Denise Christenson Rae [00:00:06]:
Hello, and welcome to the Creative Calm podcast. I am your host, Denise Christenson Rae. I'm a creative wellness coach who has a passion for adding zest and whimsy to everyday life. As a mom of 4, teacher, and business owner, life can get a bit crazy and overwhelming. But I have discovered that through the magic of rest, creativity, and play, I have the power to find common success in all areas of my life and business. My mission with this podcast is to show you that this is possible for you as well. I can't wait to help you embrace your playful spirit, find pockets of rest in your days, and dive into the joy of creativity so that you can move past overwhelm and thrive in your life and business. Let's get to the show.
Denise Christenson Rae [00:00:53]:
Hello, and welcome back to the Creative Calm Podcast. I'm so excited today because I have a friend of mine, Leah Michelle on today and oh my gosh. We met Leah about a year ago, and I remember actually hearing Leah's voice in the very first Fine. I don't know if you should know this, Leah. I heard your voice for the very first time on a podcast. And it was on our friend, I'm Allison Cullen's, You Do Woo podcast. I had the Let's Take That podcast and wasn't in Allison's world yet, and I was Binging on a bunch of her episodes, and one of her more recent episodes had Lea Michele on. I was like, oh my gosh.
Denise Christenson Rae [00:01:32]:
What a lovely voice she has and what a lovely person she sounds like she is. And then just a few short weeks later when I joined Alison's mastermind, I got to meet Leah. So Leah is a human design and self love guide. Love, love, love that title. I can't wait to dive into that more and hear more about it. So actually, let me let Lea Leah say hello, and maybe she can start with that. I'm glad to say that a little bit, Leah.
Leah Michelle [00:01:58]:
Yay. Well, first of all, thank you for having me. I'm very excited to be One of your first guests. I know we were chatting about that before. And I think it's so funny because I did not know that story about how you met me, So I love that. And it's I was just reflecting back. That episode was from August 2022, I think it was. So it's quite a while ago.
Leah Michelle [00:02:22]:
It doesn't feel like a long time ago, but a lot has changed since then. And it's funny. I'm gonna have to go back and listen to it. But thank you for the kind words, and I'm excited that we met each other And that we've been in each other's world for that long, which is crazy.
Denise [00:02:39]:
I know. It really is. But it also feels like it's not that long, but then it feels really long. It's This whole past year, meeting so many new people and this is this journey that I've been on, for creative thumb. I've met so many amazing people, And it feels like I've known many of you for, like, a really long time, like, including you and now but it hasn't been that long. Mhmm.
Leah Michelle [00:03:01]:
Yeah. There's definitely a lot of shifts going on with the new paradigm. I'm not sure if you and Alison got into that, but There's definitely some weird shifts going on with the with time in a good way, but I love it. But, anyways, I'll get back to your question about Who I am. So as you introduced me, I am a human design and self love guide. And the reason why I decided to call myself that is because self love has always been, like, one of the most important things to me. Even before I started this business that I'm in now, I have been in business for the past it's been about five and a half years, and I started in network marketing with a health and wellness company. But even through that, like, self love was my focus.
Leah Michelle [00:03:51]:
Self love related to wellness and, like, nourishing your body. But then I learned about human design Around the same time, actually, I learned about it while I was in I think it was just I can't even remember, to be honest. I always try to think about this. It was probably in some training, and, like, I heard about it, and I had dive dove into it because I loved learning about myself. I loved astrology. I loved all of the personality tests. That was just what I was all about. And then human design just really resonated.
Leah Michelle [00:04:28]:
So, you know, I took, like, baby steps learning about it for myself. And it wasn't until I met Alison, who we were talking about, she did a training in a network marketing group that I was in. So I just dove in from there and got my certification to do human design readings. And Now, like like I said, I'm a human design and self love guide, and I'm building This business in human design coaching, but I come at it so it's like a two way street, basically. I come at human design from a place of self love, which to me, that means honoring every part of yourself. So you you know, with human design, you learn a lot about who you are, but sometimes it doesn't always resonate, or Sometimes we also like to put ourselves in a new box when we learn about human design, but I think it's meant to be expansive. So I like to look at it as like, okay. What parts actually resonate with you? What feels good for you? And, again, it can always change as we evolve, but that's what I mean by the self love piece there.
Leah Michelle [00:05:46]:
And then I also help people on their self love journey, again, to love themselves wholeheartedly Using that tool of human design because, like I said, human design really helps you to know your true self.
Denise [00:06:02]:
Yes. Let's back up for a quick second in case people haven't listened to my episode with Allison about human design and my journey with learning about it too. You might be like, what is this English design thing? I'd be a little confused. So can you tell us in your words what human design is? I know we're gonna be focusing a lot about love this episode, but human design is one of the tools you use to help people guide them and remind themselves Of their immensely important relationship of themselves and loving themselves. So, Unideside's a great tool for that. It really is. It helped Me a lot this year, and I just talked about that in the episode with Allison. So could you just share with me with our with our listeners right now, in case they haven't heard that episode, what human design is.
