Success doesn’t have to look the same in every season of your life. Sometimes the most creative thing you can do is listen to yourself and redefine what success means to you. - BrandiWhat if making art could be therapeutic, but sustaining a creative life meant learning when to push forward and when to step back?In this episode, I sit down with Canadian artist Alexandra McLaughlin for a conversation about the messy, beautiful reality of sustaining creativity long term. We talk about how art can become a place to process life, anxiety and stress, but also why we can’t always force ourselves to create when our bodies and minds are asking for something different.Alex shares her journey from working as a Toronto paramedic to building a full-time art practice from her home studio in Midland, Ontario. We also get very Canadian in this episode as Alex tells me about making maple syrup straight from the trees in her own backyard.We talk about redefining success, why a solo gallery show doesn’t have to be the ultimate goal, how our definitions of success can change through different seasons of life, and the importance of finding creative side projects that keep you curious and excited.And Alex’s current exhibition, Close to the Water is currently on at Quest Art School + Gallery, inspired by her lifelong relationship with Georgian Bay and the way water can help us slow down, reconnect and come home to ourselves. 2 Takeaway Tips1. Redefine success for the season you’re in.Success doesn’t always have to mean the biggest show, the most sales or the next major milestone. Ask yourself what a successful creative life looks like right now, and give yourself permission to let that answer change.2. Listen when your body says slow down.Creativity thrives when we have the capacity for it. If you’re exhausted, anxious or physically carrying the stress of your work, stepping away isn’t failure. Sometimes rest, play and a completely different creative project are exactly what allow you to come back to your art with more energy.

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