The Modern Creative Woman

Dr. Amy Backos

The art and science of creativity, made simple. Through the lens of art therapy, neurocreativity, and cutting-edge research, you’ll learn not just why you create, but how to create with more freedom, intention, and joy. Dr. Amy Backos — author, art therapist, psychologist, professor and researcher, with 30+ years of experience — unpacks the evidence-based psychology behind creative living. Come for the science. Stay for the transformation.

  1. 13h ago

    175. Stop Waiting to Live Your Life: How Art and Creativity Can Transform Your Everyday

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! Are you waiting for life to become easier, calmer, or more interesting before you really start enjoying it? Maybe you're waiting until the kids are older. Until you retire. Until the big project is finished. Until you have more time. So much of adult life can become a series of things we need to finish before we allow ourselves to enjoy what is happening right now. In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores how art, creativity, aesthetics, ritual, and the small choices we make throughout the day can change the way we experience our lives. Amy begins with the idea that art is a universal human behavior. Across cultures and throughout history, people have used art, storytelling, clothing, decoration, music, beauty, and ritual to make life meaningful and special. These experiences aren't simply extras we add once everything else is taken care of. They are part of how we connect with ourselves, our communities, our environments, and the experience of being human. She also looks at the stories we tell through our everyday choices. What are you wearing? How are you eating? What does your home look like? What do you do when you have ten minutes to yourself? Are you taking an actual break, or are you simply moving from one screen to another? Amy shares simple ways to make ordinary moments feel more intentional, from lighting a candle at a meal to looking at a piece of art, stepping outside during a break, sending a photograph to a friend, making something with your hands, rearranging a room, visiting a small museum, or simply paying closer attention to the aesthetics of the world around you. The goal isn't to add another long list of things to your already busy schedule. Many of these experiences require almost no additional time. They require intention and presence. In This Episode Why art appears across every known cultureHow art and storytelling help make life meaningfulThe idea of “making special” and why humans need itWhy we shouldn't save our favorite clothes, dishes, experiences, or adventures for “one day”How waiting for the next stage of life can keep us from experiencing the life we have nowThe relationship between aesthetics and the stories we tell about ourselvesHow clothing can influence our experience of ourselves and the task at handWhy your environment matters to your mood and attentionHow to turn a ten-minute break into a real breakWhy scrolling on your phone isn't necessarily restorativeSimple ways to bring more art and creativity into an ordinary dayHow novelty and aesthetic experiences can engage the brainWhy making art can help us connect with other peopleHow observation can quiet mental chatter and bring you into the present momentThe Modern Creative Woman principles of presence, mindset, and purposeQuestions to Consider What are you waiting for before you allow yourself to really enjoy your life?Are you saving your favorite things for a future that hasn't arrived?What story are you telling about yourself through what you wear?What story does your environment tell?What does your daily routine communicate about what you value?What do you do when you have ten minutes of free time?Are your breaks actually giving your brain a break?What could you make more special today?Where could you bring more creativity into your ordinary routines?What do you notice when you slow down and really observe your environment?Try This Today Take something you normally reserve for a special occasion and use it today. Light the candle. Use the beautiful cup. Wear the clothes you love. Put flowers on the table. Play the music. Sit down for your meal instead of eating it over the sink. You can also give yourself a small aesthetic experience. Look at a piece of art for three minutes. Step outside and notice the architecture or trees around you. Take a photograph of something beautiful and send it to a friend. Rearrange something in your home. Make a small piece of art. The point is to notice what happens when you stop treating pleasure, beauty, creativity, and connection as things you have to earn. A Creative Challenge Look at your day through the lens of presence, mindset, and purpose. Choose one ordinary part of your day and intentionally elevate it. Then ask yourself: What story am I telling about my life through this small choice? Why This Matters We can become so focused on productivity, responsibility, and what needs to happen next that we forget to experience the life that is already happening. Art and aesthetics give us another way to move through the day. They invite us to notice, choose, create, connect, and make something special. And sometimes it takes very little to change the experience of an ordinary day. Keywords creativity, art and creativity, art therapy, neuroaesthetics, aesthetics, creative living, creative women, women and creativity, intentional living, meaningful life, daily rituals, creative rituals, self-expression, creativity and wellbeing, art and mental health, aesthetic experience, presence, psychological flexibility, creative self-care, women over 40, women over 50, Modern Creative Woman Are you waiting for life to slow down before you enjoy it? Discover how art, creativity, aesthetics, and simple daily rituals can help you create more meaning, pleasure, and presence right now. Creativity | Art Therapy | Neuroaesthetics | Creative Living | Women and Creativity | Aesthetic Experience | Art and Wellbeing | Intentional Living | Self-Expression | Creative Rituals | Psychology | Mindfulness | Women Over 40 | Women Over 50 | Modern Creative Woman Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  2. Sep 16