Leah Michelle [00:06:48]:
Yeah. And it's I always find it funny because everybody explains human design differently, Which I love too. But to me, what human design is is really your unique energetic blueprint of Who you are, how your energy best operates in the world, but also how you operate As an individual, like, as a unique individual, and how you interact with other people, again, energetically. And I know that Sometimes that sounds a bit like woo woo and confusing, but I'm also a nurse, so I'm a science lover. And when I think about, like, the saying that we're all energy, it's really about, like, are energetic cells in our body. Like, we are all made up of atoms. And, again, I'm not gonna go into, like,
Denise [00:07:42]:
a scientific lesson about it Mhmm.
Leah Michelle [00:07:44]:
Yeah. Explain it. But, like, we are energetic beings, and we interact in this world in different ways. Yeah. So that's really what human design is, like, as a whole, if that makes sense.
Denise [00:07:58]:
Yeah. Like, really makes sense. So, basically, What it comes down to is that everybody has their own blueprint, and it's based on your birth date, Where you were born and the time you were born. And that to me, that that's when I get I get that. And I remember when I first started, I'm like, I don't know about this. But when I actually got my, chart and I got my 1st reading, I was like, oh my goodness. It was it so matched where where I am and and where I knew I was, like, meant to go in terms of, like, what I my lights, my dislikes, all the personality stuff. Like, when you take a personality test like the Like the Myers Briggs or, the Enneagram.
Denise [00:08:39]:
And then you read your results. I don't know if anyone's ever done that. It's like, wow. Oh my gosh. Like, they're rewriting this for me, and that's that that it was that for human design, but even greater because it was, like, really felt like it was like, oh my gosh. Are they in my head? This is so crazy. And it also helps you just, like, know what direct the directions to go in and things with that. I know it was about my experience with it, you know, Pacifico, but it's just it really is a really neat, tool.
Denise [00:09:07]:
And so I can see How your your lens of self love, this is it's such a it's such a wonderful tool to use with that. And then I'm sure that you have other tools as well That you use, but it's just something that well, first of all, I think a lot of us, unfortunately, over time as We're going through this world sometimes fall out of love with ourselves. And, what I think what this world needs Most is for us to love ourselves so that we can better love others around us. So I'm so excited that you're doing this work because it's so So valuable and so important.
Leah Michelle [00:09:45]:
Mhmm. I completely agree with you that loving ourselves is so important, like I said. And I love what you shared about human design too is that it really helps you get to know yourself, like what I was saying, Because it shows you as well, like, your like, your personality, like you said. It shows you how you make decisions, how you do a lot of these practical things. So, yes, like, we're energetic beings, but we still move about the world, like, in a practical way. Like, we make decisions every day. We interact with people. We have that relationship with ourself.
Leah Michelle [00:10:23]:
And Why wouldn't you want to learn more about yourself? Yeah. Because when you learn all of these amazing things about who you Basically, like, we're born to be, and that way you can step into it.
Denise [00:10:38]:
Yeah. And It's it's a guide. It really is a guide, but it's also it's not like you said earlier in this episode that it's not a box that you wanna put yourself into either. So and I think people can do that with any I don't know with any kind of it's a thing with that, like the Enneagram. And the and the Enneagram, I'm a 9, which is a piece of paper. So, you know, I have like, that's all I am, and I'm willing to that like, I can I can sometimes get mad? You know what I mean? Like, I don't have to only be that. I think, like, sometimes we can get stuck in that concept too, so it's I thought that was a really great point to make that. It's just a it's just a tool.
Denise [00:11:16]:
It's just a tool. Mhmm. But it's it's a good tool. So, alright. So, Leah, let me ask you a little bit about Your creativity now because that you know, that's a big part of this podcast's creativity and rest and play, and I We're on here for many reasons, but one of the things I also wanna talk about is this, because you have worked with me with a bit before, free to come. And I learned a lot about, like, your creative side and it's really good. I I've before we even really fully dive into that, I wanna I wanted you to tell the tell the listeners a little bit about where you're from and just your your background, Growing up, I think like that. Like, what are the things you love to do? And, you know, where where are you now?
Leah Michelle [00:12:02]:
Yeah. That's I love that question. It's a loaded question, but Yeah. There's so many good things I can dive into. So where I'm from, basically, I am Well, I'm from Ontario, Canada. For those of you who know Canada at all, I know you, maybe your listeners are in the states, but Ontario, right above New York, and then I just moved out to Alberta, so that's across the country. And growing up, Like I said, I am a nurse now, but well, I'll get to that after. There's a story behind that too.
