Are you longing to express your creativity, but don't know where to start? 

Join my tribe of Big Magic Journeyers! 

Elizabeth Gilbert's best seller, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, offers you a pilgrimage to your authentic creative life, core callings and dream outcomes (without having to travel around the world).

​Journeys are always sweeter (and more profound) when you travel with others. That's why I created this group. Doors open Monday, April 2.

Here's how it works:

We'll gather in a private, members-only Facebook group (carefully facilitated with group guidelines to ensure a safe, judgement-free, inspiring space).

You'll gain access to weekly printable writing worksheets and prompts.

You'll make inspiring new connections with other soulful creative women.

We'll share our reflections and deepen our learning from the transformative themes of Big Magic, including courage, enchantment, permission, persistence, trust, and divinity.

You'll leave with several pieces of powerful personal essay-style writing that can be shaped into blog posts, articles, website copy, and more!

If you choose to join this tribe, you'll also receive a 1:1 Big Magic coaching session with Kim Evans, author and certified Kaizen-Muse™creativity coach (a $199 value). This session is a safe space to work through any challenging spots that arise as you work through the book, such as:

• Recognizing the voice of your fear (and putting it in the back seat),
  
  
• Examining (and gently releasing) old stories that hold you back,
  
  
• Tapping your intuition and following your muse,
  
  
• Breaking down overwhelming projects into small steps you actually enjoy doing,
  
  
• Embracing your "big why,"
  
  
• Identifying your creative dream or simply exploring what you're curious about,
  
  
• Clarifying your marketing message (if you're an entrepreneur),
  
  
• Building a solid foundation of trust,
  ​
• and more!

That's 12 weeks of support for your creative dream + personalized coaching, all for only $99 (regularly $199).

Is your heart saying YES? Click the purple button below to join us.

ACT FAST! We start Monday, April 2.

After payment is complete, you'll receive an e-mail confirmation with access to the group (starting April 2) and my calendar to schedule your coaching session. (Note: fees are non-refundable).

Not quite ready? Join my FREE Facebook group, Creative Fire Women Entrepreneurs. We'd love to have you!

​P.S. If you know a soulful, creative, entrepreneurial friend who has been confiding in you that she is ready to get clarity and change her life — then you have my full permission to forward this information to her. I’ll take great care of her!

​I'll see you there!

I'm having a blast this Spring leading book study/writing circles based on the book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert.

This book is a primer for anyone who wants to awaken their creativity.

Our theme this week was COURAGE. We talked about how to recognize the voice of our fear, and see it as a separate voice from our own. We also talked about the importance of listening to our fear - giving it a fair hearing - then telling it to take a back seat while we take the driver's seat our life. 

To anchor this idea, we began by listing things our fear says to us when we're about to take a risk. (Mine always hits me with "you're getting too big for your britches," and "people will hate you, and you'll be all alone,").

Then we listed adjectives to describe our fear's personality. There were some surprises here. Several women in the group shared my realization that our fear isn't just MEAN, it wants to PROTECT us.

Then, we wrote letters to our fear. Some chose to try a twist and write a letter from their fear. Either way, the key here is to separate ourselves from our fear. To give you an example of the power of this exercise, here's mine, in its raw and unpolished form:

A letter to my fear
 
Hey fear, I see you. I feel like we’ve been hanging out lately. I know we always hang out. But I’m sensing us walking alongside each other a little  more. And I sense that I’m taking the lead a little more.
 
I feel like when I give you a chance to have your say, you calm down a little. That’s all we really want, right? To have our say? To be heard? When our voice is suppressed is when trouble happens.
 
I’ve been learning how to bring both of our voices to the table. I mean, I really want to live a soul stirring life. I’ve been taking risks out the wazoo, not having a traditional J-O-B while also juggling adult financial responsibilities. DANG.
 
But I’m doing this because I have a calling. Sometimes I wonder if my helping other women express their stories and voices and creativity is a curtain I stand behind as a way to avoid my own creativity. But that also may be you talking.
 
So back to soul stirring. Yes, I want that. I want grand adventure. I want travel. I want variety. I want peace and beauty. I want to make a difference. I want to express who I am.
 
And you. You are ever so practical. You want me to be safe .You want me to be secure. You are here to preserve my life at all costs. You remind me of the shadowy hand waving over the tadpole tank*. All the time.
 
And I know I can’t just ignore your concerns. And I don’t want you to ignore mine either. So that’s why we need to work  together, you and me. I’ll aim for soul stirring and you aim for supportive practicilaity.
 
That way when I am faced with a decision to take a creative risk, I get to ask myself “what would feel soul stirring AND supportively practical?
 
You are the safety net into which I can fall. But I’m not going to lay down in your net. I’m going to bounce up and out, knowing I can return to you, thankful for how you anchor me.
 
As always,
Kim

*this is a reference from Chapter 1 in Big Magic.

- - - - -

Because I can't get enough of these transformative lessons, I'm starting a Big Magic Journeyers study group. Membership in this private Facebook group includes printable worksheets with writing prompts you can do in 5 minutes per week. Members also receive a private creative coaching session with me, which can be used to clarify your marketing message, dive into your brand story, or work through a creative challenge that is brought to your awareness through your study of the book.

Interested in joining my tribe of soulful creative women to experience a creative breakthrough? Contact me here to learn more and sign up.

Don't delay! The journey begins Monday, April 2.

Running your own business can feel like applying for a new job each and every day.

You put yourself out there in your best light.

You psych yourself up for the interview or sales call.

You do the mental and spiritual gymnastics required to slip into the a positive, hopeful mindset.

You work hard to keep the demons of negativity at bay.

Each and every day.

No passes.

Zero days where you get to coast through the motions (and still get paid).

You've gotta be smart, savvy, and ON. All. The. Time.

It's exhausting!

But here's the thing.

Entrepreneurs can't AFFORD to be exhausted.

Exhausted doesn't serve our clients.
Exhausted doesn't let us create.
Exhausted doesn't pay the bills.

So now on top of being exhausted, you're STRESSED.

But rather than plowing through, here's a suggestion.

Rather than fight the exhaustion, why not listen to it?

Why not see it as a signal? A signal that it's time for a break. 

Ignoring it will only make things worse. You'll get sick. You'll have a meltdown. It's inevitable: you will have a setback.

But if you listen to to exhaustion and heed its message for you (REST), you'll recharge your batteries and find a fresh perspective. And this is a wonderful thing.

So, what can you do to recharge?

Does crashing on the sofa feel too passive? (I get that).

How about a CREATIVITY RETREAT instead?

Creativity is a great way to recharge your batteries. 

And it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg.

In fact, the possibilities are endless, ranging from simple, do-it-yourself options, to supportive groups, to destination retreats.

I'm fresh off a terrific experience leading a group of women entrepreneurs where we met weekly to discuss and reflect on the themes from the book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. Our class served as a mini-respite from the busy-ness and noise of the outside world. We began to treasure our time together, writing, sharing, and tuning in to our creative muses. 

This group really illustrated a point for me. Entrepreneurs need support that goes beyond business strategy, branding, and marketing. We are not machines. We need fuel for our creative souls.

That's why I'm committed to helping entrepreneurs like you find nourishment and inspiration. Here are five ideas for creating your own retreat:

1. Give yourself the afternoon off. Go see a movie. Go to a museum. Julia Cameron, author of the Artist's Way called these "Artist's Dates," and suggested we build them in to our week on a regular basis. The idea behind this? To nourish your creative soul. 
   
   
2. Color. Don't want to leave the house or office? Grab a coloring book and spend a few minutes getting lost in the moment. A quick Amazon search will show you all the adult coloring books on the market now. You may have to talk yourself through a wall of resistance to get started, but once you give yourself permission to play with the colors imperfectly, it's amazing how refreshed you'll feel.
   
   
3. Take a walk. Moving your body is a great way to hit the re-set button. Add some fresh air to the mix and you're golden. Walking clears the mind and opens space for new ideas to flow in. Yes, it's counter-intuitive, especially when your urge is to push harder, but why not give it a try?
   
   
4. Take a class. Open a window of time in your week for a workshop or group class. The connections you make will feed your soul and give you chance to try something new. My Big Magic group proved this point. It truly made a difference! One participant said it "broke down walls for her." Another said it helped her find her "zing" again. (Do you live in the Bloomington, IN area? My next Big Magic group begins March 21. Details here).
   
   
5. Go on an actual retreat. Sometimes a change of scenery is the best antidote for burn out. Stepping out of your normal routine and spending time in nature can do wonders for your creative spirit. Yes, there's more of a financial investment involved, but this investment will give you returns. In fact, retreats are really a must-do if you want to sustain your energy for your business. 

Which brings me to my EXCITING NEWS!

I'm offering a Big Magic retreat this summer in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC. Want to learn more? Click here. (Enjoy significant early bird savings now through 3/23).