    174. Are You Living Your Life, or Someone Else’s?

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! Are You Living Your Life, or Someone Else’s?Episode Summary What happens when we spend so much time online that we lose touch with our own preferences, pleasures, and experiences? In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores neuroaesthetics and the powerful role that beauty, art, architecture, color, texture, and our physical environments can play in our lives. Neuroaesthetics is a branch of cognitive neuroscience that examines the brain’s response to aesthetic experiences, particularly those that bring us pleasure, joy, curiosity, and connection. Dr. Amy looks at what happens when we begin paying attention to our own aesthetic experiences instead of relying on social media, trends, algorithms, or other people’s ideas about what should be beautiful or desirable. She shares a vivid memory from her first trip to Paris and explains how particular aesthetic experiences can stay with us for years, becoming signs and guideposts for what brings us pleasure. The conversation also explores the relationship between aesthetics, art, health, present-moment awareness, emotional regulation, and the environments we create around ourselves. Amy talks about the importance of rituals and gives examples of simple ways to bring more aesthetic experiences into everyday life, from museum visits and music to walking, making art, and really noticing the spaces around you. You’ll also hear about a creative scavenger hunt inspired by Amy’s work in Paris. Instead of taking dozens of photographs or scrolling past your surroundings, you are invited to slow down, choose a few feelings you want more of in your life, and look for those experiences in the world around you. In This Episode What neuroaesthetics is and how it differs from the idea of a “brand aesthetic”Why our experiences of beauty are deeply personalHow architecture and the built environment can affect how we feelWhy certain aesthetic experiences become powerful memoriesThe relationship between art, aesthetics, health, and wellbeingHow aesthetic experiences can bring us into the present momentWhy rituals can add meaning and pleasure to everyday lifeHow making art can help us explore choices and possibilitiesThe connection between creativity, divergent thinking, and decision-makingWays to create more opportunities for beauty and pleasure in daily lifeHow to begin noticing what genuinely speaks to youQuestions This Episode Explores What does your brain find beautiful?What aesthetic experiences have stayed with you over the years?What colors, textures, spaces, sounds, or works of art bring you pleasure?How much of what you consider beautiful comes from your own experience, and how much comes from the world around you?What happens when you slow down enough to really see your environment?Can the spaces around us influence how we feel and behave?How can art and aesthetic experiences support health and emotional regulation?What kinds of rituals could bring more pleasure and meaning into your everyday life?What might your aesthetic preferences reveal about the life you want to create?A Creative Experiment for You Amy invites you to create your own aesthetic scavenger hunt. Choose five or six feelings or experiences you would like to have more of in your life. Then go out into the world and look for them. You might look for something that feels peaceful, invigorating, cozy, joyful, expansive, beautiful, or whatever qualities matter to you. Rather than taking dozens of photographs, take one photograph that captures each experience. The point is to slow down and truly see what is around you. Then spend some time reflecting on what you found. What caught your attention? What did you notice about color, light, texture, architecture, nature, or space? What did the experience feel like in your body? Use what you discover to begin creating an aesthetic ritual that brings more of those experiences into your everyday life. Why This Matters Your aesthetic experiences can give you information about what you enjoy, what interests you, what makes you feel alive, and what kinds of environments support you. Amy encourages you to pay attention to those moments. They can become guideposts for creating more pleasure, meaning, creativity, and presence in your daily life. Episode Takeaway Pay attention to what makes you stop and look. Your own aesthetic experiences can tell you a great deal about what you value, what brings you pleasure, and the kinds of experiences you want more of in your life. Neuroaesthetics | Creativity | Art Therapy | Neuroscience | Women and Creativity | Art and Health | Aesthetic Experience | Creative Living | Wellbeing | Psychological Flexibility | Creativity and the Brain | Modern Creative Woman Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  3. Sep 9

