nicemoment or whatever.
Yeah, it just comes through increative ways and non-creative
(11:15):
ways just that attention todetail and visuals?
April Snow (11:20):
yeah, and I hadn't thought about you know,
creativity does show up in somany different ways in our lives
, and just thinking about howthose little extra touches
really impact people.
And like you said, hsps are not.
They notice and they feel it.
Yeah, yeah.
So like putting down a spreador a nice arrangement on the
(11:41):
table, it's like, ah, it justgives things a little bit of
something extra.
Yeah, and for folks watchingthe video right now, looking at
one of lisa's murals behind her,and it's like this is I don't
know, just, it's a little bit ofsomething visual, but it's
impactful and it's inspiring andI don't know, I just add some
(12:02):
color to life, literally andfiguratively yeah, yeah, yeah,
because it's yeah, I mean,life's hard enough as it is.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (12:09):
It's like why not make it beautiful in
your own way and let thatpositivity radiate and affect
others for good, yes, instead ofjust floating around being like
, yeah, another day, well, let'ssee what happens?
Right?
It's like the power to createbeauty and nice things, just for
(12:31):
the sake of it being nice tolook at.
April Snow (12:35):
I love that we don't have to have a reason, just let
it be beautiful, that's beautyfor beauty's sake.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (12:41):
That's it, yeah.
April Snow (12:42):
I love that, and so you obviously create art for
yourself and for your friendsand family, but you also create
art for other people.
In your work as a muralist, asa designer, do you have any
favorite memories or things thatstand out from that work with
people that you'd like to share?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (12:58):
yeah, I really love when and it's
nothing huge or significant,it's just when either I'm doing
a mural in public or I don'tknow it's just always that
passing comment of thanks fordoing what you're doing.
It's always like I see you andI appreciate it.
Yeah, or a young kid walks pastwith their parent and the
(13:18):
parent's like that's a muralist,and then the kid like wants to
ask questions and I'm likemodeling a really admirable job
that's doesn't.
That's usually overlookedsometimes, or it's like oh, you
don't want to be an artist orwhatever.
They're like never making moneyor whatever it's like no like
(13:40):
I'm creating a life for myself,that I can do the things I want
to do, and I set it at the pacethat I want to go.
So it's always, yeah, thelittle comments of thank you for
doing what you're doing and allthat artwork, this murals, just
helped me Like I get randommessages in, not even when I'm
on site, but years later I'llget a message and someone will
(14:05):
like drive past a mural andthey'll be like you have no idea
.
I needed to hear that messagetoday and this is incredible
that the words never get old andit's public, it's there.
April Snow (14:16):
People will see it for years to come and it's just
that lasting legacy of what Icreated just, you know, so long
ago, and it's just nice thatthings still impact people today
what a beautiful contributionto make and and to know that
your work is not just meaningfulin the moment but it lasts, it
(14:39):
continues to impact people andyou're sharing these messages
that stand the test of time, andI think that's so incredible.
You know, we talked about kindof connecting with people over
distance, but just knowingthere's so many people that are
inspired by your work thatyou'll never meet or know, yeah,
it's so incredible which isincredible.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (14:59):
But I'm the kind of person that's like I
want to meet them all.
Yes, I want to, like, I want toknow their story, but we won't
ever get to know.
But I'm always curious to findout why and how and all the
details.
April Snow (15:13):
So, yeah, that's the one thing I'm like it's great,
but I only get like this muchlike this slice of the pie
sometimes sure right, you onlyhear, maybe get an email or dm,
instead of really getting to bewith that person and their
experience.
Yeah, that has to be tough.
I'm just thinking like for meas a therapist, I am in the room
(15:34):
with people for sometimes years, but then to not be able to get
that sense of what's happeningfor them, yeah, I would be
curious and want more connectionthere.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (15:45):
Yeah, a hundred percent.
April Snow (15:46):
Yeah, have there been moments where you have felt
that sense of depth withsomeone?
