Two Questions That Help Me Refocus, Eat My Vegetables, and Create the Life I Want Most
You Are What You Eat
Don't laugh, but as a grown woman in my 40s, I recently had to make a game out of eating my vegetables. And if you know me, that's even more embarrassing. I was raised by a super-healthy mom, I've been a college tennis player, run a 10-mile race every year, and I'm usually a pretty clean eater. This past winter, though…kind of took me down. Common story for sure — holidays, stress, and what I can only describe as a strong hibernation instinct. And this year, even as spring began, I just could not snap out of it. Potato chips, an extra handful of jellybeans every time I walked past the jar, an extra drink after dinner. Nothing drastic. But I just wasn't reaching for the fruit. I never ordered the salad. And my energy was suffering. I knew it. And still, another month passed — more snacks, more TV, less energy for what I really wanted.
And what did I really want? I'm always telling my family, "we should go on more adventures!" I'm texting friends, "we need to get together soon!" And in my head I'm picturing that epic painting I've been wanting to start, or an idea for a new ceramic sculpture that keeps nagging at me. These aren't impossible dreams. But I kept finding myself stuck in this murky realm of in-between — not quite enough energy or willpower to actually reach for any of them. Maybe next week, you know?
What was holding me back from starting those things? Well…the fuel I was running on — chips, scrolling, inertia — wasn't exactly putting the pep in my step. Sometimes it really is that physically simple, not some huge moral failing.
What is the fuel of your life?
Whatever you take in, it affects what happens next.
Reaching for the Broccoli, but Creatively
You've heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” Maybe you've also heard that you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with, or that your environment shapes how you feel and think — something beautifully explored in a favorite new book of mine, Spatial Alchemy. We absorb what we're surrounded by. What we let in becomes the only building blocks we have to work with to create an output. And the downside of this truth is another old expression: Garbage in, garbage out.
We can flip it though, and uncover a simple and refreshing way of thinking that can build big change over time. I first came across Eric Zimmer through one of my absolute favorite podcasts, Creative Peptalk with Andy J. Pizza. If you're not listening to Andy, fix that immediately — he is the real MVP of creative encouragement and I don't miss an episode. His interview with Eric was excellent. Eric Zimmer hosts The One You Feed podcast and also wrote a book called How a Little Becomes a Lot, and his core idea is short, sweet and honest: when you're facing any decision, just ask yourself two questions.
What do you want now? What do you want most?
Then make your next choice based on what you want most. Phrased another way, as you open the fridge…think, "Is this the thing I want now? Or the thing I want MOST?" And there is no wrong answer. The goal is not to follow a prescribed plan, like what productivity books say you should do. Not what your inner critic is yelling. Not what anyone else thinks. Just — what do YOU actually want most, for your life.
I tested this yesterday when I was about to pour a second cup of coffee and open Instagram. What do I want now? Distraction, inertia. What do I want most? To get into the studio. I closed the app. And I felt good — like I'd actually shown up for myself. That extra hour meant that I actually got ALL the pots glazed, and without rushing. Like I was living the day I pictured, not the one that just kind of happened to me. (Jason Isbell said it best: "Are you living the life you chose? Or are you living the life that chose you?")
We can only show up today. Yesterday is over, and tomorrow isn't here yet. All we need is to make this one little decision now.
Just a Few Blueberries
So here's my ridiculous and highly effective trick. When I'm craving something that I know will make me feel worse, I say: "Ok! You can have it. But first, eat something good." Carrots before chips. Water before the beer. Blueberries before chocolate. Some good stuff gets in, and it gets me past that craving moment. Suddenly I remember how easy it actually is — and that blueberries are genuinely so delicious.
But this little reframe doesn't stop at snacks. About to watch the news? Try an uplifting story first. Ready to veg out and scroll? Read a paragraph of your new book first. About to collapse on the couch? Stretch out with a few yoga poses first. It's not deprivation. It's not a strict plan. It's just feeding yourself better fuel, one small choice at a time.
Now Feed Your Creativity
Here's what this really means for me, though — and why I wanted to write about it for you. If you want your creativity to stay alive, well, and growing, you have to feed it too. Actively. Intentionally. And it really doesn't take much effort.
Walk through an art gallery. Pick up a sketchbook or a cheap set of watercolors at Michaels or Target. Let yourself wander through the art supply aisle with zero agenda. Watch a video of someone making something you've never tried. Give yourself just a little touch of something creative during your week — and it will slowly rewire your brain. It keeps you sparked, engaged, and full of ideas. A little really does become a lot.
I know some of you have been doing this, because you've messaged me to share your wins! And it is so encouraging.
For me right now? What I want most — beyond the painting, beyond the ceramics — is to make memories with my teenagers before they head out into the world. So this summer, that means choosing to cook dinner together and letting them pick the menu. Playing a game like we used to before everyone had somewhere else to be. Meeting up at the lake for a hike on a path we've never tried. Something fresh and new. Not huge, but building towards something I really want.
One choice at a time. That's all this is.
Step out in the direction you want most…
Just a small step.
You don’t have to have the whole thing figured out.
Your Turn
Just once this week — before you reach for the scroll, the snack, or the couch — ask yourself: What do I want now? What do I want most? See what happens.
Quick Win: Try the "eat something good first" rule — but apply it to your creative life too. Before you consume something mindless, feed yourself something that fills you up for what you want most, not just what you want now.
Solid Solution: Find Creative Peptalk with Andy J. Pizza and start with his Eric Zimmer episode. Then check out Eric's book, How a Little Becomes a Lot. It's encouraging and practical at the same time, and geared towards those of us on the sensitive side who don't do well with the grit, hustle and grind mind set.
Treat Yourself: Get something on the calendar this week — something you actually want most. A family adventure, a long-overdue meetup with a good friend, or a solo recharge day at a museum, botanical garden, or spa. Your call. Just pick one and put it in ink.
With Enthusiasm for Life + Art,