    173. Present Moment Awareness: Why Being Here Changes Everything

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! How often are you actually present for your own life? Research suggests that nearly half of our waking hours are spent thinking about something other than what we are doing. Our minds wander into the past, the future, imagined conversations, worries, plans, comparisons, and everything else competing for our attention. In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores the surprising connection between mind wandering, happiness, creativity, and our ability to connect with ourselves and the people we love. Amy looks at the landmark research by Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert, who used an iPhone app to track people's happiness and mind wandering throughout their everyday lives. Their findings offer a powerful reminder: our happiness is influenced less by what we are doing than by how present we are while doing it. The good news is that present moment awareness is something we can practice. Amy shares simple, creative ways to return to the here and now, including scribble drawing, doodling, textile arts, knitting, crochet, walking, dancing, and a simple hugging meditation. These aren't about becoming a perfect meditator or a perfect artist. They are practices that help us learn how to notice where our attention has gone and gently bring it back. You'll also hear why practicing presence can be especially important when we're experiencing difficult emotions or reminders of past experiences, and how learning to stay with the present moment can build our capacity to navigate discomfort rather than automatically getting pulled away from it. Most importantly, this episode invites you to stop thinking about presence as another thing you have to do perfectly. Instead, think of it as a creative practice: noticing when you've wandered, celebrating the moment you return, and discovering what becomes possible when you are fully here for your own life. In this episode, you'll discover: Why our minds naturally wander away from the present momentWhat the Killingsworth and Gilbert happiness research revealed about mind wanderingWhy being present may matter more for happiness than the activity you're doingHow present moment awareness can support creativity and connectionWhy practice matters more than perfectionHow scribble drawing can become a 30-second mindfulness practiceHow knitting, crochet, weaving, and other textile arts can help anchor attentionWhy movement, walking, dancing, and physical connection can bring us back into the momentHow to notice difficult thoughts without automatically getting pulled into themSimple ways to practice being present throughout your everyday lifeA creative practice to try The next time you notice that your mind has wandered, don't criticize yourself for losing focus. Simply notice. Then return. You might take a pen and make a quick scribble on a piece of paper. Notice the movement of your hand, the pressure of the pen, the sound of the line moving across the page. Give yourself 30 seconds to experience what is happening right now. The goal isn't to clear your mind. It's to practice coming back. And once you're here, the question becomes: What will you create? Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  4. Sep 2

    172. Glamour Isn't a Guilty Pleasure — It's a Strategy

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! This episode of The Modern Creative Woman reframes glamour as a "womanly art" — an intentional, creative practice of shaping your environment, style, and self-presentation — rather than vanity or performing for the male gaze. Dr. Amy opens with Natalie Portman's account of being sexualized young in Hollywood, then traces how women like Kristen Stewart, Lynda Carter, Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, and Cynthia Erivo have pushed back against being boxed into "smart vs. beautiful" or "strong vs. sexualized" binaries, often relying on informal "whisper networks" for safety and support. She then turns personal, describing how she over-indexed on her intellectual identity (academic career, writing, teaching) while neglecting aesthetics and self-care at home — and how small, deliberate choices (an Eames chair, drinking from a nice glass, a proper bedtime routine) rebuilt a sense of balance. She connects this to research on entrepreneurship (only ~9% of businesses survive 10 years, and self-investment correlates with success) and on environmental art (murals reducing urban crime), using Yayoi Kusama's installation work as an example of glamour as world-building. She closes with a call to action: treat small luxuries and self-investment as essential, not frivolous, and to share your own "everyday glamour" with her. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  5. Aug 26

