Hello there Merideth Hite Estevez here creator of artists for joy podcast. This is the musical meditation of the main episode entitled How to be you. That was episode 2 in season 3. In the episode we discussed how our personalities, even the parts of us that we might dislike sometimes, can be a resource for us in certain times and places. I led you through a coaching exercise about naming your inner team members, and this little bonus episode will offer you some more prompts to go deeper with this topic and hopefully allow you to reflect more on how you, all the parts of you, are not a liability but a beautiful kaleidoscope of uniqueness and beauty. And, the most valuable lesson that coaching has taught me–you are driving the car! So you have agency over how you show up. 

I also love to share a listener response to the episode and this one was a more general email I received from a faithful listener in Florida, an ordained minister and casual visual artist she calls herself…she writes:

During my sabbatical I was working on healing from all the trauma and deaths related to ministering during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was being counted on for so much for so long.. My sabbatical included painting and improving my photography skills so that I could produce a gallery show of my work for my church after I returned. I was dealing with a lot of frustration and feeling that my skill would never reach my imagination of what the final product could be.  I stumbled upon your podcast

And it has helped me tremendously as I dealt with all the internal conversations that I am not a REAL artist. It has helped me quiet my own criticism of my work. It has helped me declare that my ministry work, which is a ton of original and creative writing, is also art. And that my "trying at” being an artist who creates mediocre art is ok and ‘ok' is good enough. 

I am not afraid anymore of calling myself an artist. I created a show of my own sabbatical art, and in my artist statement I list myself as a 'casual artist'. That’s quite a change from being a frustrated person who would not call myself an artist at all. 

Thank you for giving me confidence and courage in my show "The Colors of God's World". Hope this inspires you in some way. 

AND YES IT VERY MUCH DOES. THank you so much for writing. And I share that email with you hear because what I think this listener did was move past the negative self-talk she was getting from outside sources but also from people in her past or her life, that she wasn’t a REAL artist and she decided instead to let her creative, curious, open, accepting team members ride shot gun, and out pour so much expression and creativity from there. That is incredible. Truly an honor to have played a role in your accepting that title artist. 

So as you listen to today’s music, reflect on the following: 

1. Who are your inner team members? Where do they sit in your car in any given moment? Are there certain activities or triggers that put the negative voiced control freak in the front? What activities bring out other parts of your team? 

2. What resources do the negative presenting members have to offer you? For example, my perfectionistic self is really great in getting that executive function going…to get things done. But then I have to call in fun Merideth to keep things joyful in the face of impending imperfection. For you, your perceived negative team members might offer you protection, safety, boundaries or otherwise. 

3. And lastly, do one final inventory of the car. It might be easy to miss someone if they haven’t been attended to in a while. Show a close friend or loved one your inner team list and ask them if you missed anyone. Maybe there was someone who used to be really adventurous but he or she might have been pushed into the trunk since you became a mother or switched jobs or left school or something. Just because one or two of your team members are the loudest, doesn’t mean there aren’t others who are just as valuable and central to the team. 

Just a reminder that these questions are available in the show notes if you swipe up wherever you listen. Today’s music features marnie laird playing the opening movement of beethoven’s moonlight sonata. 

I will be back next week for another full length episode. Until then, take good care.