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Suki Chan's avatar

Amazing writing, Hannah. I'm so happy I discovered you here. During the pandemic, I also found myself reflecting, "Am I creating to be seen, or am I sharing my creations because I *see* and want to share the light?"

I'm curious to hear what changes you've made since the realization that you don't care (too much) for what others are doing? How do you find the balance between staying inspired through consumption vs staying in your own lane? xo

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Hannah Hopper's avatar

Hello Suki! It's so lovely to "meet you" here. Thank you for your kind words, and for asking such a great question.

Comparison is a fundamental human trait, and I don't think it's possible to 'turn it off' all together. As you said, looking to others for inspiration and wisdom can be supportive (in healthy amounts).

For me, it comes down to this one realization: my best creative work comes from a place of stillness. That doesn't mean I don't source inspiration from the outside world. But I know my most important messages and ideas come from a place that's deep inside myself. A knowing that I refer to as this little 'inner voice'.

For her to be heard, I have to create the right environment. I have to quiet my mind, tune out the noise, and make room for her to speak. When I haven't heard from her in a while, or start relying too heavily on external sources for inspiration, I know I've been over-consuming.

The absence of this inner voice reminds me to slow down. To stop filling all my blank space with podcasts, books, and content from others, and prioritize adequate time to simply be with my thoughts. Nature, walking, and intentional moments of quiet feel extra supportive during this time. <3

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Suki Chan's avatar

Thanks Hannah, this was incredibly insightful. I like your point about listening to our inner voice (I call it my creative spirit), and not trying to fill our time with content, learning, etc. The guidance & messages we want are always within - we just need to practice seeing it, honouring it and following it. <3

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Danielle Dueck's avatar

Exactly what I needed today 💞

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Hannah Hopper's avatar

These words were meant to land with you!

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Bella (Holistic Nutritionist)'s avatar

This is exactly what I needed to hear today. The thing is, the mundane actually sounds much more appealing. We can get so wrapped up in social media and forget to be present in the moment and appreciate the simple pleasures. Thank you again for sharing your words. I look forward to it always😊

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Hannah Hopper's avatar

Ah, yes - the mundane is a beautiful place to be. They say the small things are the big things, and that really resonates with me. <3

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