You got to build a maybe alittle bit of a strong
relationship.
Not that you have to name names, I'm just curious if you ever
get that need satisfiedsometimes I'm trying to think,
not off the top of my head.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (16:03):
Usually it's other artists that I'll connect
with, either here in australiaor overseas, and we'll like form
a instagram, relate like aonline friendship, my internet
buddy, or whatever yep, andthey'll be like much as like
yourself, like over here, youalways, or whatever Yep, and
they'll be like much as likeyourself, like over here, you
always check in with each other.
Or you'll be like oh, I reallyloved that.
Like the article that you wrote.
(16:24):
This podcast is amazing.
Like thank you.
Yes, it's sort of those.
But a handful of othercreatives that are out in the
same like what I'm doing.
They're out there making artand it's like up and down being
a freelancer.
So we connect over that andit's like, yeah, I feel so, seen
(16:45):
, they're out there doing thesame thing.
April Snow (16:46):
They're creating art that makes them happy and other
people happy yeah, that's soimportant right to have that
shared experience with otherpeople.
And you mentioned freelancing.
You're now a freelancer, butyou this isn't where you started
, right, you used to work in thecorporate world yes, I went to
uni and I graduated like 2008,right, so 2008 to 2021.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (17:13):
So there was like a big chunk there in and
out of like retail jobs becauseI wasn't landing graphic design
jobs as a junior because, again,being highly sensitive, it's
like you're in the real world.
You got to keep up or you're out, yeah.
So it was like a good threeyears of me just struggling with
(17:35):
trying to get my foot in thedoor with corporate stuff and
finally got a break in thecorporate design world, sat in
that job for about four years,moved on to another job for
about six years, so there was abig 10-year block of me just
(17:56):
doing designs for other peopleand, yeah, yeah, it was not like
impactful, it was like not forprofits or things like that, but
by the end of it I wasn't doingany artwork for me, it was just
art for other people.
And I was wondering why, again,I was getting so burnt out and
I'm just like I'm not thatspark's gone.
(18:16):
So many years of doing that andthen I'm kind of like
something's got to change, andthat was around the time I was
like what's?
April Snow (18:26):
wrong with me?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (18:26):
everything's happening, yeah, everything
happens like kind of like,really came to a head around
COVID and I know for a lot ofpeople that it all you get that
epiphany of what am I doing withmy life, and so it was.
It was a crazy time, but it wasreally great because by the end
of 2021, I knew I wanted topursue freelancing.
(18:48):
I'm like this is a thing that'sjust gonna be the burden off my
shoulders in a way, like youtake one off.
Okay, now I gotta learn how torun a business.
Right, you just traded, yeah,you just trade it, but it's like
at least I'm gonna.
This is new and exciting and Ican do murals here, whereas in
previous jobs I couldn't,because it was all corporate,
(19:08):
unless I could land somethingthat was like, yeah, you could
paint our company wall and thenget back right with our logo
maybe.
Yeah, it was just never anythingI wanted to do.
So I was like no, that's allgood, I'll want to start my own
business and it's all just medoing my thing, and if people
(19:30):
want that they can come to me.
I don't really want to pick upsuper corporate stuff anymore
because I'm done with that.
So that was quite a scary leap,but I was.
But you, I knew.
In my spirit I was like I needto do this or else I'm just
gonna go for another year andget so resentful and not be a
nice person?
April Snow (19:48):
yeah, it sounds like you, really, after 10 years of
being in these more structuredsettings where you said I'm not
doing anything for me, I'm notcreating art for me, you can
sort of lose yourself and youhit that limit of like it's time
, even though, like you said,there's a whole new set of
things to learn and maybe newstruggles to sit with.
(20:12):
It sounded like this was theonly choice for you, would you
say.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (20:16):
I could have , not really.
I mean, I could have totallygot another job elsewhere or
could have changed careers, likeI had that freedom of
flexibility, but I was like no,I feel very strongly that I need
to start my own freelancingbusiness, even though I hate
doing taxes.