    171. The Stories Your Brain Keeps Repeating: Neuropsychological Strategies to Change Your Inner Narratives

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! What if the way you see the world is being shaped long before you consciously decide what you think? In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores value priming, the fascinating psychological process through which our previous experiences, environment, relationships, media, and repeated thoughts influence how we interpret what happens around us. What we repeatedly expose ourselves to can become a kind of filter, making certain interpretations feel more familiar, believable, or rewarding than others. Amy looks at the neurobiology behind value priming, including the dopaminergic pathway, the striatum, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and explains how the brain learns to anticipate the reward associated with seeing things in familiar ways. If you tend to expect people to be kind, you may be more likely to notice evidence that supports that belief. If you've learned to expect criticism, rejection, or danger, your brain may become especially quick to notice those things instead. The good news is that you can begin creating new associations. Amy shares practical ways to work with value priming in your everyday life, including using self-talk, creating new associations, rehearsing more compassionate interpretations, and changing the language you use to describe what you're doing. Instead of automatically labeling yourself “lazy,” for example, you might recognize that you're resting, luxuriating, dancing, reading, or giving your brain a much-needed break. She also explores how value priming shows up in creativity and art. The more we encounter particular forms of art, the more familiar they become, and familiarity can change our responses to what we see. This is one reason that continuing to look, experiment, and expose yourself to new creative experiences can expand what you enjoy and appreciate. One of the simplest practices in this episode is also one of the most powerful: name what is happening. Instead of immediately reacting to the judgment or story attached to an experience, identify what you're actually doing or feeling. Parenting. Resting. Considering. Painting. Frustration. Confusion. Pleasure. Naming the experience can create enough space to respond to what is actually happening rather than automatically responding to an old story. This episode is an invitation to become more aware of the information you're feeding your brain, the stories you're rehearsing, and the assumptions you're making. Once you begin to notice your value primes, you have more choice about what you reinforce. In this episode, you'll learn: • What value priming is and how it influences perception and behavior • How your environment, media, relationships, and repeated experiences can shape your worldview • The role of dopamine, the striatum, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in value priming • Why your brain tends to notice information that fits what it already expects • How to use self-talk to create new associations • Why you don't have to “unlearn” an old story to begin changing your response to it • How value priming can influence the way you think about rest, productivity, your body, and creativity • How art can create new associations and help loosen old ones • Why naming what you're doing or feeling can interrupt an automatic reaction • How to return your attention to the present moment when an old value-primed story takes over The question to take with you this week is simple: What are you repeatedly teaching your brain to notice? And perhaps even more importantly, what would you like to teach it to notice instead? This episode is based on the August 24, 2026 episode transcript, which introduces value priming as the central concept and connects it to perception, self-talk, art, creativity, and everyday decision-making. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  6. Aug 19

    170. What your Symbols are Trying to Tell You: Three Art Practices to Try Today

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! What if the images you're naturally drawn to are telling you something about yourself? Symbols have been part of human expression for thousands of years, from prehistoric cave paintings to religious imagery to contemporary abstract art. But symbols aren't only something we find in museums, books, or ancient cultures. They are part of our own inner lives, too. In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores how we can use symbols strategically as a creative tool for self-understanding. Drawing from Carl Jung's ideas about symbolism, she looks at three powerful forms of imagery: animals, circles and mandalas, and modern abstract art. You'll explore why you might feel especially drawn to a particular animal, how a favorite animal can become a personal symbol, and how making art of that animal can help you explore qualities you may want to cultivate in your own life. Amy also explores the circle as a universal symbol of wholeness and invites you to begin noticing circles in your everyday environment. From mandalas to architecture, religion, science, and ordinary objects, the circle appears everywhere. Paying attention to it can become a simple mindfulness practice and a way of considering your own sense of wholeness. Finally, you'll enter the world of abstract expressionism and the use of color as emotional language. Without having to draw something recognizable, you can use color, shape, movement, and texture to make an internal experience visible. Sometimes the image tells you something before you have the words to explain it. This is a different way of thinking about creativity. The goal isn't to make beautiful art. The goal is to use art to know yourself. In this episode, you'll discover: Why humans have used symbols throughout historyHow an animal can become a personal symbol and guideWhat your attraction to a particular animal might revealWhy the circle appears across cultures, religions, science, and artHow mandalas can be used as a practice of exploring wholenessHow abstract art can give form to emotions that are difficult to articulateWhy making “ugly” or imperfect art can actually be liberatingHow to use color strategically to explore your emotional stateWhy your personal and cultural associations with symbols matterHow creativity can become a tool for accessing your own inner knowing🎨 Try this after listening Choose an animal that immediately catches your attention. Don't overthink it. Look through photographs, magazines, Pinterest, or images of animals and notice your immediate yes or no response. When you find one that feels compelling, make something with it. Draw it. Paint it. Collage it. Write about it. Don't worry about whether it's good. Instead, ask yourself: What qualities does this animal have that I am drawn to? What might this animal represent for me right now? And then see what you discover. Another creative invitation Try making an abstract painting using only color. Choose several colors intuitively and create three or four sections on your paper. Let the colors blend, overlap, collide, or remain separate. Don't try to make a picture. Then step back and look at what you've created. What does the image tell you about how you're feeling? Sometimes the art comes before the explanation. As Amy discusses in the episode, putting an internal experience onto paper can make something that felt vague or unreachable suddenly available for exploration.  Books & Ideas Mentioned I Saw a Purple Cow by Anne Cole, Carolyn Bushnell, and Betty WeinbergerCarl Jung's Man and His SymbolsWomen's books on symbols, mythology, and sacred objectsAbstract Expressionism and the paintings of Mark RothkoAnimal symbolismMandalas and the circle as a symbol of wholenessSupport the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  7. Aug 12

