I absolutely love the Soulful Shout Out series here on Soul Speak! I get to highlight and introduce you to beautiful people and their wonderful offerings!

I love connecting people and sharing products that I love, and so I’m just thrilled to be able to do that each week with you here.

If you would like your product/website/service promoted here, please click here to read the details and then email me to apply. (I take what I share very seriously and will only share products and services that I am in alignment with.) The spaces are going quickly because the introductory prices are going way up after the first of the year, so please keep that in mind when you’re signing up!

***We’re scheduling into February. Please be sure to reserve your space while the prices are still low! (You can pay for your space now and use it any time in the future!)***

A huge thank you to everyone who has already done so. You’re all absolutely wonderful, and I am so grateful for each of you.

And now, let’s get to this week’s beautiful soul and her inspiring book!

This week, I am featuring Kristal Norton!

Kristal and I met a few months ago in the Amazing Biz & Life Academy, and we’ve since gotten to know each other also in the Authentic Connecting Facebook group.

I immediately felt a connection with her. As you’ll read, our stories are very similar. And I really love how she’s helping people reconnect with their soul through art journaling and creativity. She’s giving all of us permission to slow down, find our own voice again, and express that part of ourselves freely. I think that’s pretty important, and so I’m excited excited to introduce you to her today and share two amazing freebies that she’s offering you!

So let’s get started!

Welcome to Soul Speak, Kristal!

As I was reading through your website, I realized that we have so much in common.

We both started out as artists/designers who created so much of the same thing that we no longer felt creative. I know for me, I would create a journal or some earrings and then create them over and over again thousands of times. Doing this mass production no longer fed my soul, and I felt like my inner spark had gone missing.

It sounds like you experienced the same thing in your own life – where you were just moving through the days on “auto pilot.” Because I think so many will be able to relate to your story, let’s begin with you sharing with us the turning point where you decided you were no longer okay with living this way.

Thank you so much for having me here Jodi. So many of us go through our days on auto pilot, and we don’t even realize it until we wake up and wonder where the time went. So it’s important to talk about it, so that we can make the changes in our lives to live more fully; and that’s why I love to share my story.

As you’ve mentioned, I found myself creating the same things over and over… I had a business selling primitive art and was filling the customer demand, but depleting my spiritual supply in the process. It turned into another 9-5 job, and I started to live more and more on auto pilot; not only with my work, but while taking care of my family too. I was suffering on the inside, and I didn’t even know it.

I don’t think there was really one particular moment that made me realize that something had to change; it just gradually got worse until I came to a point where I was feeling irritated on a daily basis and started to dread every order that came in. I was feeling suffocated, and felt a deep yearning to have a sense of freedom in my life.

What changes did you make to reconnect with yourself and rekindle your inner creative flame again?

Unfortunately at that point I didn’t realize I had a lot of soul searching to do… I just knew that I felt suffocated by my daily routine, and the thing I felt was standing in my way to feeling the freedom I so desperately craved was my business. So I quit. I stopped taking orders and just enjoyed the silence.

I spent my free time browsing the internet and soaking up new ideas. I thought I was on the path to rekindling my creativity, but all that “research” and inspiration collecting I was doing was actually moving me farther from my true creative self and I fell into another daily rut again.

What finally brought me out of it about a year later was a 30 day challenge I dubbed “Busy Mom VS Daily Grind.” Basically I spent 30 days trying to develop the habits of intentionally living moment by moment, acknowledging and appreciating the happy ones, and bringing self expression and creativity to my every day.

And through that experience, I finally began to see how far from my true self I actually was. The challenge was definitely a turning point for me, and at last I was on the road to reclaiming myself and my life.

How did you begin to add creativity back into your life? Did it immediately start with art journaling?

It was really tough to get back into creating again, which is one reason why I embarked on that 30 day challenge. It forced me to do something creative every day. I needed that all-in dedication and accountability to get me started; otherwise it may have never happened.

When I first started the challenge, I stayed in my comfort zone doing some sketching and sewing; I knew I wanted to get into mixed media, but I was scared to begin. But eventually it did finally lead me to starting my first art journal, which was more of an experimental book of mixed media. It wasn’t until later that I started to incorporate actual journaling and discover its true benefits.