Leah Michelle [00:12:40]:
But, Yeah. Growing up, I always loved science, and I just got really sucked into, like, the scientific world. But I think it was because I was I was good at it. And in school, where I went to school at least, We didn't focus a lot on, like, creativity in school, which is really interesting to me and something I was Thinking about when I was working with you, Denise, because yeah. Like, we didn't it was always about, like, yeah. You do, like, your Creativity or, like, fun play, whatever on the side when you're not in school. And for me, that was dance. So that was what I did outside of school, but it was never like, oh, I'm gonna, you know, focus on this.
Leah Michelle [00:13:27]:
I have to pick Some sort of, like, specific class that they would teach you in school. So I picked science because I was good at it. So I felt like Growing up and even, like, into my adult years, it was always, oh, what's the word, Like a push and pull between both sides. Like, I felt creative in some aspects, but not so in other aspects. And I know When I started working with you, Denise, I was talking about this, how I have a hard time being creative, and I have a hard time playing. And you really, like, helped me to see that we can be creative in all aspects Right. Of life.
Denise [00:14:09]:
Yeah. Yeah. It's an interesting it is a push and pull, and I think it's a psychotomy that it's a false psychotomy. Is that word?
Leah Michelle [00:14:20]:
Yeah.
Denise [00:14:20]:
Yeah. Like, it's like, okay. Either spend time being creative or you have to be responsible and do your job. But meanwhile, every career, Every role we have takes creativity. You know? As a mom, I have to, like, be very creative, Yeah. On the spot sometimes with, like, what even when it comes to, like, what am I making for dinner? Like, we have this, this, and the house, and we have to figure it out, and that takes Problem solving. There's so much creativity. And and even in nursing, when you were walking, like, it it doesn't seem like as much, You can look at like, there's a lot of problem solving and a lot of, like, having to, I mean, I'm not a nurse, a teacher.
Denise [00:15:01]:
I can think about a 1000000 examples As a teacher, and how I have to, on the spot, use my creativity. And so I'm I'm sure as a nurse, you can you can think of some things too where, and even just like the communication skills, like the working with your patients, like, you need to, you know, think on your feet and all that kind of those kind of things. So I think of creativity as it's really important that we exercise it in different ways because it's it does touch all aspects of our lives. And the more, like, we serve, we let our brains be and, like, have fun with some creativity, the easier it can help us and all the other That puts in our lives. We can be less, like, less stringent and structured and have to, like, go certain way. We can kinda see that there are Opportunities for for different answers,
Leah Michelle [00:15:52]:
maybe.
Denise [00:15:53]:
So that's so interesting. I know that you're able to have some insight there With Freda Fom, and it's something that I've been working on too because a lot of times I'll be like, okay, I have I can play after I finish this or that, you know, and then sometimes I had to remind myself, like, well, maybe if I play first, I'll actually do better At the job that I have to finish, and so I've been I've been playing around with that lately. Like, okay. Well, maybe be before I work on that, I first thought to play. And it's it's interesting, especially if my brain isn't really into the task that I have to work on, it might Get more into the task if I do so if I like, for you and your example is dance. Like, I really wanna dive into that more, but maybe if I put on some music and dance a little bit, I'll feel Lighter, I'll feel like I have more energy and I have to put that energy towards this task that I have to do for, say, my job or or Family thing that I have to get ready for or whatever. What do you think about that? Do you think do you you find that have examples for that for yourself, especially when it comes to dance? And this dance of you. Mhmm.
Leah Michelle [00:17:02]:
Yeah. That's so true. I just wanna backtrack to what you said too about how creative or how being creative and creativity Just shows up in all aspects of our life. And just to bounce off what I was saying before, that's something I didn't realize either was that Being creative doesn't mean, like, doing art, like painting. That's always what it came to me. Yeah. Because I think it was funny. When I did my first human design reading, I have a creativity channel.
Leah Michelle [00:17:30]:
And I was like, oh, I don't resonate with that. I'm not creative because I don't do art. But then again, diving into what creativity really means And what you taught me about it just being involved in everything we do and, like you said, making dinner, the mundane tasks. We use our creative brain or we can to make life better. It really does.
Denise [00:17:53]:
That's true. So I just
Leah Michelle [00:17:54]:
wanted to add that in. And then with dance specifically, what you were saying too about, like, using creativity and play To help get you into that well, what came to me was, like, it helps me get into that higher vibration, higher energetic state. So what I do with dance specifically now is that, like, when I'm feeling really just really low and, like, I don't wanna do The things that I wanna do, especially with business, it comes up. You have to do certain things, and you're just like, oh, I don't feel like it. I just, like, put on a song and dance around. And, like, I don't dance very good, which is funny because I used to dance. But I once in a while, I'll post it on my social media and be like, You would never guess I was a dancer. Yeah.