I don't understand yeah all thatstuff, just everything logical
(20:40):
and mathematical I'm like Idon't get it.
But I was at the point where Iwas like I'm so committed to
freelancing, I will learn thesethings just so I can do the
beautiful, fun stuff of workingfor myself and having that
freedom and especially, on topof that, having freedom over my
schedule, which is very enticingfor a hsp, because being
(21:03):
freelance like you choose whenyou wake up and get to work, you
choose what days you have,whereas I don't have to ask
anyone hey, can I have time offover christmas?
Like I call the shots now.
And so that's been such a plusfor me as, being someone highly
sensitive, I'm like, no, I'mgonna take a day off, I'm gonna
(21:24):
take a day off and then I'llsort it out later and I'll, yeah
, generate the money or, youknow, I'll make up for it down
the track.
Today, in the moment, I need torest.
I need to go to the beach andsee my family like, yeah,
calling the shots instead of me,subjective to someone else's
(21:46):
wants or needs, schedule wise,not even work wise, so right
right.
April Snow (21:52):
I mean there's room, when you work for yourself, for
the ebb and the flow ofwherever your energy and your
emotions are, because it's sohard, you know, even when I
create a schedule, because Ialso work for myself and love
that freedom of deciding when Ihave off and when I don't but
even when I create my ownschedule, I still need
flexibility.
Yeah, to kind of move aroundlike you know what, today I had
(22:15):
this plan, but I I really needto rest or I want to go and do
something that's going to, youknow, nourish me.
Yeah, I'll do it tomorrow ornext week.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (22:24):
yeah, it's the future of me, exactly right,
like right now, I'm not feelingit and I need to.
You know, you very is room tobe intuitive, whereas though I
never allowed myself space to beintuitive, whereas I never
allowed myself space to beintuitive, because it's like, no
, you go to school like you'vegot rules and like structure,
which is great, but as a kid,you can't say mom and dad, I
(22:46):
want a day off, because they'llbe like go to school exactly
like I'm sick, like the onlytime.
It's like you would stay homefrom school.
It's like if you werephysically sick, which is right,
that's it, yeah, that's it, butlike I'm like oh actually I
need like mental health days,and no one can make me feel bad
for having those.
April Snow (23:06):
Yeah, there's more nuance.
When you entered into thisfreelance lifestyle, was that
pretty effortless to drop intolistening to your intuition
going with your own rhythm, ordid it take a while to adjust to
?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (23:19):
great question because when I back in
2020, when everything was justlike chaotic for me, I was at
the point I was like you knowwhat?
Do you know what I really need?
I need six months off work.
So I was like you know, I'mgonna.
Just, I was at that point.
I was like I don't care how badthis looks on my resume or like
how many people I'm gonna.
Just, I was at that point.
I was like I don't care how badthis looks on my resume, or
(23:39):
like how many people I'm gonnaput out whatever.
I'm taking six months off on myown, like I funded it myself.
I was that like sold out tojust be, like I need time for
myself.
So having six months off andhaving no agenda, no schedule
for that six months was sofreeing.
But it took me about a month,two months, for my mind to
(24:02):
actually unwind and the tensionto come off, being like I need
to perform, I need to, I needstuff, I need to show up
somewhere.
Like after two months I waslike oh, I actually feel really
refreshed now and all thatstress and anxiety and you know,
heartache and grief, that'sreally subsiding, that's really
(24:22):
coming off me.
Now I'm like great, this iswhat I needed.
So having that six months wasgreat because I could be like oh
yeah, go at my own pace.
So then, when I went back tofull-time work, I was like, no,
I need, I need to implement whatI learnt in my six months and
implement that into my everydaylife.
So that's why freelancing wasscary, but it was a choice.
(24:45):
I was like I need to do thisfor future, lisa, because she
ain't coping now, like thingsneed to change.
I don't want to go back to how.
I need to create something waymore fulfilling.
So the longevity is there foryears to come, or else I'm just
burnt out and I'm, you know, notdoing okay and that's.
