Do you feel called to write, but find yourself held back by self-doubt or anxiety? Or are you a seasoned writer who is currently plagued by writer’s block? Well, you aren’t alone.

In this episode, I share practical tips for moving through writer’s anxiety and breaking the cycle of self-doubt that can keep stories stuck in your head. While this insight can help any writer, it is targeted specifically for those who are new to writing or returning to the craft after some time.

Alongside my work as a registered dietitian, I’m also a creative writer rediscovering storytelling after many years. I wrote quite a bit in my previous career in corporate communications, technical writing, and freelance nonfiction, but not creatively. For a long time, the stories I wanted to write stayed locked inside of my head because of severe writer’s block, which was fueled by anxiety and self-doubt.

In this episode, I share some simple tips that have helped me begin writing creatively again, even though it has been a slow process. These tips might help you either return to the page, or start your journey as a new writer. Some of this insight can also help people returning to other creative pursuits after a hiatus.

How can music help us get in tune with ourselves, our stories, and our communities? What is cathartic and healing about certain sounds? What can the musical traditions of indigenous cultures teach us? My guest on this episode, Kenny Kirkwood, discusses these questions with me and more.

Kenny Kirkwood is a musician, educator, and folktivist. A Juno award-winning Canadian musician, he has toured internationally. Kenny spent his childhood in Zambia. This experience influenced his songwriting, his craft, and immersed him in the communal and spiritual aspects of music.

We talk about:

• Why certain songs are cathartic to us
• The lost art of music as an oral tradition
• How music can help us tell our stories
• Tips for learning how to play a musical instrument as an adult
• What we can learn from the indigenous cultures in our area
• Why humming can help us learn rhythm, increase awareness, and keep us in the present moment
• How trauma from early musical education as a youth can impact us as adult learners

Find out more about Kenny and his music at kennykirkwood.com

Fear is something we avoid experiencing and talking about, but it has so much to teach us.

My guest on this episode is Guryan Tighe, leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and communications strategist. She is the author of the book “Unmasking Fear.”

She talks about how understanding and working with our fears, rather than conquering them, leads to more success and personal fulfillment.

We also chat about:

· The difference between rational and irrational fears

· How fear can teach us where we need to grow

· How to use curiosity, purpose, and gratitude to get from fear to creativity

· How to release past hurts so we no longer live our lives trying to avoid triggers

· Why naming and working with our internal “self-critic” helps us

Learn more about what Guryan does on her website: fourage.io.