Denise [00:18:41]:
I know it's easy to label ourselves, but we are. That's amazing. So you do. You you've been using dance more and more lately?
Leah Michelle [00:18:49]:
I have. And, again, like, I used it before, but I didn't really think about it Until that's like with everything. Right? You you know things, but until you really understand and integrate it Or embody it, whatever word you wanna use. You don't realize how much it's actually, again, changing your life, transforming different aspects. And, again, in this case, it's really, like, helping you to raise your vibrations.
Denise [00:19:16]:
Yeah. Totally. I absolutely love dance. I I think I just have a love affair with, like, all different freedom channels. Still working on the cooking one, but, you know, I have hopes.
Leah Michelle [00:19:30]:
Oh, yeah. Same.
Denise [00:19:31]:
But I'm just like No. Gourdney sounds great. Oh, yeah. I wanna try dance. Wanna do this. I wanna do that. But dance, I never considered myself a dancer. I tried tap when I was, like, in 2nd grade, and it didn't go well.
Denise [00:19:44]:
We're thinking I'm accurate at this and very early. So that's a very early judgment of myself. I guess the goal is to get self love type of thing. I was like, I didn't thing that I was good at before I didn't like, you know, love lets you just see, like, at as I can do things. Like, it doesn't matter if I'm good or not. Like, I can just enjoy it. And what I've come to understand about myself is that I do really love to dance in my body. I just don't enjoy dancing To choreograph type of thing, and that's something that I didn't realize until I was probably in my early twenties when I had an opportunity to win a retreat and it was like a drumming workshop and I started dancing and I absolutely had the best time.
Denise [00:20:28]:
And it was just a wonderful experience. And I actually got, certified and was programmed for the anterior medicine. Oh, and I I really use too much, but I think it's time to bring it back bring it into CreativeCom eventually, but it's so healing.
Leah Michelle [00:20:43]:
I remember you told me about this. It was Yeah. It's That's like something that brought back, my love.
Denise [00:20:49]:
Yeah. I'll put the link in the show notes for the program that I've had taken. And I heard now being like, it's too choppy. People just need to use it, Whatever way feels right to them, and it's choreographed dance is like the way that, like, feels great. Yeah. You know, just tapping your toe at the side and, like, you know, listening to the music and not really fully dancing is like your dang cool. It's just like Whirling around and there's no rhyme or reason to your moves? That's awesome too. But it gives it gives you that energy boost.
Denise [00:21:27]:
And, I mean, there's probably I mean, I'll have to do a whole episode on dance and, like, all the science behind it and all the things that it does Where and it's just for your body and your brain. That would be so neat to to really dive into that, but I think that's awesome that You realize that dance is your creative outlet. The well, one of your creative outlets, but it doesn't have to be painting and art. Although Everyone knows how much I love all that kind of stuff, and I think it's helpful even if you're not a good, I'm putting in quotes, artist, like in terms of, like, Painting or drawing. It still has value, I think, for people who don't think they're good at it, but I'll I'll I keep talking about Adam Lorton too.
Leah Michelle [00:22:11]:
No. That just makes it just reminds me, like, everything that you were talking about, even growing up when I was dancing Because I wasn't, again, quote, unquote, like, one of the best dancers, I was probably, like, one of the least good. I don't know. That's how I thought of myself at least, and it wasn't fun at the time, which is again, like, it wasn't it was just something that I did because, like, that's what I chose to do after school.
Denise [00:22:38]:
Okay.
Leah Michelle [00:22:38]:
You know, you can probably reflect back to that. I had fun at times, but I think that's why into my adulthood, I, like, I didn't dance for a long time.
Denise [00:22:50]:
And
Leah Michelle [00:22:50]:
now realizing, like, what you said is Just letting yourself be and letting yourself do it even if you don't feel like you're the best or And it might be just your own perceptions. Like you were saying, you think I'm a good dancer. Yep. And that's really important to think of too of The importance of self love, but also joy. Those 2 things are, like, really important to me, and Doing those things just for the simple fact of it brings you joy and it makes you happy. Same with what we were saying about painting and art. Like, I do like to do that, but I suck at it, in in my opinion. So
Denise [00:23:30]:
that's a judgment.
Leah Michelle [00:23:31]:
Again, like Yeah. Yeah. It's my judgment of myself, But really being able to and I'm working on it because of you and because of other things that I've heard, in different coaching containers I've been in, but the fact of, like, doing things that bring you joy just because they bring you joy.
Denise [00:23:50]:
Yeah.
Leah Michelle [00:23:51]:
That's an act of creativity, play, but it's also an act of self love.
