10: Nicola Newman Grows Abundance

I'm happy to share this lovely interview today
with Nicola Newman, based on the Sunshine Coast in
Australia. Nicola is an
award-winning artist. She’s an organic gardening teacher, author
and entrepreneur. Her mission is to help women explore their
creativity and inspire them to live an authentic life that supports
their heart's deepest desires to be self-expressive and enjoy even
greater well-being. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and she’s
produced and directed three documentaries on contemporary
Australian artists.  Her paintings are featured in a multitude
of public and private collections all around the world. She is the
author of Grow Abundant Herbs and Greens in Pots and the
creator of two acclaimed online training courses, The Abundant
Veggie Patch System and Grow Organic Food in Pots. Nicola
has taught hundreds of beginner gardeners worldwide to grow their
own organic food and nurture their health. She’s currently working
on a new project, Flourish with Painting and Creativity, which
is an online mentorship program dedicated to teaching practical,
soulful and nurturing ways to explore painting with acrylic and oil
paints and express your innate creativity.  In Nicola's words
"I want to inspire you to create things. Whether it’s a garden, a
painting, a business or a life that supports you, it would be my
honour to share the tools & inspiration I’ve found to push past
creative blocks and see the results of your heart and hands unfold
before your eyes." Nicola never felt that yearning to have children
that some women feel.  She thought that maybe it would kick in
when she was ready to have children.  For some reason, that
never happened.  Today, Nicola has allowed herself to be
liberated in being childfree.  It has given her the
opportunity to pursue her passions, and in turn, impact the world
in a much bigger way. In this episode you will
learn:


How being childfree has liberated Nicola;


The morning creative exercise that Nicola practices and
recommends;


When Nicola first discovered her creativity;


What it really takes to make a living as an
artist;


The role her Mother played in accepting her childfree
situation;


Why Nicola is open to not being childfree
forever;


How to put the opinion of others regarding children,in
perspective;


Why having children is no guarantee of “being taken
care of” when you are aging;


Why having step-children can change your
perspective;


Tips for navigating a new Step-Mother
relationship.


The positive and negative lessons she learned in Step
Parenting.

Nicola’s Advice for Reigniting Your Creativity
Within:

Don’t believe the stories in your head

Keep focusing on what’s coming up in front of you

Be open to all sorts of possibilities

Take short courses

Find what makes you happy

Allow yourself to explore and go to the things that you are
interested in

Give yourself permission.

I really enjoyed this down to earth and practical conversation
with Nicola and I hope you did too! Find out more about Nicola's
work here.

 Resources:


Morning Pages by Julia Cameron

Grow Abundance Herbs and Greens in Pots

The Abundant Veggie Patch System

Grow Organic Food in Pots

Flourish with Painting and Creativity

I would love to hear your comments below. If you found this
helpful and interesting then I would love you to share with a
friend who may also benefit. Thank you!