    169. Get Ready for a Creativity Renaissance

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! Are we on the cusp of a creative resurgence? I think we are. In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, I’m exploring why so many of us feel creatively starved and why I believe this is exactly the moment to bring more art, beauty, aesthetics, reading, and creative expression back into our lives. We’ll look at how our environments, architecture, fashion, phones, social media, and declining engagement with reading and the arts have shaped the way we experience creativity. I’ll also talk about the growing research on the benefits of arts engagement and why creativity matters not only for self-expression, but for our health, emotional well-being, critical thinking, problem-solving, and ability to see the world from different perspectives. Most importantly, this episode is an invitation to stop consuming and start creating. You don’t need to make beautiful art, have professional skills, or come up with the perfect idea. Creativity grows through experimentation, play, brainstorming, and giving yourself permission to make something that is entirely your own. Your creative voice cannot be copied from someone else. It has to be cultivated by you. We are ready for beauty. We are ready for creativity. We are ready to make things again. The question is: What will you create? In this episode: Why modern life can leave us creatively starvedThe relationship between our environments and creativityHow phones and constant consumption affect creative thinkingWhy reading and the arts matter for empathy and critical thinkingWhat research is revealing about the benefits of arts engagementWhy making art is different from simply consuming itThe importance of experimentation and brainstormingFinding your unique creative voiceWhy now may be the perfect time for a creative resurgenceHow to begin creating more and consuming lessSupport the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

  8. Aug 5

    168. Rest, Reset, and Keeping Promises to Yourself: September Resolutions

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! Rest, Reset, and Keeping Promises to Yourself There is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself. In fact, you're the only person who can do it. In this episode, Dr. Amy Bakos explores why the weeks before September offer the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and prepare for meaningful change. Rather than waiting for January's rushed resolutions, Amy explains why September often feels like the true beginning of a new year—and how thoughtful preparation leads to lasting transformation. Drawing from decades of experience as a psychologist and art therapist, she shares research-backed strategies that make change sustainable, along with the deeper inner practices that create genuine well-being. This episode blends practical psychology with compassionate self-reflection to help you make commitments you'll actually keep. Whether you're hoping to establish healthier habits, reconnect with your creativity, or simply care for yourself with greater intention, this conversation offers a roadmap for lasting change. In This Episode You'll learn: Why September is often a better time than January to begin something newHow preparation increases your chances of lasting successWhy writing down your goals dramatically improves follow-throughThe surprising relationship between discipline and motivationHow tiny daily actions create significant long-term resultsWhy habit stacking makes new routines easier to maintainThe importance of rewarding yourself during change—not just at the finish lineHow environment and routine shape lasting habitsWhy self-compassion is essential for personal growthHow changing your relationship with your thoughts creates more freedomThe difference between superficial self-care and meaningful restorationPsychology Strategies for Lasting Change Write your goals down.Take action before waiting for motivation.Focus on one meaningful change at a time.Pair new habits with existing routines.Reward yourself consistently.Create a dedicated space for your new habit.Improve by just 1% each day.Practice consistently rather than perfectly.Five Inner Commitments Practice self-compassion.Develop a healthier relationship with your thoughts.Create space for joyful action.Commit to lifelong learning and growth.Show up authentically for yourself and others.Memorable Quotes "There is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself.""Discipline comes before motivation.""Preparation is the absolute key to lasting change.""Small daily progress creates extraordinary results.""Thoughts are not commands. They are simply thoughts.""To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." — Oscar WildeKey Takeaway Lasting change isn't built on willpower alone. It grows through preparation, consistency, self-compassion, and small daily actions that honor the promises you make to yourself. As September approaches, give yourself permission to pause, reset, and choose one meaningful commitment that supports the life you truly want to create. Share This Episode If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who could use a fresh start. Then start a conversation about the commitment each of you wants to make this season. Sometimes meaningful change begins simply by saying it out loud. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

4.9
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

The art and science of creativity, made simple. Through the lens of art therapy, neurocreativity, and cutting-edge research, you’ll learn not just why you create, but how to create with more freedom, intention, and joy. Dr. Amy Backos — author, art therapist, psychologist, professor and researcher, with 30+ years of experience — unpacks the evidence-based psychology behind creative living. Come for the science. Stay for the transformation.

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