Denise [00:23:55]:
Totally. And self love is all these things kind of work with each other. You know? And It's very easy to get stuck in our mindset of I'm not good at it. I suck, you know, whatever. You know, all the things that we can say about ourselves, but if it's something that doesn't like you said, it's just 1, like you are you're trying it for the 1st time, So, yeah, say it's a a painting workshop and you go and you're, like, with some girlfriends and you're, like, that was really fun. Now did I love the end result? And I love the way I felt doing it. So that's what matters. Like, we're not looking to old to film Picasso's.
Denise [00:24:35]:
I mean, you never know. Maybe you'll find Something that really sparks a mission for you. I found her Archie. Well, you know, like, you you then all of a sudden you're like, oh, I am now an artist and you become an artist. Maybe I just like, I'm just Trying, and I'm having fun. And that that's awesome. That's why I really love the concept of dabbling. We've talked about that before on other episodes, but just Trying some new things, trying it out.
Denise [00:24:58]:
My daughter's currently to the baking club.
Leah Michelle [00:25:01]:
Oh, fun.
Denise [00:25:02]:
She's just staying up to school and we actually already know that she loves baking and doing all that kind of stuff, but, you know, I'm just thinking like, that's a really cool little salad here. Do you wanna try that? Alright. You don't have to become a, You know, a baker? Just that maybe you wanna try it, and then you might just find that if it's then you enjoyed it for the moment, that season. So I think that's neat.
Leah Michelle [00:25:23]:
Yeah. And it's okay to suck at things too. I just wanna bring that up. It's like in quotations. Like, it's okay to Do things and to feel like you felt failed at them because I don't think that there's any failures. It's all about having fun, like you said.
Denise [00:25:40]:
Yeah. I had an episode that came out a little while ago full about failing forward and, like, you you just you put yourself out there. You tried something And maybe it doesn't work, but you tried it and you had that experience, and then you got a little bit better. You learned
Leah Michelle [00:25:54]:
from your mistakes, and Well,
Denise [00:25:56]:
that's such a good concept. Yeah. There is it's it's as long as you're having fun or even if you're not having fun, you learn from that too. Oh, you know what? That is not fun. It's It's not my thing. I have to do it again.
Leah Michelle [00:26:09]:
Yep. Exactly. And how do you know what actually brings you joy if you don't try things? That's also what I say. Like, you have to try them.
Denise [00:26:17]:
100%. I love it. I love it. I love all of this. So, so cool. Well, I have A couple of, well, actually, I have a quick question for you before we get into the our final question. I wanna ask you about your move Because you just did a big move. You just went, like, across across the country, I mean, of Canada.
Denise [00:26:38]:
Like, I I to the East Coast and the West Coast now. Right? You're on the West Coast? Right. Is it the coast? I don't even know. Where is Alberta? Is it
Leah Michelle [00:26:46]:
it's like the 2nd province over. Okay.
Denise [00:26:48]:
So it's kind of close to the west. West. Okay. In the west. And that's something like, your family lives all on the east coast. Right? And, so it's you and your partner who moved to the west. So how's that adventure been? That's a big adventure.
Leah Michelle [00:27:07]:
It is. It's Been amazing, but it's also been the most challenging thing. And it's so funny because I knew that was gonna happen. But, again, like I said, Until it actually happens, you don't really see how it affects you. And the biggest thing, which This is where I'm talking about the fact that I'm a nurse. I left my job as a nurse back in Ontario, and I haven't Got another job as a nurse yet. So I'm in between, like, transitioning with not only moving, like, physically moving places, but also just transitioning who I am. So it's just been, like, all I have to like, the only words I can use are A challenging but amazing transition period.
Denise [00:27:54]:
Isn't that how most transitions are. Right? Mhmm. Alright. That's so neat. Have you, had opportunities to just really enjoy your new surroundings and the area that you're in now?
Leah Michelle [00:28:07]:
Yeah. And that's, again, what I wanted to talk about too is that allowing myself to not have, like, a set job that I was going into. And, again, I just wanna recognize, like, there is a privilege to that. Like, not everybody can do that right away, but, Basically, like, I found I do like, I'm working part time in a job that's really fun, so that's one thing is that I'm just Allowing myself to have fun there and meet new people and do something different that I would never expect myself to do, Especially at, like, 29 years old, changing my whole life up. But also, again, just allowing myself to Go on hikes. Go on walks. Explore. Like, I did a breathwork event today That was being run-in town and, like, just exploring yoga and all the fun things.
Denise [00:29:00]:
Yeah.
Leah Michelle [00:29:01]:
And having that opportunity To do this.
Denise [00:29:03]:
New that gave you some space. That gave you space to really explore and have some time and like That that margin phase. Now you're going to be able to now work in that transition and some of the challenge that you're going through. But having that That margin time probably gives you time to really, feel and Yeah. A grasp on what's the next steps for you. You find that's helping you with the rest and that that space?
Leah Michelle [00:29:38]:
Yes. It's definitely helping with that. It's helping with a lot of things. And I think, again, having, like, the rest Creativity play, all of those pillars.