April Snow (25:07):
No one wants to be in that spot no, they really
don't, and you really gaveyourself a reset and you don't
want to waste that reset Becauseit's, you know, it's, I love it
and you're like I need thistime, because we do.
We need those times to pauseand just catch up with ourselves
(25:27):
.
Sometimes it's six months,sometimes it's a month,
sometimes it's a year, dependingon circumstances, but we need
those regularly.
What did you bring with youfrom that time into present day?
Was there any practices orroutines that you've kept up
with?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (25:45):
I always enjoy getting home from gym and
making a proper breakfast and bythe time I do gym and have a
proper breakfast, sometimes Idon't start work till 11 o'clock
in the morning and I'm likethis is just my life, because
I'll probably work until sixo'clock that afternoon or I'll
make another hour elsewhere.
(26:07):
But I'm like I just having slowmornings is important and
obviously, working from home,living by myself as well,
there's that freedom andflexibility to no one's pushing
you, no one's hustling you, justasking questions about why
you're cooking breakfast like Igot my own pace.
(26:27):
I don't have to answer toanyone.
So yeah, having that back in mysix months off, I was like I
want that slower pace of life.
I don't want to be somewhere at8 30 in the morning.
You know, in my like businessattire in a meeting unless I
want to be.
And I get like some days aremore structured than others.
(26:48):
I've got to meet clients andthings, but on the days where I
don't need to be rushed, I'mlike I'm going to take full
advantage of this and go at myown pace and let my body relax.
Yeah, yeah, because you'rehustling.
Every other time you've got tobe like where's the?
Where's the peace?
April Snow (27:07):
exactly.
Where's the peace?
I think we don't give enoughcredit to slow mornings.
I also, I, unless I have to, Idon don't start before 11.
Right, yep, it's like the magichour for me, you know, just
having that space to wake up, totake care of yourself, to have
a nice breakfast.
It really sets a foundation,because if we are jumping out of
(27:31):
bed, we're running offsomewhere.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (27:34):
You don't get to unwind that
overstimulation the rest of theday and then it just builds on
each other and then you have acoffee and that's like right,
like we're so overstimulated andthat's great because it's
productive, but that's for likecorporate stuff and yeah, I get
it, we get results and that'samazing and yeah, we need to do
(27:55):
the work.
I'm not saying we don't need todo the work but, like what
happens when we put ourselveslast exactly exactly when we put
ourselves last.
April Snow (28:07):
It just becomes that chronic overstimulation,
dysregulation where you end upin burnout, you end up needing
to take six months off but if we?
Can right, and I've had, I'vebeen there too, and but if we
take some time every day, itdoesn't get to that place.
Or maybe we take six months off, but we do it out of leisure
(28:28):
yeah, just, I just want to gotravel or, like you know, just
go volunteer somewhere else.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (28:35):
That fills my cup, you know just anything,
anything else.
But like we were like grindingand on emails and all that stuff
, it's so important to unplug itreally is, it's just essential.
April Snow (28:51):
So freelancing has allowed you to.
It's like to be more in yourrhythm as an hsp, to listen to
yourself.
Anything else freelancing hastaught you to be more in your
rhythm as an HSP, to listen toyourself.
Anything else freelancing hastaught you or you've been able
to do as an HSP.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (29:05):
It's really and like I've just spoken about
all the really beautiful things,but I think the really hard
learning curves are like I don'thave a HR department to go and
complain to and for them toadvocate on my behalf.
I am that person now.
So like, again, I'm giving up.
I'm like, oh no, I don't needto work in an office or whatever
(29:28):
.
But also I kind of miss thesupport in the community and if
that's not there in myfreelancing job, I need to go
out and find it, which is mespeaking up and using my voice,
which is sometimes that's hardand it's yeah.
I like I don't want to have toask people these things.
You kind of just want people tointuitively know that what you
(29:48):
need, yes, why can't they For me, like having to always be on
searching for answers, fixingstuff, troubleshooting like I
knew that was a part of the job,but it's made me be like next
level.