I’ve never kept an art journal. Can you share more about the differences between it and a regular journal?

An art journal is a place to express yourself freely… if not with words, than with colors and imagery. It’s about discovering more of who you are, and letting your emotions, thoughts, and creativity flow from you. You can use it to unwind from your day, work through your emotions, dig deep into your soul, experiment with inspiration, and so much more.

For me, the journals I kept in high school were filled with daily events that I had no desire to go back and read about. With my art journal, each page is more of a reflection of who I truly am at that particular moment in time.

Can anyone do this – even if they don’t consider themselves to be an artist?

Absolutely! Most of the art journals you see online are by experienced artists, so don’t get intimidated by them. What art journaling truly is, is a place to freely express yourself with words, colors, and imagery. It doesn’t have to look pretty to be fulfilling. It’s the process more than the finished product that is rewarding.

How did art journaling help you reconnect with your soul and tap back into your purpose?

When I first started art journaling, I totally didn’t expect to begin a self-discovery journey. It just kind of happened. I use my journal as a place to unwind, let loose, and just be me. And I hold it as a sacred place to freely express myself without judgment; so often times it exposes hidden feelings and thoughts that were buried deep inside. Eventually I started to recover parts of myself that I didn’t even know I had lost.

I’ve come to see how infusing creativity into our daily lives in combination with reflective journaling can be transformative in so many ways. Art journaling has brought me more awareness and clarity, in turn making me so much happier in life and allowing me to break free from that daily grind.

Creativity is usually one of the first aspects of ourselves to leave when we feel overwhelmed with life and are just trying to keep up with it all. Do you have any tips for those of us who want to welcome creativity back without making a huge time commitment to do so?

I know how easy it is to let life just take over, but the more that we allow that to happen, the less happy we become. When I talk with women who are totally over loaded with things to do, I try to remind them that they have a choice in how they want to live their lives. They have the option to say “no” to some commitments, and they have the option to put themselves first.

The more that we women can realize that taking care of ourselves first allows us to give our best to the people who count on us, the easier it is to allow ourselves a few minutes to create each day. It’s all about perspective. If you hold creativity high in your priorities, the easier it is to find time for it.

And that doesn’t mean that you have to drop everything and create for hours every day. Just a mere 10 minutes a day while you drink your coffee can be all that you need to get you feeling connected to yourself again.

What’s next on the horizon for you?

I have so much more to share about creativity, art journaling, and just living a fulfilling life in general; my journey has only just begun. In the future I see a printed book, helping women one-on-one to reclaim their true creative selves, teaching at retreats, and so much more… but for now, I’m focusing on my very first full e-course called ROOTS so that I can reach out to women and help them learn how to develop their own transformative art journaling practice.

What does your soul want you to know?

That being shy when talking with people in person no longer serves me. It’s time to fully trust in who I am and what I’m meant to do in this world.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I just want to say that it doesn’t matter who you are, or what your experience is with creativity… you were born with a creative spirit. Creativity is essential to our being. It’s not some mystical quality that only some possess; it’s a trait that we are all born with. Your soul is just patiently waiting for you to use it. A happier, more fulfilling, creative life is waiting for you. It’s time to ditch the daily grind and reclaim yourself. Because beautiful, you are so worth it.

Kristal is offering 2 amazing freebies to help you connect with your soul through journaling!

The first is a free ecourse called “Art Journaling 101,” which is perfect for beginners wanting to learn more about what art journaling actually is and how to begin.

Click here to start it right away: http://kristalnorton.com/art-journaling-101/

Kristal’s also put together a free video series called “Find Your Style” that will help you get started on the path to letting go of comparison, opening yourself up for self-exploration, and developing your own art journaling style!

 

 

Click here to start watching: http://kristalnorton.com/findyourstyle/

I hope after reading this interview and starting Kristal’s free ecourse and video series, you’ll feel inspired to tap into your soul through journaling and creativity.

I’m so excited for each of you to embrace Kristal’s offerings!

Please spread the love and share this post on Facebook and Twitter!