I used to think that being creative meant creating something amazing and tangible; an image, a photograph, a sculpture, a scarf, a song, etc. for a purpose. I never thought of creativity as a cathartic way of channeling negative or painful emotions to heal a wound until my father died suddenly when I was in my early 30’s. After his death, I was compelled to write and write and write with an urgency I’d never experienced before. I felt better, started a blog and here we are.

I don’t think I’m alone in my previously limited idea of creativity. Most of us generally identify as one or the other. If you identify as creative, you experience yourself and your life through that lens of possibility. Identifying as not creative, can mean essentially closing the door to a new path of self-discovery and healing.

We are all creative – it’s just a matter of cultivating that part of ourselves and allowing it to come out, even if it’s simply for the pleasure and healing it brings.

Enjoy Creativity: NO Compare & Despair #JustPlay (click to tweet)

Today’s Hello Freedom guest, Beth Nielsen Chapman, is a breast cancer survivor and was widowed in her 30’s with a young child. She was able to turn her pain into purpose by channeling her fear and grief into her songwriting. She is a twice Grammy-nominated, Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has released nine solo albums and written seven #1 hits. Her songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo’, Roberta Flack, Waylon Jennings and Indigo Girls, including Faith Hill’s Mega-hit “This Kiss.” The song “Sand & Water,” written in the wake of her husband’s death, was performed by Elton John to honor the memory of Princess Diana and is my personal fave of all time. (I cry EVERY time!)

Although she has had a fancy career as a singer-songwriter, Beth is equally passionate about being a “creativity midwife”. She teaches workshops internationally to inspire others to blossom fully into their own creative life and to use the power of storytelling and songwriting to heal what needs healing. Beth recently wrapped recording on an album focused on bereavement, Liv On, with Olivia Newton John and Amy Sky, for those who wish to transcend loss while walking a journey toward new-found meaning and hope.

I think you will really enjoy my conversation with my kind, creative, funny pal Beth. She shares some amazing stories about Willie Nelson among others and how a brain tumor impacted her songwriting. If your interest is peaked you can check out Beth’s course Songwriting From the Heart, at Omega July 31st to August 5th. Let’s get some summer creativity on together!

You can Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher or TuneIn

 

“You’re really the CEO of your own story. I mean there’s nobody else that can tell it.” – Beth Nielsen Chapman

Show Notes:

• How she started teaching music
• Why everyone should express themselves creatively
• The importance of play
• What meditation can do for you
• How she finds inspiration for songs

“When the bottom has dropped out of somebody’s plan, that’s a terrible and wonderful place to be, isn’t it?” – Beth Nielsen Chapman

 

• What it’s like to hear your song on the radio
• Her journey with cancer
• How illness affected her songwriting
• Her work with veterans
• What it was like singing for the Queen of England

“I think music and expression of art through our bodies and our beings is the number one healing tool that we’ve been given.” – Beth Nielsen Chapman

 

Sand and Water

All alone I didn’t like the feeling
All alone I sat and cried
All alone I had to find some meaning
In the center of the pain I felt inside

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water, and a million years gone by

I will see you in the light of a thousand suns
I will hear you in the sound of the waves
I will know you when I come, as we all will come
Through the doors beyond the grave

All alone I heal this heart of sorrow
All alone I raise this child
Flesh and bone, he’s just bursting towards tomorrow
And his laughter fills my world and wears your smile

I will see you in the light of a thousand suns
I will hear you in the sound of the waves
I will know you when I come, as we all will come
Through the doors beyond the grave

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water and a million years gone by

Links Mentioned:

• Learn more about Women on Fire
• Check out Beth’s course Songwriting From the Heart
• Read the lyrics to Sand and Water above and buy the CD here
• Liv On album available 9/30/16
• Learn more about Songwriting with Soldiers
• Check out The Combat Paper Project
• Connect with Beth:

 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

 

“When I sing back to someone what they said themselves, there’s something that happens that shift something much deeper in them to heal.” – Beth Nielsen Chapman

*Featured image courtesy of Matt Gibson