Denise [00:29:48]:
I fucked up, but I love.
Leah Michelle [00:29:50]:
I know. It's funny. I just thought of that. I was like, oh, I'm doing, like, all of that right now and really boring and, again, I'm going through, like I like to call it a self discovery journey, trying to figure out who I am, And we all need these in our lives whether you're you do it when you're 18 or you do it when you're 60. Yeah. Whatever age it
Denise [00:30:12]:
is. What's the matter? Multiple times where you do it. It's fine.
Leah Michelle [00:30:15]:
I've had multiple. Yeah.
Denise [00:30:17]:
I mean and you're you're a young one. 29. I am 43 over here when, yeah. No. You're it's part of life is to have transitions and teams and I'm but, like, I think when and then, you know, some of them are are put on us by challenging situations that You didn't choose some of the some of the things are found as by voices we make, like you decided to move. Yeah. There's just so much that can come, but no matter what, life holds transition. Like transition is just part of life and change and things like So I think that's really beautiful of how you're incorporating rest and creativity and play in the middle of this because You could either choose 2 things.
Denise [00:31:04]:
You can start to have like freak out moments and let stress take over, or you can do what you're doing And not that there isn't moments of stress, I'm sure, and challenging feelings, but that's life. We're supposed to have challenging feelings. But you're also Really just opening yourself up to use to to see what could be possible next instead of Restricting yourself. You're having more expansion, and I can feel that. It the look of what your head is talking and just how you're showing up. That's amazing.
Denise [00:31:36]:
Mhmm.
Leah Michelle [00:31:36]:
And it's yeah. Exactly like you said. I love that about the restriction and the expansion Because we and the choices. Like, everything you just said, it was a lot a lot of gold. But the first thing, like, we always do have a choice. So that's I just wanna say that again because it's really important. Sometimes we don't feel like we do. And, again, I'm not, like, Negating any of really like, the really difficult challenges that we go through, but we really do always have a choice in how we move forward through the Amazing moments and through the challenging moments.
Leah Michelle [00:32:13]:
So that's just a very important question.
Denise [00:32:15]:
What what our mindset, you know, is We're gonna have the feelings. We're gonna have the negative feelings, and we're gonna have the positive feelings. It's and but then, you know, how are we gonna respond to those feelings? Are we gonna look them flow through Look through us, are we gonna definitely have them buried deep inside so that they come out later? It was just all different no other choices, but it's also choices Based on how, you know, aware you are of that kind of stuff too. It's you know, not everybody's aware that they have a choice. Like, So the feelings and the and the thoughts come so quickly that it's hard to even realize you have that. So that's where Training and self love, coaching and guiding, helps, and, you know, design can help with that 2 week as possible earlier. The things that fit the way I show up in this world to help people, through my coaching, and introduces you to new ways of thinking, which is Really valuable. So That's awesome.
Denise [00:33:13]:
Alright. Yeah. Ready? I have some cool questions for you because I created Four questions that I'm asking all my podcast guests at the end. And I wanna start with the first one. Okay. So my first question for you is, what is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Leah Michelle [00:33:33]:
I love this, first of all. The questions. I love that. So fun. It's a good one. I feel like I have lots of guilty pro guilty pleasures. K. Right now, though, my favorite is watching Gilmore Girls with my with my partner who hope he won't listen to this, but he'll kill me if he say it.
Denise [00:33:52]:
Such a good show. Oh my gosh.
Leah Michelle [00:33:55]:
Mhmm. And, like, binge watch Binge in a sense of, like, 2 episodes a day because they're like
Denise [00:34:00]:
Yeah. I watched it, like, live when it was, like, on,
Leah Michelle [00:34:03]:
like, a long time ago. So, I mean, I
Denise [00:34:05]:
don't think you were, like, I don't know. I My
Leah Michelle [00:34:08]:
mom watched it, so I
Denise [00:34:09]:
I saw you in the background with it. Mom watched it. Yeah. Did you hear that, everyone? I I remember, like, just really enjoying it. And I and now I I don't really watch the reruns right now, but I can see it for unique comfort if I decided one zero one, and rerun. There are a lot of a lot of shows that I probably should just put on sometimes, and I just need a little bit of I'm by. You know?
Leah Michelle [00:34:34]:
It's awesome. And I think I wanna just add one thing.
Denise [00:34:37]:
Yeah.
Leah Michelle [00:34:38]:
Like, I love watching TV. It it does bring me joy, And I know that they're in, like, the personal development space. There's a lot of negativity around watching TV, but I just wanna say that Whatever you do that brings you joy, do it. Yes. Like, it's not good to sit on the couch all day every day and watch TV for months, Then there might be an issue, but, I mean, it is a guilty pleasure to binge TV, but if it brings you joy, anything that is
Denise [00:35:07]:
Yeah.
