you don’t have to pick just one creative passion.

--> If you have multiple interests and creative inclinations...

--> If you cringe when people ask you, “What do you do?” because the real answer is a mile-long...

--> If you don’t want to box yourself into Just. One. Thing…..

This article is for you.

My short answer is: You don’t have to pick just one thing.

And here’s the longer answer of why that is:

Let’s use the example of basic human biology.

Women aren’t born with one single egg in their ovaries. They are born with thousands. Each month hundreds of them grow until one (or sometimes 2 or 3) gets big enough to be hatched into ovulation and released from its sac.

That egg has the potential to be fertilized and create new life. If it’s not fertilized, it’s released and the whole process starts again.

Nature makes sure we don’t put all our eggs in one basket. It gives us cycles so that the multitude of eggs contained within us have chances to be hatched at different times.

Why would your creativity be any different?

Give your multiple creative eggs time to marinate. There’s nothing wrong with having many of them in your basket. In fact, it’s basic biology and smart survival to do so.

Take turns tending to each of them. You’ll know when the time is ripe to fertilize one, and that will guide you naturally into spending more focused time on one of your growing creative babies. (for 9 months? or more? Who knows. You’ll know when you get there.)

Instead of feeling ashamed for not being more focused, get excited and proud of all the potential creative life that’s inside you!

Comment below and tell me:

What are YOUR multiple passions?

Are any of them calling for your attention right now?

Say it outloud and we’ll all feel less alone in our multi-passionate pursuits.

loving all your creative eggies,

Jess

p.s. Have a desire to start fertilizing one or two of your creative passions more fully? In keeping with the metaphor, I’d love to act as your creative midwife and help you fully give birth.

In my 6-week self-guided online program, I will take you through powerful and effective dance-based practices, writing tools, resources, and coaching lessons, that will help you manifest your creative project, business idea, and/or your unique voice into this world.

Check it out here.

why am I working SO much, but not making any headway?

Why am I not making any headway?

Why do I feel like a failure?

What am I supposed to be doing with my life?!

Questions like these can plague you for weeks at a time - or even longer.

What I’ve learned is that when you keep the questions in your head, they just stay there.

When you dance through them, you begin to embody answers.

Quick example of this from my own life:

I was feeling frustrated yesterday morning because I woke up late, launched right into work, and didn't do my morning dance. I was tired of doing so much "outreach" in my search for more dance teaching gigs, as well as filling my current group coaching program.

The question was: “Why does it feel like I’m not making any headway but I’m working SO much?!”

So I remembered my own advice and took an emergency dance break.

In an empty studio at the YMCA, I danced it out hard.

And then it was like magic happened - within an hour after dancing:

• someone signed up online for my group coaching program

• someone signed on to work with me as a copywriting client

• someone called me back from a nearby dance studio that opened up a huge door for my teaching.

Bam.

Dance IS the answer.

It got me out of my head and the cycle of trying to "figure everything out" and it made me more receptive to these opportunities.

Call it manifestation, call it the law of attraction, call it whatever you want, but in my book it's simply DANCE.

So remember next time you hit a wall, feel frustrated, or ask the same question over and over again….

Stop everything and take a dance break.

(Here’s a video prompt for my dance-based exercise to access your truth and get you unstuck!)

Magic happens if you simply decide to move your body.

So! That brings me to a special invitation for you -

If you could use more of THAT kind of magic in your life, listen up -

Did you Find Your Rhythm yet?

In this 6-week self-guided online program, I will take you through powerful and effective dance-based practices, writing tools, resources, and coaching lessons, that will help you manifest your creative project, business idea, and/or your unique voice into this world.

Check it out here.

dancing into the answers,

Jess

ask me a question. i'm the magic 8-ball of dance answers.

http://jessgrippo.com/danceanswer/

During next week's live online video event you will:

• literally get up and dance
• learn movement tools for activating your body’s wisdom
• break mental patterns that have been keeping you stuck or frustrated
• have a chance to get your question answered LIVE through interpretive dance, in the style of a human magic 8-ball
• leave the experience feeling clear and focused, with new opportunities for connection, community, and support

All you have to do is click here to sign up.

And please comment below with your questions - a few lucky askers will have their questions interpretively dance-answered by me, live on video next week!

why my program launch failed

So, here’s some honesty:

I’ve been planning to start my Thriving Artist’s Program in February with a goal of having 10 people join. You might have seen my emails last week that invited you to apply.

Despite doing everything “right” - i.e. writing and sending passion-filled emails, making calls, posting on social media, consulting with my coach, etc, - I had not one person sign up for the program.

Zero takers.

And honestly, I’m not totally surprised by this outcome.

I thought it would be valuable to share with you why the launch “failed,” since I have a feeling it might help you with whatever you might create or contemplate creating this year.

(side note: Why did I put “failed” in quotes? Because if I measure success by money or the exact numbers in my goals, it certainly was a failure. But if I look at it through the lens of what I learned from it and how it will shape my future programs and projects, it’s a win. It took me a few days to get past my ego being crushed to come to this conclusion, but it’s true.)

