Today it gives me great pleasure to introduce Loran Hills, creator of Loran’s Heart. I had the pleasure of meeting Loran last year in the 21 Secrets playground. From the moment we met I was struck by your gracious heart, infectious warmth and GORGEOUS sense of wonder. Loran is an inspiration to me on both a personal and professional level; she has so much to share. But don’t take my word for it! After reading this article, I guarantee you will feel that same spirit that I have come to so admire. Enjoy! Natasha
Balancing Creativity and Business with Life
Creativity means so many things. It’s defined as the ability to transcend traditional ideas and to create new ones. Creativity requires imagination and originality. Always, though, there is the daunting reality of the Blank Page. Initially there is white space, and then something emerges into existence and becomes real.
Most people will say they aren’t creative when in truth we all have the ability to be creative but it needs to be cultivated and nurtured. Sadly, school is not the place where this usually happens. In college I majored in Art History. I studied and admired the creativity of other people. I enjoyed the storytelling with pictures. I also took art classes but quickly discovered that those classes came with judgments from my teachers. Their (sometimes) severe judgments meant staying within whatever lines they designated.
Becoming an art historian did not put food on my table. I returned to school and got a Masters in counseling. Counseling is a form of storytelling too. I used my creative skills to build programs and I used my intuition to get into the “zone” in a session.
In both academic and social service settings the system was limiting because I was expected to stay in a box. It took a long time before I arrived at a place where my skills aligned perfectly. I figured out a way to combine my creativity, love of nature, photography and therapeutic skills. I took a leap of faith and started Loran’s Heart.
Being an independent thinker and entrepreneur can cause fear, uncertainly and doubts. Years of journaling have helped me process negative thoughts and transform them back into action. My first art journaling experience was with my favorite creative cartwheeler, Natasha! Using visual imagery sometimes helps me move beyond the limitation of words to express my emotions. So does music and dance.
Anaïs Nin said, “Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the action stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.” For years I dreamed of finding a meaningful way to express myself. Although I was clueless about what I was getting into, quitting my job and starting a business meant that my dream passed in to reality. Now I am being pushed in ways I never expected but this creates new dreams and is leading me to a higher form of living. I am dreaming about new and more creative ways to help others.
Creating new goals is part of the process of self-discovery in business and in life. Where I was when I started is neither where I am today nor where I will be three years from now. The creative process is not linear. Some days I am wildly creative and others not so much. Sometimes I create for the business at the expense of my own personal practice. I discovered the hard way that if I don’t create for my inner self, my well dries up and I get stuck, overwhelmed and off center.
I’m working on transcending traditional ideas to create original ones so that I can help others. I would love to bring psychological, emotional and spiritual health into fruition for everyone who seeks it. I want to illuminate the path of self-discovery for others. It’s a tall order but every day I get closer to manifesting my dream and making it real. This means eliminating my own judgments, mitigating my fears and staying out of those self-limiting boxes I fought so hard to get out of! And, I get to be creative.
Want to learn more about this extraordinary woman? Visit Loran at Loran’s Heart, a beautiful and inspiring site. Give the Loran’s Heart Facebook Page some love! AND follow Loran on Twitter: @fromLoransHeart
Thank you, Natasha, for inviting Loran into your space. I love your work and your energy, Loran! And this article was a great read for me right now. I don’t see myself as a creative person but when I read the definition of creative I guess I am : ).
Thank you for sharing, Loran!
Big hugs, Karina
I love the quote by Anais and your comments about it – makes your creative life seem like a dance. Great website too, thanks for sharing.
This is really beautiful. Thank you for sharing how you came to do what you do. You are an inspiration.
Thank- you for sharing your process Loran. I agree that we need to be open to the nonlinear ways of thinking and being if we are to move forward creatively. I too struggled with art classes that constricted creativity and am so happy that I don’t definemy creativity by those parameters anymore
@ Karina – I have friend who didn’t think she was creative either even though she sews the most amazing projects. Creativity is in the mind of the beholder!
@ Julie – Anais Nin is an incredible writer and my hero. I could quote her until the cows come home.
@ Dominee – As I inspire you, you inspire me.
@ Petrea – As an art therapist, you know without a doubt the healing power of creativity.
Thanks, Natasha, for your kind introduction and patience while I got this post written.
To all of the beautiful women who wrote – Karina, Julia, Dominee and Petrea – thank you for your words and celebration of Loran. Loran I am so honored that you wrote this and shared this it! I’m thrilled that you were here. xoxo
Yay for creativity! You keep growing and expanding Loran and in doing so, help others to the same……woohoo!
Loran,
Beautiful as always. You have a way of writing that truly lifts the spirit. Thank you!
Patti
@ Gina – I keep workin’ on it!
@ Patti – It’s my goal to lift the spirit so that’s nice to hear.
Beautiful post, Loran – you’re definitely one of the most creative people I know.
“Creating new goals is part of the process of self-discovery in business and in life.”
I love how you bring self discovering into your business! I think many people just think of the business from the money point of view, but you really do need the balance.
Awesome!
@ Tanja – do you hang around a lot of left-brained people?
@ Lori Lynn – there is so much going on in business that people don’t acknowledge in the “old school” model but in the newer paradigm it’s good to know there can be alignment between money and spirituality. Still desperately seeking it!
Great message, Loran, thank you! I’m another person who doesn’t consider herself particularly creative in the artistic sense, but maybe I just need to find the medium I am a creator in. Thanks for sharing!
Loran, I am inspired by so much of your process of self discovery. Using ones tuition to get into a zone is a truly special and rewarding experience. Great work and thank you for sharing.
@ Vanessa – I hope you find a medium that works for you!
@ Nate – Admittedly I am always surprised when someone says I’m an inspiration but thanks for letting me know.
I always loved drawing and all things creative as a kid. But once I realized I wasn’t really ‘good’ (thanks to judging teacher and peers) I shut down my creativity for a long time. All I did was write in my journal, or write long private poems.
Later though when I opened a unique and original, herb store – someone made the comment that I was so creative. “What?” I thought. “Not me, I’m not creative.” Then I realized that creativity is about much more than the obvious mediums like visual art or being a musician. Now I can celebrate the many things I create. (And I’m getting about ready to play around with some paints again!)