Okay, I can speak up for myselfand this is not a bad thing.
It's just how I'm going tooperate in my freelancing life
(30:11):
now.
So, obviously, speaking up andyou're met with opposition, or
someone doesn't want you topaint I don't know a certain way
or whatever I'm like thatstarts and ends with me.
If I don't feel safe, like on apainting site or whatever, I
have every right.
And I always tell myself I'mlike, yeah, it's important to
(30:33):
make money, but I'm like at thecost of my health, of my mental
health, yeah, of anything else.
If I'm like absolutely scaredto be somewhere, I'm like, no, I
have every right to pull theplug on this job and
respectfully walk away and notthink about it twice because I
feel, you know, stressed out forwhatever reason.
(30:57):
So that's been hard but it'sbeen really beneficial because
I'll get through a season ofsaying no to people or speaking
up for my rights or whatever.
And especially me being young,like coming across quite young,
being female.
It's sometimes, unfortunately,people think they can just talk
over you or be like, no, no,you'll be fine, they'll glaze
(31:21):
over it.
But me, being hsp, I'm like, no, you don't understand.
I'm actually really strugglingin like an environment where
it's you feel safe and you dothis every day, but for me it's
not my cup of tea.
So actually, this is, thisjob's not going to work or
whatever.
I'm not feeling bad to walkaway from fantastic
opportunities.
(31:41):
I don't be like this would havejust been amazing if I just
sucked it up and did the job orwhatever.
But I'm like you know what,it's actually not worth it if I
get hurt.
Or and then if I do get injuredon a work site, I'm like
insurance isn't going to pay forthat, like I've always got to
be that extra level cautious andalways speaking up for myself
(32:02):
and having my own back, becauseat the end of the day no one
really has my back in business.
So it's been challenging, butit helps me be like oh, I can be
a HSP and I can be assertivewith my boundaries and not feel
bad.
April Snow (32:18):
I love that.
Yeah, I mean because you haveto be your own advocate when you
work for yourself, and not justfor your physical health, your
mental health, but I imaginealso for your integrity and art
and business.
To think about that big pictureis important as well 100 yeah,
yeah.
So this has really helped youkind of grow your muscle
(32:40):
self-preservation,self-protection and you said
something interesting which isnot think twice about it.
Is that something you've beenable to do?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (32:48):
just feel really solid in your decisions
yeah, because I guess it's likelearning to trust my gut.
First reaction's always thereaction that we should go with,
but we always talk about beinglike oh, but what they're gonna
say, I'm gonna miss out on money, reputation.
I'm like no gut feeling.
(33:09):
I've been learning to tap intothat and not try and people,
please, or for my way intocompromise because it just down
the track, I'm like why did Iagree to it now I'm in this job
I don't even want to do?
And then I have to later on belike actually, you know what?
You changed my mind right inthe contract, like, and I'm like
(33:31):
no, I should be upfront andhonest all the time and if it's
gonna offend someone or hurtsomeone, that's not on me to
carry.
So it's always.
Yeah, I always have to be likeno, gut knows, gut is the second
brain, just go with it and notyes, try and talk myself out of
it.
April Snow (33:50):
Yes, the gut is the second brain and I can't tell
you the times where I've ignoredthat gut feeling and then it
was so much harder later to getout of it.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (34:01):
We really create rods for our backs just
to keep other people happy.
Yes, oh yeah, this will begreat in other ways for me.
But you're like no, mentallythis is a no for me.
April Snow (34:12):
But then, yeah, down the track it'll come out to
haunt us and we're like great,should have just been honest
yeah, right, exactly, andthat'll free up energy to do
something that is a good fit,that you do want to do, that is
safe for you, that you love todo.
I always think that there's asilver lining.
It's uncomfortable in themoment, but it's so much better
(34:34):
than dealing with conflict downthe road when you're more
entwined with the project.
Or maybe it takes away energyfrom something else you could
have done.
I just think about that.
Try to think about that bigpicture when I'm like taking on
a client or saying yes to acommitment or whatever it is.
Yeah, such a good reminder.
Listen to your gut.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (34:53):
Yeah, especially as HSPs don't
overwrite it.
Yeah, and I guess, growing upand we're HSPs in a non-HSP
world, we get the messages ofget over it, suck it up, push
through.
Pushing through is good, yes,in certain circumstances and we
weigh that up, but, like,sometimes, we don't need to push
(35:14):
through, we need to chooseanother way exactly that's so
valid it's so valid?
April Snow (35:20):
yeah, because we're.
I'm just thinking about wherethose messages come from.
They're often coming from folkswho sometimes are trying to be
caring, like we want you to fitin, we want you not to give up,
you know.
But they're coming from peoplewho have a very different lived
experience.
Yes, don't have the same levelof sensitivity, perception,
intuition, which is totally okay.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (35:41):
We need those people too, yeah it's yeah
, it's all about a balance.
We need them because I'mactually I'm feeling like I can
push through something and I doit.
I'm like I'm glad I had thatconfidence.
I'm like not going to have tomy gut says no.
April Snow (36:02):
Exactly.
How do you personally, if youhave a sense, differentiate
between I'm going to push alittle or I'm going to say no?
Is it a gut feeling or is itsomething else?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (36:07):
It's definitely that gut feeling, but
I also feel, being a Christian,it's like Holy Spirit is that
little voice that's like I'mletting you know you're going to
say no and I'll be like yes,and then down the track it will
just blow up and I'm like HolySpirit was right, why did I say
no to my gut?
Why did I say no to that, tothe spirit trying to warn me?
(36:30):
So now I'm just like, yeah, Ineed to be more in tune with
yeah, but going back to thatinitial reaction because I'm
like, let's, because holy spiritknows what's gonna happen.
So I'm like, okay, cool, I needto be more in tune with that,
instead of being like, oh, Idon't want to say no, because
then people are gonna get mad atme and I need to want them to
(36:52):
be friends with me.
Only you know, whatever reason,whatever, yeah, just being in
tune with that is very helpful.
April Snow (37:00):
Yeah, tapping into something bigger than yourself.
Yes, yeah, your spirituality,spirituality, your religion,
your guides, whatever you lookto is so important, right, and
especially as hsps, we're moreattuned to that it can be such a
resource.
Yeah, I love that.
Yeah, so it sounds likefreelancing has been a great
(37:21):
decision for you yeah, so far,so good, can't complain.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (37:26):
Yeah, that was two years, going on to three
years now.
April Snow (37:30):
Mm-hmm, that's very very fast.
What's different now than threeyears ago, I think?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (37:36):
just having that belief in myself.
I mean, I did start.
I was like, yeah, yeah, I'mgoing to do the things.
But it was always that likeokay, if this doesn't work out,
I'll just find another full-timejob, go back to work.
Whatever it was.
Always I'm just going to jumpout and see what happens and see
(37:56):
how it progresses for me.
But now I'm sort of into it andI'm establishing my business
and freelancing.
I'm like, okay, this is where Iwant to stay for a few years
and keep growing it and havingthat.
Yeah, getting through impostersyndrome.
Imposter syndrome is stillreally hard.
(38:16):
So, like, I know I have a skill, I know I'm good at it, I know
I can get jobs, but it's alwaysthat like, is this gonna sustain
me for the next five, ten years?
I don't know, but I'm focusingwhat I can do right now and,
yeah, always just being like,okay, I can do this, like having
more confidence and faith in me.
(38:38):
And confidence as a HSP doesn'tcome naturally.
Sometimes we get our confidenceknocked a lot and then we're
like, okay, well, I'm not gonnado it because.
But yeah, knowing that I can doit, and if I do make mistakes
and stuff up, I'm like that'sokay, I keep.