Leah Michelle [00:35:08]:
Well, I to do.
Denise [00:35:09]:
I wanna add that that I think it's all about your mindset about why you're doing it. So if you're just Rolling down every night on a couch and just putting the TV on because you can't even imagine anything else to do. Like, you're just so Exhausted and, you don't have the energy to you anything else? Like, we all have those moments. Right? You know those ones where I'm just like, I'm just gonna all learn to watch TV. And that's fine. That's fine too. But if you do that night after night after night after night after night, and you're not like Loring what other possibilities in order to do. You know, I mean, I'm not saying but then as the thing, there could be times where you watch TV every night, but it's a decision you make because it's something that really brings you joy.
Denise [00:36:02]:
So I think it's 2 different things. There's like the there's like the I don't have I can't even decide Anything else I'm just gonna lay here and watch TV or it's the, oh my gosh. You can't watch wait to watch my evening shows that I watch. Like, those are 2 very different attitudes, and I think that's where it comes down to. So, like
Leah Michelle [00:36:19]:
Yeah.
Denise [00:36:20]:
I I and I don't think either one is bad. I think we're just a different spot, But there's times where I just that's how I was. That's all I had the capacity to do and the energy to do. But I didn't didn't necessarily choose that. I just was like, it just fell into what I was gonna do, which is to watch, like, Nick at Nite on TV for a while. Like, when I when I had a small kid at home and I you know, it's nursing and I'm exhausted. You know, I I you know, if I really had thought about it and chose, I probably I would've wanted to do, like, an art project or something instead, but, I didn't even give myself that space and time to, like, make a decision and then choose something because I just Let exhaustion take over. It happens.
Denise [00:37:01]:
But then there's also the, you know, I love watching this TV show And my husband and I watch it every night, you know, to watch a new episode. And that's like, we look forward to it. And and that is like one of our, you know, One of the things I I I'm choosing in my life to do, I like to do it. I think that's great. I think that's great.
Leah Michelle [00:37:21]:
Yeah. Yeah. I just had to add that because I know there was a time in my life that I felt so pressured to not watch TV at all, and I was not happy. So, again, it's just
Denise [00:37:30]:
And it's all the things that fun to me. So it's like fun to me. We have to No TV or too much TV. Like, why can't there be something in the middle? Of course, there can. Mhmm. Of course. So I
Leah Michelle [00:37:39]:
do just like to bring it up because it affected my life. And, again, it's really about exploring, like, What makes you happy? Yeah. What doesn't, and, like, exploring the feelings that are associated with
Denise [00:37:48]:
I think I think I wanna need to take change this question from guilty Pleasure to something else because it's really odd about being guilty. I you know, I don't
Leah Michelle [00:37:55]:
really like no. I'm sorry. I always have to make things deeper I
Denise [00:37:58]:
hear you're not making it difficult. I'm actually really think I'm thinking about it, and it's like words matter. I don't know. I wanna be guilty there. What's your favorite pleasure? I like that. Okay. Dream vacation location. What what is your dream vacation location?
Leah Michelle [00:38:20]:
I have yeah. I know. I love that. It sounds it makes it fun. I have a few different ones. So Europe, but I would love to go to, like, Greece, Italy, Spain, and do that.
Denise [00:38:34]:
Oh, nice. Beautiful.
Leah Michelle [00:38:36]:
Yeah. I'm excited one day soon. And then Hawaii is obviously 1.
Denise [00:38:42]:
Okay.
Leah Michelle [00:38:42]:
Those are probably the 2 biggest
Denise [00:38:44]:
ones. Nice. Right now, Hawaii. Yet to be out went to I've had yet to go to Hawaii, and definitely want to one day. I I did get to go to Spain, Italy and Greece. We got Mediterranean cruise. When my when, the year after I got married, it was like a 12 day cruise. It was amazing.
Denise [00:39:05]:
It was really cool. So I, recommend. He left out he left out a scene and went to all those places. So Oh my goodness. Definitely. I can't wait to see that adventure happen for you.
Leah Michelle [00:39:17]:
Yes. Stay tuned.
Denise [00:39:18]:
I will. I will. Okay. The next question. This week, you suddenly find yourself with 4 hours of free time. What do you do?
Leah Michelle [00:39:29]:
That's a good question too. It's so funny because, like, the first thing that comes to my mind is, like, oh, I'll work on my business because I have all this time. But because we're talking about self love and play and creativity, I think I would do both of those things. I would work on my business for 2 hours and do, like, you know, those things that you
Denise [00:39:50]:
But it's fun and creative, though.
Leah Michelle [00:39:51]:
To get done. Yeah.
