We tend to talk about creativity as something we have to do. Write that proposal. Complete that project. Perfect that performance. But what if we're completely missing the point of engaging with creativity? What if creativity isn’t something to manipulate and master, but more like a living, breathing relationship that just wants some genuine TLC? Like any of the meaningful relationships we check in on regularly. (e.g. Hey, what’s up? How are you? What’s going on? What do you need? Can I give you a hug?)
And what if our creativity in midlife—more than at any other stage in life, perhaps—is especially about dropping our incessant desire to control the outcome? And instead, just about showing up. With no expectations. Just a willingness to be curious, to listen, and to see what's cooking.
That creative reframe is at the core of my conversation today with Liz Kimball—a creative catalyst, transformational coach, and visionary thinker whose work lives at the intersection of imagination, embodiment, and identity. Liz doesn’t just coach women to “get things done.” She helps them reimagine the creative process as a living relationship with their voice, their purpose, and their future self.
Liz grew up in a deeply artistic home and began dancing seriously at a very young age. Ballet became her creative container. A space where she poured years of discipline and devotion into the pursuit of excellence. Everything seemed mapped out for a professional career in performance, until one day, in a moment of radical clarity (which she shares in her TEDx talk), she walked away. That choice unraveled everything and sparked something entirely new. Today, Liz is the founder of The Creative 15 and The Expansion Project. Her work has been featured on Oprah.com, The Guggenheim, and more. With an MFA and a CPC certification, she helps women birth the great work of their lives, not just the external projects, but the truest version of themselves.
💫 Want to take this work deeper? Join me this June in Paris for Creative Camp—a five-day immersive designed to reignite your creative spark. Learn more at zevabellel.com/creative-camp
Connect with Me:
•\tBook a discovery call at www.zevabellel.com
•\tSubscribe to my Substack: On Becoming
•\tEmail me: zeva@zevabellel.com
•\tLeave me a voice message on Speakpipe
Credits: Artwork Jessie Kanelos Weiner; Editing Matthew Jordan; Music © Fabrice Fortin
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