I keep at it because this is alifestyle I want to keep at and
(38:59):
because it's just so freeing tocreate art and do all the things
that make me happy yeah, it'sbeen wonderful to watch you over
the last few years just getmore prolific in your art and
take on new opportunities andkind of grow into this role.
April Snow (39:19):
And it's working right.
Like you said, you know thatyou can do it.
Just a matter of reallytrusting in yourself.
It's hard as an HSP.
We've been told our experienceisn't accurate, so that doubt
comes on pretty easily.
But you're seeing like it playout in your life like, okay,
this is working, let's hopeit'll keep working.
Is there anything you wouldtell 2021 Lisa?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (39:43):
my goodness, I would tell her that you can
do it.
April Snow (39:51):
Yeah.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (39:51):
You can do hard stuff and it does take work
.
But it's also important to putyourself first and not feel
selfish, because once your cup'sfilled, you've got capacity to
pour out to others, instead ofthe other way around, how I was
operating I pour out to othersand I'm empty and then I'm like,
(40:14):
okay, time to refill.
It's no, it's actually.
It's so okay to be selfish,it's okay to let people down and
I did do an artwork about that.
It's hey, it's okay to letpeople down.
And there's like littlesparkles around it and it's
quite a deep message because I'mjust like, oh, my gosh, like I
hate letting people down andpeople pleasing is just so much
(40:37):
easier.
But I'm like no, I need tostand up for myself.
Let people down and let them.
Let them, not me having tocater to fixing their emotional
state.
I stand up for me.
You do you no hard feelingslike exactly right.
April Snow (40:55):
It's okay to pour into yourself.
You don't have to hold everyoneelse's emotions.
I know we feel like we should,but we don't have to.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (41:02):
We can't even yeah, but I feel like I
guess, because we are so intuned, it's easy for us to be
like, oh, tell me about, tell meabout everything that's been
going on, because, yes, we loveconnecting over deep stuff, but
we don't realize that it'sactually quite draining as well
and we're like, oh, I reallyenjoy this, but now it's just so
(41:24):
.
I've got no capacity now.
April Snow (41:27):
So it's, yeah, being in tune, yeah, and pacing
ourselves with how much we takeon of others, yeah.
And just like you talked aboutyour morning routine, you give
to yourself first, same in everyother area, like make sure we
have our fuel before we go onthat trip with someone.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (41:45):
Yeah, yeah, do not want to run out.
No, all you want to do is go ona trip and you're like, oops,
we ran out of fuel and we're inthe middle of nowhere and now we
need to leave.
Exactly Right.
It's not wise, no, no, it's notWith our emotional capacity,
with our physical capacity,because it's like it's good to
(42:08):
be, it's good to hustle, it'sgood to be productive, because
it looks so lazy, it's so badnot to just rest.
April Snow (42:21):
Yeah, which we need.
So, yes, exactly, we really doneed it, and I mean, you're a
testament to this.
Look what happens when you takea pause you do rest and
recharge and then you get tostep into something more
fulfilling.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (42:36):
Yeah.
April Snow (42:36):
Yeah.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (42:38):
Yeah, it's a good reset.
I highly recommend it.
If people are listening to thisand they're like should I?
Yeah, do it.
Yes, it's really hard and itwas really scary for me to
actually tell my workplace, eventhough they're the nicest
people ever.
Scary for me to actually tellmy workplace, even though
they're the nicest people everfor me to actually have that
confidence, to approach them andbe like would you consider
holding my job for six months.
They could turn around and say,no, that's not going to work
(43:01):
for us.
But they were so gracious to belike yeah, we would love to
give you that six months off.
Come back in six months' time.
We'd love to know how you'redoing.
It was hard to tell family andfriends because they're like we
don't understand.
We know you're struggling, butwe didn't know it was that bad
that you need to take time offI've just been like keeping my
(43:22):
head above water for many years.
I don't want to annoy anyoneright, right.
April Snow (43:27):
We're often we're trained to keep that in right.
Our emotions are too big so wetend to tuck it away and people
don't realize and also whatwe're feeling at such a deep
level.