Why my program launch failed (and why yours might, too):

We could blame it on the seasonal timing - “people are too tapped out after the holidays!”

Or we could blame it on Mercury Retrograde - “you’re not supposed to start anything new in Merc Retro!”

But regardless of those factors, here’s the bottom line for me:

My head wanted it more than my heart.

Now, I’m NOT saying that my heart doesn’t love the work I do - because believe me, I wouldn’t be consistently doing it for the last 4 years if that wasn’t the case. It’s just that my heart, my body, and my soul, have all been sending me messages that it’s time to slow down, make a shift and change things up. (If you remember my post from a few weeks ago about throwing out all my 2016 plans, you’ll know what I mean!)

My head, though, was like: “Yea, I hear you, but the December Showcase was such a success! You’ve been doing this program for years and it’s already planned so just go with it.”

I was fearful that if I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t know what else to do in its place, or that I wouldn’t have another way of bringing in income.

Meanwhile, the process felt a bit rushed to me, and when I didn’t get the response I expected, it confirmed that something was out of alignment.

So here’s what I learned:

1. Don’t be afraid to be in the darkness for awhile. Or a while longer. Sometimes clarity can only come from that empty space, and if you force something too soon, things will break down. (And that breakdown includes your body. Not a coincidence that I came down with a nasty cough and cold the day after coming to this realization.)

2. It’s best to take action when you feel in full alignment with the timing and the cause. Your efforts will be so much more successful if you are 100% committed and in it.

3. And, despite knowing all that, sometimes you gotta mess up anyway. It’s ok if something “fails” because there’s always something new to learn and a new direction you can take.

What I’m doing about it (and how you can partake):

I’ve decided to put the Thriving Artist’s Program on hold for now. In the meantime, I’m creating shorter, more bite-sized experiences that will allow me to continue to be of service, and also give me spaciousness in the process of reinventing myself and what I’m creating.

It’s a win-win!

If you can relate or are just digging all this honesty, let’s keep the conversation going!

I invite you to join me for this bite-sized experience of big-time impact:

On February 3rd at 7:30pm EST, I’m hosting a free “dance-inar” (not a webinar) called,

DANCE INTO THE ANSWERS.

I’m sensing many of you are also in a place of questioning aspects of your lives.

This online event is about saying YES to that part of yourself that craves a paradigm shift, that knows there’s something else out there for you, even if you’re scared or uncertain about the future. I don’t know the exact answers, but I do know that we can create possibilities together.

I’ll guide you through some dancing, inner reflection, and a body-based process for accessing your truth.

Join here.

It’s hosted via video, so you can join from wherever.

It’s recorded in case you can’t make it live.

It gives you an opportunity to dance, do some soul searching, and receive guidance, clarity, and support.

[button link="http://eepurl.com/bNKlWP" color="aqua" window="yes"]Sign up here.[/button]

I’m really excited to connect with you in new ways this year and I hope you’ll join me for this!

Remember:

When all else fails, dance it out.

wishing you peace, trust, and power,

Jess

p.s. for all you NYC locals, I also just started up a dance group on Meetup.com! Click here to join the dance meetup and stay updated on the dance-related events I’ll be hosting this year.

emotions are fleeting. THIS is what's solid.

Sometimes I look back at old posts or photos and feel like I’m looking at a stranger.

In the moments when I feel uncertain or scared of the future, it’s hard to remember that there was once a time when I was confident.

In the moments when I feel super jazzed about life and on-fire with my work, I can look back on the sad or confused moments with compassion for that version of myself.

In the span of a week alone, I’ve felt both sides of that.

And I remembered -

This is why I make art. This is why I make dance videos.

Life might not make sense all the time, but dancing through it is the way I can leave my mark and make some sense of the feelings. I can say to the world, “I was here! I lived through THIS thing, in THIS moment, feeling THIS feeling.” It might not translate literally, but what’s more important is that the feeling moves through me.

The point is, emotions are fleeting.

What’s solid is the truth within you and what you create in the world around you.

Are you connected to that truth inside of you?

Are you expressing it out into the world?

What structure do you have in place to support your dreams?

As you might have heard, I’m currently accepting applications for the Thriving Artist’s Program, my signature 6-month coaching program that provides the structure and support necessary to coax your creative truth to the surface and give you the confidence to share it in the world.

I recognize the ups and downs of a creative life, and I don’t think anyone should have to feel alone it.

If you’re curious about what creative support could look like for you in 2016, I encourage you to read more and fill out an application here.

I’ve heard back from applicants who got more clarity and had a-ha moments, just from the process of just filling it out alone.

Once you fill out the application, I’ll be in touch about setting up a time for a complimentary 1-1 call with me.

(FYI - All spots for next week are full, except for 3 slots on Monday 1/18, and those slots will go to the first 3 people who fill out their application today.)

I’ve been getting questions from you wondering what the structure of the program looks like, where it’s located, and how much it costs.

So I’ve added more details to the application page which you can find here:

http://jessgrippo.com/tap2016/

If you don’t decide to apply, I of course still love you and will be back next week as usual with Creative Fridays.

