How to Stop Spinning: Creativity Lessons From My Kids

One of the most surprising things I’ve learned from my kids lately is how effortlessly they move past mindset barriers, especially when it comes to being creative. It’s inspiring—and very humbling.

Last week, while working on my fifth book (yes, its happening!), I found myself going down a familiar rabbit hole: researching illustrators, crunching numbers for publishing costs, and thinking of all the ways I might bring an oracle deck to life to go along with the book.

The more questions I tried to answer, the more stuck I felt.

And then, while I was talking it out with my husband Steve, my 7-year old Jules quietly sat down, grabbed some blank cards, and—with no drama—made five original oracle cards and a key for interpreting them.

Just like that.

No rules, no hesitation, no spinning.

He didn’t wonder if he qualified as “an artist,” he just decided he was and got to work.

Meanwhile, I kept telling myself the old story: “I’m not an artist, so I shouldn’t even try.”

Instead of exploring ideas with my own paints, I built a barrier before I‘d even started.

Can you relate?

Seeing Jules in pure creation mode was the nudge I needed. I decided to follow his lead and just make something—for fun, for curiosity, for the process itself.

Once I started painting, something beautiful happened: images and ideas began to flow.

Not only did I discover some themes and visuals I’d been intuiting, but whole new insights emerged about the tools I’ve been teaching for years. It was like seeing my own work through a brand-new lens.

Will my paintings end up in the finished oracle deck? Honestly, probably not.

But that’s no longer the point. I’m making one for every card anyway, approaching it as a student rather than an expert—open, curious, and ready to be surprised by what I find.

All this to say: You don’t have to wait for the title, the training, or the “right” moment to start creating.

Sometimes, the only real barrier is the one you build in your head. The moment you decide to set it aside—even for a little while—is the moment everything starts to flow.

If you find yourself spinning, try shifting your mindset.

Start before you’re ready and let your creativity lead the way. You might be surprised at what you can make, and more importantly, what you might discover about yourself along the way.

Want an extra boost to help shift your mindset and unlock your creativity?

The Light Your Next Lantern course is designed to help you break through creative barriers and find your unique voice. Whether you're struggling with self-doubt, perfectionism, or simply feeling stuck, this course will guide you from spinning in preparation to actively creating with confidence.

In this course, you'll discover practical tools to shift your mindset beyond internal Static, and move forward with your most meaningful projects. Just like I needed that gentle reminder from Jules, sometimes all we need is the right guidance to illuminate our path.

Join me in Light Your Next Lantern and turn your creative hesitation into inspired action.

Your next brilliant idea is waiting—let's bring it to life together.