Denise [00:39:53]:
Yeah. As a business owner, like, that's part of the reason why you decide to that's part of the reason I'm deciding to create this business is because I Find it as a creative app. Like, it's very creative for me to make something out of nothing. Obviously, that's what creativity is. So yeah. I that's a great answer. Go for it. So 2 hours of that.
Leah Michelle [00:40:11]:
And then 2 hours of, like I love yoga, so it would be something like Yoga or dance or some kind of movement, those are the things that I always not always. Those are the things that you sometimes put on the back burner when like, doing an actual class too. Like I said, I do stuff at home. Yes. But I would love to make time more often for, like, going to a structured class because that's what I enjoy. So, again, it's doing both of the things, and I do I do also believe that. Yes. Everything should bring you joy.
Leah Michelle [00:40:45]:
This is a whole other or story for another day, but Amazing.
Denise [00:40:50]:
Okay. And the last question is well, I mean, we already answered this question, but we're gonna just ask one more time. Your favorite creative outlet. That's good.
Leah Michelle [00:41:02]:
Yeah. I did say dance, but I'm I'll bring in a different one that I love. I'm trying to think of what it is. Writing. I always forget to talk about that. Oh, hi. Yeah.
Denise [00:41:16]:
I wanna hear her. Go.
Leah Michelle [00:41:18]:
That's the thing that I never I don't know. I never talk about it. But I've always wanted to write a book, and I still think I will one day. Not sure what kind yet, but I just I used to love like, as a child, I would write chapter books
Denise [00:41:31]:
just And I don't
Leah Michelle [00:41:33]:
know where they are, but if I find them, I'm sure they're good. And I love writing poems and Even just Instagram captions, I love writing them. So if you I'm sure you'll put my link to my Instagram.
Denise [00:41:46]:
I will. But I
Leah Michelle [00:41:47]:
just I love writing all the things, So that's my favorite. And it feels creative. It doesn't feel like work even when I do do it for work.
Denise [00:41:55]:
That's amazing. That's incredible. I mean, I love to write. I do I do like to write to you a lot. I think I'm pretty decent at it, but I it does cause me, like, Thanks. Sometimes like that. So that's cool. It's something that just put like, it flows for you most a lot.
Denise [00:42:12]:
That's awesome. Yeah. That brings me to we just talked about your Instagram. Can you give us a little, you know, where people can find you, if they wanna follow you, like, what you're up to before we end this episode?
Leah Michelle [00:42:24]:
Yeah. So you can find me on Instagram. That's where that's my favorite place on social media. I know there's a lot of different Places that we can be. But, yeah, that's my favorite. And I'm at the lee michelle, which will be in the show notes. I also have a website that I'm reworking a bit, but it's the leemichelle.com. And I've recently been updating my free offers.
Leah Michelle [00:42:52]:
So I have 2 free offerings right now. There is a beginner's guide to human design. So if you are new to human design, but also, like, if you've been Self discovering, self researching on human design. That's a good place to go to learn all of the things. And then actually, this is fun because it's something that's, like, super fun and creative for me. I have just Started creating monthly human design phone backgrounds. So every month, I design, like, a different phone background based on Different aspects of the human design chart. So so far, I have an energy type yeah.
Leah Michelle [00:43:32]:
Energy type and authority one. So they're all up there, and I can put the links to those freebies.
Denise [00:43:39]:
But it's been so fun. That is really fun. It's like using What you're enjoying and, like, and you're spreading to your business, but then adding a creative spin to it through are you using Canva? Like, what are you using when you When you make your Yep.
Leah Michelle [00:43:53]:
I use Canva, and I do so there are affirmations, basically, that there's, like, a little paragraph or a few sentences That really helped you to just anchor into your design because I love affirmations again. Love writing. Love making things and being creative on Canva, so Mixed them all,
Denise [00:44:12]:
and I'm sharing them with you. You're super Purina. There's so many different avenues of creativity you use. That's awesome. Well, thank you so much for being here. This was such a fun conversation. I really loved it. And I'm sure My listeners are going to be so excited to follow you and to, keep up with all your happenings.
Denise [00:44:33]:
But, Keith, everyone, have a Wonderful day, and I will see you on the next episode.
Denise [00:44:44]:
Thank you so very much for tuning in to this episode of the Creative Calm podcast. I hope that you found this episode insightful and that has inspired you to embrace the 3 pillars of rest, creativity and play in your own life. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving a 5 star review on Itunes or wherever you listen to this. Another wonderful way to show your appreciation and spread the Creative Calm revolution is by simply screenshotting this episode and sharing it on your social media and tagging me. I want to express my gratitude for joining me on this creative journey. Your support means the world to me. If you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you'd like us to cover in Future episodes, please reach out to me on Instagram at denise christiansenre. Until next time, remember to prioritize rest, unleash your creativity, and embrace Playfulness.
Denise [00:45:32]:
Have an absolutely beautiful, magical day.
