#45: Originality, Creativity and Staying True to Yourself
Welcome back to Find Yourself, Change Your Life where today we’re speaking about originality, creativity and staying true to yourself. I’m so grateful to have you here, sharing this journey of self-discovery and growth. Today, I’m inviting you into a slightly different kind of episode, a space to reflect, reconnect, and re-ignite your creativity, all centered around the powerful idea of staying true to yourself.
The Power of Journaling for Self-Discovery - Staying True to Yourself
If you’ve listened before, you probably know I’m a huge fan of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. This isn’t just any book... it’s truly a companion for anyone searching to uncover their creativity or bring a little more originality into their everyday life. In particular, Julia’s Morning Pages Journal practice has shaped me profoundly. For several years, I committed to writing three pages every morning, simply dumping whatever was in my head onto the page. Those stacks of journals lining my bookshelf are a testament to how transformative this ritual can be.
Whenever life gets overwhelming, or the noise of the world drowns out my inner voice, I find myself returning to those written pages. The simple act of writing helps me in staying true to myself, asking what it is I really think, want, and feel.
Julia Cameron’s Tools for Creativity and Originality while Staying True to Yourself
A big part of Cameron’s approach, which she first taught as a course and then a book, is to help people reconnect with their creativity… especially when that sense has been lost amid life’s busyness. One of her tools is the Morning Pages Journal; another is the “artist date” dedicated solo time spent immersed in art or creativity, letting your interests be your guide. Whether you’re wandering through a museum, taking a pottery class, or just sitting in a park sketching, you’re invited to listen to your own spark.
A Quote to Inspire: Staying True to Yourself
Recently, while journaling, I stumbled on a Julia Cameron quote that’s been lingering in my mind. It goes like this:
“It is the accurate mapping out of our own creative interests that invites the term original. We are the origin of our art, its homeland. Viewed this way, originality is the process of remaining true to ourselves.”
— Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal, page 174
When I read it, although I’ve passed that page countless times before, something deeper clicked. Cameron writes that originality isn't about trying to be wildly different or inventing something brand new. It's about staying true to yourself, mapping out your own creative interests, and understanding that you are the origin of everything you create.
What Does Staying True to Yourself Really Mean?
How often do we actually remain true to ourselves? As I reflected, I realized it’s easy to get swept up in what other people are sharing online. Sometimes we see someone else’s spark and forget about our own unique light. Thoughts creep in like “I couldn’t do that,” “I’m not good enough,” or “it’s already been done.” Our minds play tricks, convincing us to stay silent.
But Cameron’s words challenge us: staying true to yourself is what makes you original. The process isn’t always grand or earth-shaking. Often, it’s about the small moments… picking up your pen, spending time in the garden, baking bread, singing along to your favorite song, reconnecting with the things that genuinely light you up. Are you allowing these moments of authenticity and expression to shine through?
Finding Your Spark When You Feel Disconnected – Staying True to Yourself
If you’re not sure what lights you up right now, that’s perfectly okay. Many people come to me unsure of how to reconnect with their creativity or feeling a little lost. One tool I always suggest is returning to the practice of Morning Pages or any type of journaling, because it’s a gentle, personal way to begin mapping out your internal landscape, staying true to yourself, one word at a time.
This practice doesn’t mean rigid discipline or perfection; you don’t have to write daily for the rest of your life. Instead, treat it as an invitation. Pause for a few minutes, reflect, and let your originality come through in whatever way feels right in this season of your life.
Everyday Originality: Celebrating Your Unique Joys while Staying True to Yourself
Staying true to yourself might look different from one person to the next. Maybe you’re drawn to plants and gardening, animals, food, travel, or something else entirely. The important question is: are you staying connected? Are you expressing your authentic creativity in spaces and places that matter to you? And are you allowing yourself to find joy in activities that spark something within you, even if those things aren’t the backbone of your income or public identity?
Ultimately, staying true to yourself is about honoring all that you are… the messiness, the beauty, the curiosity, and inviting more of that into your life, one small moment at a time.
An Invitation: Pause and Explore for Staying True to Yourself
Wherever you are on your journey, I encourage you to give yourself space to be curious and to explore what staying true to yourself looks like for you. There’s no prescribed path, no wrong way to do it. It’s your journey, your originality, your path to self discovery.
I’d love to hear from you… your reflections, your questions, or anything that resonated in today’s episode.
Let’s keep this conversation going. Find me on social at the links below, and know that in this busy world, I deeply appreciate your time and presence here. You can find me on LinkedIn and Instagram @mary.clavieres, or check out my website for resources, book info, and human design readings.
Thank you for being part of this community, and for giving yourself the chance to reconnect and stay true to yourself.
Thank you so much for being part of this community. Remember, that exploring your creativity as a way to stay true to yourself is an ongoing practice. Every step you take brings you closer to greater self-awareness, alignment, and fulfillment. I’m honored to walk this journey with you.
If you’d like to connect further about your unique human design blueprint, you’re invited to learn more and book a reading here.
Questions? Please feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or Instagram. I'm also on Voxer at @MaryClavieres.
Thank you so much for being here, for listening, and for taking these steps on your own journey. Until next week!
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Previous Episodes You May Enjoy:
Understanding Your Mind and the Tricks It Plays on You
Human Design Explained: Understanding Your Unique Energy Blueprint
The Future Belongs to Authentic Self Expression
Behind the Scenes of Mind Body Connection Unlocked Plus a Reflection Activity
Align Your Mind and Body With This Simple Visioning Exercise
Why Letting Go Is Hard and How to Make It Easier
Egypt and Overcoming My Fear of Heights: A Journey in Personal Transformation