But I really encourage you to do it. There’s nothing to lose except old versions of yourself that are no longer serving the bigger dreams ready to emerge.

Let’s do this. Together.

with compassion for all our changing emotions,

Jess

p.s. I know it’s a time of Mercury Retrograde, lots of transition, and the unknown of a new year staring back at us, so I recognize that it might not feel like the right time to commit to anything. Just letting you know that there are other options available if this particular program is not a fit. You’ll never know what’s possible unless you take the first step.

when you don’t know, don’t isolate.

I’m learning that there’s a difference between a.) taking conscious alone time - i.e. meditating, reflecting, connecting to yourself and spirit - and b.) isolating yourself in a silently self-destructive kind of way.

Last week when I threw out all my 2016 plans, I almost threw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.

I had signed up for a coaching program back in November to get support for myself and my business as I grow into 2016, but with the way I was feeling, I wanted to back out. My left-brain/ego was really strong in telling me that I already had business experience and I just needed to figure things out on my own. Plus, I wasn’t clear on exactly what I wanted to create, so how could I be part of a group like this?

Then I got on the phone with the leader of the group a few nights ago, and when I said the words, “I don’t want to move forward with this program,” I felt sad and anxiety arose in my chest. As we continued to talk, the emotions welled up in me until I started crying, in the ugly-cry wailing kind of way. Release.

Through this powerful experience my body was giving me, I got the clarity that actually I didn’t want to move forward alone. Actually, I was terrified of the impending changes that I felt were brewing and something deep inside of me wanted community and support.

The simple experience of being heard on this phone call, knowing that the person on the other end of the line was holding space for my growth and expression, was profound. I felt at ease, everything felt possible again. I couldn’t have gotten to that place alone.

And that’s when it all tied together for me:

Connection. Community. Holding space for each other’s growth and truest expression.

That’s why I write this blog. That’s why I lead my dance and coaching programs.

Because yes, alone time is important, but isolation is self-destructive.

With support, we can find true healing and growth and opportunities that we never knew existed.

Especially in the moments of not knowing, of floundering in the darkness reaching for something to grasp hold of - that’s when we most need a hand to hold.

Consider this post the extension of my hand to yours.

Will you take it?

Are you curious to see what getting a new kind of support could look like for you?

If the answer is yes, let’s talk.

I’m officially opening up applications to the Thriving Artist’s Program, a 6-month journey for artists and artists-at-heart-who-are-scared-to-admit-they-are-an-artist to connect to the truths within you, own your value, and get past whatever’s blocking you from sharing your expression with the world.

(Click here to apply)

When you apply, you’ll be considered for one of the 9 complimentary spots I have open for Creative Guidance Sessions.

This is your chance to have 30-40 minutes of my full attention on your personal goals, dreams, and struggles, to uncover truths within you, to envision a thriving future for yourself, and co-create the steps to getting there.

But it’s not for everyone.

It’s only for you if you really feel it’s time:

It’s time to stop hiding and isolating yourself.

It’s time to stop making excuses.

It’s time to dance through your fears - even if the future feels unknown.

Especially if the future feels unknown.

Click here to apply to the Thriving Artist’s Program.

If I sense that what you’re going through is a match for what I provide, I’ll send you more instructions for claiming one of the spots to talk to me.

Doors close next Friday, so the time is now.

I hope you’ll take my hand.

tapping on your heart,

Jess

p.s. At our Showcase last month, one of our recent graduates from the program, Toccara, told us about how she “really didn’t like people” before starting the program, and tended to keep herself isolated. This was what she had to say upon completing our work together:

“I started the TAP program with a pretty high expectation- for Jess to help transform my life. Low and behold - in just six months - she did. When Jess and I first started working together I was a frustrated writer, a frustrated actress, a timid singer and a frantic creative with little time outside of my 9 to 5 to actually create. Put simply, I was pretty tightly wound and confused about which creative path I should travel in my limited free time.

“Jess and I started off by simply talking one-on-one and soon after these early conversations, I realized that having a caring and compassionate person to connect to, who is also an artist, was a necessary element that was missing from my life. Jess created an open space where I was allowed to speak candidly about my aspirations and my fears, and through this I was able to start clearing out all the mental clutter, and start creating again.

“While working with Jess I started to develop a t-shirt business, Love Always, TC; I created a singing project for myself that I will also be filming and editing; and I sang in front of an audience at the showcase - conquering a fear that had confined and defined me for years. I'm also writing again and it's no longer a source of frustration. Furthermore, I've thrived from learning how to create opportunities for myself, rather than waiting for someone else's approval or validation.

“The Thriving Artists Program offered opportunities for me to grow as an artist individually, yet the program also created a loving community of camaraderie through group video calls and artist retreats with other women. We were able to be a source of creative support and outreach for one another, which I found really comforting. I feel like I've made some lasting connections with other creative women that will last for years to come.”

What are YOU waiting for?

[button link="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1obv77urkrjrQ64wyHMUMOWC1bf1ZfBCtLN7k_dkGoTg/viewform" size="large" color="aqua" window="yes"]Take the first step and apply here.[/button]