Life Feast Lizzie Larock

In this episode of The Life Feast podcast, host Lizzie Larock chats with guest Juliana Naufel, an art therapist, artist, photographer, and the co-founder of Photo Trouvee Magazine. They dive into the world of vintage photo embroidery, discussing its therapeutic benefits, Juliana's journey with this unique form of art, and how it's utilized in personal growth and expression. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in blending creativity with their own healing journey of letting their more empowered version of themselves be heard. To join The Life Feast and enjoy this live workshop with Juliana Naufel, sign up => https://larockstarcreative.com/life-feast To find out more about Juliana Naufel, to buy her book, her fine artwork or to subscribe to Photo Trouvee magazine, visit her website: https://www.naufss.com/

Have you experienced decision fatigue? Gotten stuck in analysis paralysis? Do you want to lead your life from a place of being decisive AF? The daily to do's, stress, anxiety and the cognitive load that we carry starts to feel like even just deciding what's for dinner is a behemoth task, but it doesn't have to be this way. In this episode, I want to talk to you about how I have been decluttering my decisions to feel energized and on fire in my life right now. So decide to listen right now to this episode and get the tools to stop procrastinating those important decisions and start feasting on your big, beautiful life.

Want to join the Life Feast? It's open right now, but doors close on March 7, 2024. You can join => right here.Want to work with me for 1:1 coaching to declutter your decisions and go for it in your life? I have room for two clients right now (those spots will go fast). Details on working with me are right => hereCome on an Art of Life Creativity Retreat!And, if you want to come to Italy with me, we are about to open up registration for the fall Tuscany Art of Life Creativity Retreat. Check out our Sardinia retreat (sorry it's sold out) for what our retreats are all about and get on our waitlist for Tuscany right=> here

In the middle of her most stressed-out years as a corporate marketing executive (while also in grad school at night getting her MBA), Volta Voloshin-Smith chose a rather radical solution to ease her crazy corporate days ...

She started watercolor painting at her desk during her lunch break!

Her setup was far from fancy. 

Her paint set was from the clearance aisle at TJ Maxx.

Her paper was 3x5 index cards (the only thing she had handy from her stash of MBA study supplies).

Her uninspiring location was the corporate cafeteria.

She had zero training as a watercolor artist.

But she decided to throw caution to the wind and put some color on paper.

As a lifelong meditator and mindfulness practitioner, Volta started making the connection with how calm and at ease she felt with her watercolors at lunchtime.

And she fell in love with a simple meditative practice from Zen Buddhist calligraphers and brought it into her quick watercolor breaks.

Her co-workers took note and started begging her to let them join in the lunch hour fun.

And they LOVED this little "snack" of creative calm in the middle of a stressful work day.

From there, Volta's companies, Color Snack and Creative Calm were born! 

Volta Voloshin-Smith has led corporate creative calm meditative watercolor workshops for the most unlikely of corporate executives from companies like Frito-Lay and Home Depot.

And artists and non-artists alike agree that what Volta teaches is one of the BEST and easiest ways to decompress stress. 

And she's coming to The Life Feast Membership on Tuesday, February 27th at 5pm PT, 6pm MT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET. She'll be teaching her mindful watercolor practice to our Life Feast members and community students. BYOW (bring your own watercolors) and enjoy this lifelong stress-relief practice that is so much easier and more effective than you think...

Want to join this LIVE Life Feast special guest bonus workshop:sign-up for Lizzie's The Life Feast here BEFORE Feb 27thor if you'd love the replay of this workshop, join The Life Feast at anytime (but why would you want to postpone colorful creative stress relief?)About Volta Voloshin-SmithVolta Voloshin-Smith helps corporate teams and private groups feel calm and connected through creative and meditative workshops.

Her signature workshop, Watercolor Meditation, combines breathing techniques with simple brush marks to reduce stress and prevent burnout.  Originally from Moldova, Volta adds vibrancy to food through illustrations and brings brands to life with live painting and memorable animations. Her clients include Home Depot, Meta, Michaels, and others.  Host of the Calm and Creative podcast, she frequently makes TV appearances to discuss the benefits of art for mental health.  She has been featured in D Magazine, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Observer, Create Magazine and others. And she is frequently interviewed on the topics of creativity, entrepreneurship and mindset. Volta is author of the whimsical how-to book, Watercolor Snacks, and co-author of Art+Affirmations, a creativity journal book with prompts to explore and live a creative life. You can connect with Volta here:https://www.colorsnack.com/ Follow her on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/colorsnack/ You can buy her prints, tea towels and books right here:https://www.colorsnack.com/store/ And subscribe to her podcast:https://www.colorsnack.com/podcast/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/colorsnack  https://www.colorsnack.com/

or download her FREE 5 easy exercises for creative relaxation:

 

 

It's never too late, you're never too old and if you're stuck in perfectionism, overthinking or mounds and mounds of stress and busy-ness, it's time to invoke an old favorite Latin term from my high school Literature class: in medias res (start in the middle). In this episode, I delve into why now is the BEST time to just start, how to not look at your life in a linear way and to take a page out of Brene Brown's book and remember that: "midlife is when the universe gently places her hand upon your shoulders, pulls you close and whispers in your ear, I am not screwing around this time." I also share why I took way too long of a break from recording podcasts and how the entire Life Feast was born out of a difficult time in my life and a chance meeting with a life-changing poem and also by me just starting in the middle.

Dig in and enjoy this return to The Life Feast podcast. You will love the inspiration, practical tips, joy, humor, a little sarcasm and vulnerability that I share in each and every episode. Want to join The Life Feast? https://larockstarcreative.com/life-feast Share your insights with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/lizzielarock

JOIN ME IN ITALY FOR A PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTING & POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY RETREAT:https://artoflifecreativity.com

 

Did you know that a few little tweaks to your walking can boost your brain power, skyrocket your creativity and help you feel more connected in your relationships?You might soak up life's little details along the way and decrease your inflammation while staring at a rainbow. In this jam packed episode, Lizzie gives you 7 different types of walks (several you've probably NEVER heard of) to boost your brainpower, increase creativity and feel more connected in your relationships. Plus, experience all the usual benefits of a walking habit. Listen in to step up your walking (all puns intended) with science-backed research, funny stories and down-to-earth tips. Want to know the perfect kind of walk to boost your memory, calm your stress, generate new ideas or to decrease your inflammation? It's all inside!A few of the walks mentioned: passagietta, flanerie (or flaneuring), awe walks, novelty walks, meditative walks, photo walks with favorites from Baudelaire, Nietsche, Thoreau, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thich Nhat Hanh and others.Research from Kelly McGonigal's Joy of Movement, John J. Ratey's Spark, John Medina's Brain Rules. If you've downloaded Lizzie's "How to Take a Free Photowalk Guide", this podcast is the perfect companion, though no camera is required for walking your way to wellbeing. If you'd like to download the free guide, it's right here.Want to join the Life Feast membership? It's the place to infuse your life with curiosity, creativity, awe, mindfulness, play and adventure (plus so much more!). Details are here. 

When was the last time you felt in the zone or fully absorbed doing something that challenged and thrilled you? Can't remember? Then this episode is for you. The Flow state (in positive psychology) is one of the 5 ways to flourish in life. This isn't about "going with the flow" it's about "getting into flow", the flow state specifically.

In this podcast, Lizzie gives you humorous stories and practical science-backed tips for why flow is important and how to add more to your life. Did you know that those who were in the flow state more often during spring quarantined fared better than even those who practiced mindfulness?

Listen in for the full scoop (and scope) on flow. Research from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and others.