Someone else would probablyonly be feeling that at a
fraction of this.
You know the same emotion, soit doesn't look big to them, but
for us it is it is yeah andit's something I try and I
(43:49):
always kind of get a little bitupset.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (43:50):
I'm like, why can't they understand?
And I'm like, well, they can'tbecause they hate the non-HSP.
And like, how would I?
I'm like, no, it's one of thosethings I think I've had to
accept being like they might notever understand, and that's
okay, but I know that they stilllove me and they meet me where
I'm at and that's that's.
That's like perfect.
And I'm like, okay, cool, Ifind my own HSP community and
(44:13):
connect with them on that levelbecause that's where I feel the
most seen and understood there,so it's like there's a balance,
because they're the people thatare like come on, you can do it.
Yes, they're the talkers and theHSP take the break, so yes,
both.
April Snow (44:30):
We need both.
That's such a good point.
I've never thought about that.
Yeah, the non-hsps in your life, with the people that are going
to kind of pump you up a bit,yeah, and then the hsps are
going to let you know it's timeto come back down and rest and
we need both.
I mean, that's just kind of amicrocosm of what why we need
both.
In society, we have the peoplethat are pushing the action and
then the others are like let's'srest, let's observe, let's take
(44:52):
a beat.
We need that balance.
We do, yeah, yeah.
Well, lisa, this has been justa lovely conversation and I
appreciate you so much sharingyour own story and kind of
giving a glimpse into this bigtransformation you made in your
own life and what that's beenlike over the last few years.
I definitely want folks to beable to connect with you, so
(45:14):
I'll be sure to share yourwebsite, your Instagram.
You have a lovely newsletter.
I'll share all that in the shownotes.
Let's say, listeners areintrigued about working with you
.
What does that look like?
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (45:23):
They can definitely work with me.
I have an online store whichI've got, you know, artwork and
products and merchandise.
I also do murals.
If they're local, I can travelas well.
But if murals aren't available,we can always look at designing
wallpapers and things like thatto ship over and then, on top
(45:44):
of that branding, I also dographic design and branding,
tapping back into my corporateskills.
But the way I do branding isfor businesses that like have
heart and soul and everything'sright and then like things are
just different.
It's not, yes, it's justusually for small businesses
(46:05):
that have all that personalitythat they want to get out
through their branding.
And, yeah, finding that sort ofmy niche of clients, it's just
fantastic because there's a lotof beautiful people out there to
work with.
So, yeah, if any of thoseservices tickles their fancy,
they can totally reach out to me.
I would love to work with themLove that.
April Snow (46:26):
I'll also share your online store.
I forgot to mention that andit's great you have that and
people can work with you in alot of different ways or, at the
very least, connect with you onInstagram and keep up with your
HSP inspired art and justeverything that you share 100%.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (46:41):
Yeah, there's many different ways.
April Snow (46:43):
Beautiful.
Well, thank you so much forthis conversation, Lisa.
Lisa-Marie Vecchio (46:46):
You're so welcome.
Thanks, april.
Welcome, thanks, april.
April Snow (46:56):
Thanks so much for joining me and Lisa for today's
conversation.
I hope you're feeling inspiredto make some subtle or not so
subtle changes in your life, toslow down and feel more
spaciousness, to work with Lisaor buy her colorful art prints,
planners and other goods.
You can visit her website,lisadesigncom.
(47:16):
That'sL-I-S-A-D-O-T-D-E-S-I-G-Ncom.
The link is also in the shownotes.
If you enjoyed this episode,subscribe to the Sensitive
Stories podcast so you don'tmiss our upcoming conversations.
Reviews and ratings are alsohelpful and appreciated For
(47:38):
behind-the-scenes content andmore HSB resources.
You can sign up for my emaillist or follow Sensitive
Strengths on Instagram, tiktokand YouTube.
Check out the show notes orsensitivestoriescom for all the
resources from today's episode.
Thanks for listening.
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