Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

When life feels overwhelming—holiday chaos, family visits, changing seasons, global uncertainty—what grounds you? What single action remains within your control?

Today I'm sharing a deeply personal reflection from Chapter 23 of my book, "The Places When There Are Spaces," exploring how my daily ritual of making my bed has become an unexpected anchor. This seemingly mundane task transforms into something profound through daily practice: sometimes a struggle when "the blankets feel heavy" and other times a moment of unexpected beauty when "the sheet catches the air as I shake it out, floating down easily like a parachute making its soft landing."

What makes this ritual particularly powerful is its privacy and complete autonomy. No one sees whether my bed is perfectly made or if it's merely presentable on the surface. The act becomes a daily reminder that some aspects of life remain entirely within my control. As I write, "At the end of the day, it's my bed and how I make it is entirely up to me and that is how I'll sleep in it." This simple practice also cultivates gratitude—recognizing that having a bed is itself a privilege.

What daily non-negotiable keeps you centered when everything else feels chaotic? What small action might become your personal touchstone? Listen to this brief but powerful episode, then take a moment to consider: What's one thing that you can do every day, no matter what happens?

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Have you ever judged yourself for running out of social energy? That moment when your initial enthusiasm fades and you wonder if something's wrong with you?

This powerful conversation explores the art of conscious energy management and breaks down the limiting binary thinking that keeps many of us trapped in unhealthy patterns. We dive into how energy naturally fluctuates during social interactions—starting strong, attracting similar energy from others, and eventually reaching a point where sustainability becomes questionable.

What makes this discussion transformative is the introduction of "shading" as a metaphor for intentional energy modulation. Just as a dancer learns to balance power with subtlety or an artist uses multiple tones to create depth, we can learn to consciously choose our energetic expression rather than defaulting to exhaustion. This isn't about inconsistency—it's about developing range and adaptability.

Perhaps most profound is the exploration of joy's many nuances. Joy isn't limited to high-energy experiences with friends or exciting travels. It exists in quiet moments, deep connections, and even mundane activities when we're fully present. By breaking free from "all-or-nothing" thinking about our energy and embracing the full spectrum of experience, we open ourselves to a richer, more sustainable way of moving through the world.

Ready to transform how you manage your energy and experience joy in its many forms? Listen now and discover how becoming aware of your energetic patterns is the first step toward more conscious, sustainable living.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Feeling stuck is a universal human experience—whether creatively blocked, emotionally frozen, or simply overwhelmed by life's complexities. This gentle guided meditation creates a sanctuary where you can explore what "stuckness" actually feels like in your body and mind, without immediately trying to fix or change it.

Through focused breathing and visualization, you'll learn to create space around whatever feels constricted or immobile. Rather than fighting against resistance, this practice invites you to approach it with curiosity and compassion, understanding that sometimes what we resist most simply wants to be acknowledged. As the meditation progresses, you'll be guided to recognize that "stuck is just a story" and that movement begins with awareness.

The heart of this practice lies in its permission to soften into uncertainty. With the affirmation "I don't need all the answers right now," you're invited to trust that clarity will emerge in its own time. Through visualizing a growing light within yourself, you'll reconnect with your inner capacity that hasn't disappeared but has perhaps gone quiet amidst life's demands.

Whether you're facing creative blocks, decision paralysis, relationship challenges, or simply feeling stagnant in your personal growth, this meditation offers a pathway back to possibility. The subtle shifts you experience during these ten minutes may be exactly what you need to see your situation with fresh eyes. Take this newfound spaciousness with you as you return to your day, carrying the reminder that sometimes the smallest shift in perspective can create the momentum needed to move forward again. How might your relationship with "stuckness" change if you approached it as a messenger rather than an obstacle?

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

A Buddhist parable called "The Dragon and the Fire" teaches us how to transform our innate qualities from destructive forces into tools for healing and renewal. The story illustrates how redirecting our natural tendencies with wisdom and compassion can lead to personal fulfillment and positive impact on others.

• A mighty dragon with tremendous strength and fiery temperament feels unfulfilled despite his power
• When trying to fight a village fire with his own flames, he only makes the situation worse
• A mountain sage teaches him that fire can both destroy and renew—it's how you use it that matters
• The dragon learns to use his fire as a tool for warmth, light, and helping rebuild the village
• By transforming how he uses his inherent nature, the dragon finds the satisfaction he had long sought

Stay safe and healthy, everyone, and remember to live in the moment.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

What drives you to create, even when the process feels lonely? This revealing coaching session features a candid conversation with a playwright who struggles with the isolation of writing while simultaneously craving the connection he feels in rehearsal rooms.

The session begins with a powerful exploration of purpose as we dive into the question that many creators lose sight of: Why do you do what you do? For this playwright, the answer emerges unexpectedly – he's compelled by a fundamental desire for connection. While he thrives in collaborative environments with actors, directors, and audiences, the solitary writing process often leaves him feeling disconnected from the world.

Through our conversation, a transformative realization takes shape. What if those lonely writing hours aren't disconnection at all, but rather the very foundation of the connection he seeks? By reframing his understanding of the creative process, he discovers that his writing serves as a conduit for connection – even when no one is reading it yet. The audience is already connecting with the idea of his work before seeing a single word.

This episode offers a profound lesson for anyone engaged in creative pursuits: understanding your core values and motivations can transform even the most challenging aspects of your craft. When you recognize why you create, you find purpose in every part of the journey. If you've ever struggled with the solitary aspects of your creative work, this coaching session might just change how you approach your craft tomorrow. What core value drives your creative life?

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Take a breath and step into presence with this transformative walking meditation. Whether you're wandering through a forest trail, circling your office, or simply pacing your living room, this guided practice invites you to turn ordinary movement into extraordinary mindfulness.

The journey begins by establishing a conscious connection with the ground beneath your feet. Feel the surface supporting you as your breath settles your body into the present moment. As you begin moving, each inhale draws in soft, golden light while each exhale releases what no longer serves you—like petals naturally falling from a flower in full bloom.

This isn't just walking—it's breathing with the earth, expanding with every step. Your senses awaken to notice the shapes, sounds, and textures around you, whether natural landscapes or familiar indoor spaces. You become not just an observer but a participant in the breathing world around you. Through gentle mantras that sync with your breath—"I receive" and "I grow"—your walk transforms into a moving meditation that grounds you deeply in the present.

The practice concludes not with an ending but a continuation. Place a hand on your heart, feel the living rhythm within, and carry this spacious awareness into whatever comes next. This meditation demonstrates that mindfulness doesn't require special circumstances—just your willingness to be present in the simple act of walking. Ready to transform your next walk? Listen now and discover how your everyday movements can become your most profound meditation practice.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

We explore how easily we can lose ourselves in others' expectations and how anchoring into our purpose—our why—can transform everything from writing to living authentically.

• Your "why" serves as the anchor in everything you do
• When you connect to your purpose, the "how" naturally reveals itself
• We are contextual beings, different in every moment and circumstance
• Our "best self" looks different day to day, and that's perfectly normal
• We often overshadow ourselves with our strengths because others expect it and "it works"
• Developing a language to express our effective states could transform creative teamwork
• Purpose isn't something to pressure yourself to find—it's a natural evolution of what lights you up

This is your reminder that your best is allowed to look different every day. Let's dive in.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg