If you've done much research into what introversion actually is, you might have also come across terms like 'highly sensitive person' or have read that introverts are more sensitive to stimulus in the environment than the more extroverted humans among us.

You might have even come across the term ‘high sensation seeking’ and got wildly confused because how can someone super sensitive to sensation ALSO be a bit of a sensation junky??

But this is where the science-backed brain studies and pop psychology folklore gets muddled - and in this week's episode of the Creative Introvert Podcast, I'm going to clear this confusion up - once and for all!

Or at least attempt to ;)

I discuss:

• What's actually going on in the brain of an introvert
• The problems with the original Big 5 model
• Are introverts 'broken'?
• The test that identifies what type of introvert you are
• What it means to be a HSP (highly sensitive person)
• What it means to be a HSS (high sensation seeker)
• Tips for managing the less helpful sides of these traits
• Can you be all of these at once... or am I an extrovert!?

I’m offering a free month of coaching to a randomly chosen podcast reviewer!

If you leave a review of the Creative Introvert Podcast on iTunes by September 1st 2017, you will be in the mix to win ONE MONTH of creative coaching from myself.

All you have to do is...

1) Leave a review by going to this podcast page in the iTunes store, and

2) Shoot me an email telling me just so I know which review is yours!

I’m going to number them and select a random winner by midnight September 1st.

May the odds be ever in your favour!

In this week’s episode of the Creative Introvert podcast I talk to Jasmine Star - photographer, branding expert and all round SUPERSTAR!

What we discussed:

• Advice for being ‘on’ as an introvert
• Asking for grace to protect your time
• The advantages of being an introvert in business
• The introvert’s advantage at a networking event
• The waiting in line trick
• Answering ‘so what do you DO?’
• How to overcome doubts and fear of failure
• Confidence as a result not a prerequisite
• The overnight success myth
• How to let the haters lose their power
• The airplane trick
• What Jasmine is struggling with

Links Mentioned:

Jasmine’s blog post on how to network for introverts

Angela Duckworth

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

Einstein documentary

My Social Curator

What is the importance of journaling?

Moreover, what is the importance of journaling for introverts?

Well, let's start with what I mean by journaling.

Bujo’s (bullet journals) are incredibly popular on Instagram and the internet at large, but this is not what I’m talking about here.

I’m talking long-form, ideally handwritten, dear-diary style writing.

I’ve been heavily influenced by the concept of Morning Pages, a term used by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way.

While the overall book is more of a 12-step program for recovering creatives who’ve, well lost there way and need to get back on the art-making band wagon, it’s this practise of Morning Pages that are at it’s core, and that most people I’ve spoken to benefitted most from.

Morning pages described by Julia:

Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages* they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only.

Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.

And even if the Artists Way approach - which is very much inspired by God and the 12-step AA process - isn’t for you - there are tonnes of left-brainy people out there who recommend journalling - including fellow INTJ Tim Ferriss - you only need to google the term ‘Morning Pages’ to see a whole host of people raving about them.

But the underlying premise is this: journalling is a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, making sense of your own crazy thoughts, and I’m convinced is the number one backbone of my day - above meditation, even.

Yeah I said it.

Even when I’m on holiday or totally thrown off track, I can make time to journal before any of my other life-hacky routines and habits.

Today's podcast digs into:

• Why journaling is the cheapest form of therapy
• How it helps get sh*t done
• Why journaling regularly increases creativity
• Advice for journaling virgins
• How to easily make journaling a habit
• Trouble-shooting tips for the time-poor

Journaling inspiration:

The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary Of Samuel Pepys
Captain Scott's Last Expedition by Robert Falcon Scott
A Writer’s Diary by Virginia Woolf
Conversations With Myself by Nelson Mandela
Runaway by Evelyn Lau
A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
The Intimate Journal by George Sand
The Journals of Sylvia Plath

Bullet Journal inspiration:

Links mentioned:

Julia Cameron's Morning Pages

Tim Ferriss on Morning Pages

Self Authoring program

Habit Bull

Productive

Evernote

Debbie Millman's Life Visioning

Why writing things down > typing them

The League of Creative Introverts 

My habit tracking worksheet example:

Todays guest is someone I connected with through Twitter - which is very fitting for our conversation because we really dive deep into what it means to use social media effectively and bust some myths that put a lot of creatives - introverts and extroverts alike - off the platforms.

Damian Keyes is a founder of The British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) which is now valued at over £50M, and in 2010 started DK Music Management; where he helps musicians find work after leaving music education.

What we discuss:

• Damian’s plan for rockstardom
• The reality of the music business
• Are bassists the introverts of bands?
• How Damian identified his unique strengths to help others
• The value of collaboration
• Tips for being on stage
• The misconceptions about introversion
• Why there is such a stigma about self promotion from creatives
• The problem of perfection seeking
• Dealing with the fear of rejection
• It is a numbers game (and how to manage that)
• How social media is brand new but the underlying concept is age old
• Building relationships one at a time
• The importance of having real conversations online
• How to simplify, slow down and enjoy the journey
• Damian's 1% rule

“Time waits for nobody… sometimes you have to be a bit more ‘in your face’"

“For every no there might be a yes around the corner - you can’t let that stop you”

“As creatives we should put more effort into enjoying the creating as opposed to the end goal”

“Social media boils down to creativity and relationships - if you can master those two things, then everything else is just detail"