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Many of us think we have a motivation problem.

We call ourselves lazy.
We say we’re procrastinating.
We wait to “feel ready.”

But motivation isn’t a personality trait — and it isn’t something you have to wait for.

In this episode, psychologist and art therapist Amy Backos breaks down what 70 years of research actually says about motivation — including intrinsic vs. extrinsic drive, expectancy–value theory, attribution styles, and self-efficacy — and why labeling yourself “unmotivated” quietly undermines your ability to act.

You’ll learn:

• What motivation really is (and what it isn’t)
• Why calling yourself lazy backfires neurologically and psychologically
• The simple formula that predicts whether you’ll take action
• How your internal “story” shapes effort and persistence
• ACT-based cognitive defusion tools to stop believing every thought your mind throws at you
• How to act before you feel ready

If you’ve been waiting for motivation to show up before starting your creative work, this conversation will change how you approach action entirely.

Because you don’t need more motivation.

You need a different relationship with your thoughts.

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If I could gift everyone one psychological skill right now, it would be this: psychological flexibility.

Because when the world feels overwhelming — when the news is heavy, systems feel broken, and old wounds get stirred up — rigidity doesn’t help. Avoidance doesn’t help. Doom-scrolling doesn’t help.

Adopting a stance of Psychological Flexibility does help.

In this episode, I step back from the headlines and talk about something deeper: how humans historically respond when widespread trauma is exposed. We look at the psychology of denial, backlash, and disbelief — and why our nervous systems sometimes push away what feels unbearable.

Then I teach you the skill I rely on most in my clinical work and in my own life: psychological flexibility.

It’s the ability to stay present, make room for difficult emotions, and choose actions that align with your values — instead of reacting from fear or overwhelm.

This isn’t about consuming more information.
It’s about staying steady enough to make a difference.

If you’ve been feeling anxious, discouraged, or emotionally flooded by the state of the world, this episode will help you ground yourself, protect your energy, and move forward with intention.

Because we don’t need more reactivity right now.
We need clarity, compassion, and values-based action.

Welcome to The Modern Creative Woman.

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In this deeply meaningful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Lavinia Jackson — Chair and Professor of Art Therapy at Marymount University, scholar, educator, and one of the most important voices shaping the future of our field.

Dr. Jackson is the author of Cultural Humility and Art Therapy, a book that has profoundly influenced both my teaching and my clinical work. Her leadership has helped move art therapy beyond “cultural competence” and toward something much more human and honest: cultural humility — a way of being grounded in curiosity, critical self-reflection, and respect for the lived expertise of the people we serve.

Together, we talk about the origins of cultural humility, born out of the social unrest following the Rodney King riots, and how this framework asks us to move beyond checklists and techniques into deeper accountability — personally, relationally, and institutionally.

We explore:

• why humility is the foundation of ethical therapy work
• the difference between competence and curiosity
• how relationship — not information — is what truly heals
• the risks of disconnection in our AI and algorithm-driven world
• and how retreat, travel, art-making, and embodied practices help us step back, reflect, and return to ourselves

This episode is both scholarly and soulful — a conversation about integrity, presence, and what it really means to show up for others with openness.

If you care about creativity, healing, justice, and becoming a more thoughtful human and clinician, this one is for you.

Welcome to The Modern Creative Woman — where we explore the art and science of living creatively.

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Pick our metaphor to make your life a little easier and more enjoyable. Getting into your zone is the key to living your purpose with clarity, intention, and creativity.

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If your creative energy feels fragile right now, ask yourself not how to push harder or where to recruit more willpower. Instead, ask yourself what kind of container it's been asked to survive in.

This episode draws your attention away from motivation and willpower, and towards creating containers where your creativity can grow and expand.

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There is enormous variety in the universe of visual art—and in this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, we explore why that matters so deeply to the human brain and nervous system.

Inspired by research from the field of neuroaesthetics, this conversation bridges cognitive science, art therapy, and lived experience to help you understand how beauty, art, and the spaces we inhabit can genuinely support healing and well-being. From moments of awe and wonder to the calming effects of viewing art, we explore how aesthetic experiences influence mood, regulation, perspective, and even physiology.

You’ll hear reflections on:

• Why beauty can create feelings of awe and meaning
• How viewing art supports emotional regulation and mental health
• What neuroaesthetics teaches us about architecture, space, and wellness
• Why art museums, sacred spaces, and expansive environments feel so soothing
• How your personal aesthetic preferences matter more than you think
• Simple ways to bring more beauty and creative intention into daily life

In a time when so much feels uncertain, this episode is an invitation to stay connected to art—not as escape, but as a powerful source of healing, reflection, and restoration. Beauty is not frivolous. Creativity is not optional. They are essential to how we care for ourselves and one another.

And as always, the question remains: now that you know, what will you create?

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In this episode, I’m welcoming 2026 with a reflection on creativity as a fundamental human force—the energy behind civilization, healing, meaning, and change. As I begin the early, tender labor of writing my next book, I wanted to share some of what has been stirring in my mind and heart during this season of intention-setting and renewal.

We explore creativity not as something reserved for “artists,” but as an essential way of thinking, making, and knowing. From the objects in our homes to the systems that shape our societies, creativity is the invisible thread that connects ideas, innovation, and emotional healing. I reflect on art as both an intellectual process—integrating disparate ideas—and a deeply human, embodied act of making with our hands.

Drawing on art therapy, psychology, and thinkers like de Botton, Armstrong, and Pat Allen, this episode invites you to reconsider your relationship with art and creativity. We talk about why so many adults stop creating, what we lose when we do, and how returning to simple acts of making can support nervous-system regulation, clarity, insight, and emotional well-being.

If you’re seeking inspiration, grounding, or a gentle reminder that creativity belongs to you—no art degree required—this episode is an invitation to open your eyes to the creative world already surrounding you and to ask yourself: Now that you know, what will you create?

I also share details about the upcoming Paris art therapy retreat and a special bonus for podcast listeners.

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Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community
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"Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women." -Maya Angelou

As we cross the threshold from 2025 into 2026, this episode invites you to pause, reflect, and choose a different way forward—one rooted in values rather than willpower. Opening with Maya Angelou’s reminder that when one woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women, we explore how values guide our decisions, actions, and sense of meaning across every area of life.

Instead of setting resolutions that often fade within weeks, this conversation reframes the New Year as an opportunity to reconnect with what truly matters to you. Values—freely chosen, deeply personal, and ever-evolving—become a compass for how you want to live, relate, create, and care for yourself. We unpack the critical difference between goals and values, and how values provide the fuel that goals alone often lack.

You’ll be guided through four powerful value domains to consider for the year ahead: self-talk, mental health, inner boundaries, and outer boundaries. Through personal stories, psychological research, and practical examples, this episode explores how kindness toward yourself, value-based self-talk, and clear boundaries—both internal and external—create consistency, self-trust, and sustainable change.

This episode is an invitation to reflect on who you want to be, how you want to show up, and what you want to move toward in 2026. By choosing a value—or a word—to guide your year, you begin living in alignment with what matters most, one small, meaningful action at a time.

Support the show

Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community
https://moderncreativewoman.com

Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter
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