In this episode of A Thought I Kept, host Claire Fitzsimmons talks with Emily Charlotte Powell about the one idea that has guided her creative journey. Emily shares her realisation that prioritizing joy and personal fulfillment in her creative pursuits over external validation and algorithm-driven demands is everything. They discuss the importance of staying true to one's own interests, the therapeutic nature of creating, and the balance between sharing work and internal satisfaction. This episode invites listeners to reconsider what truly motivates their creativity and to find joy in the act of creating itself.

Emily Powell is an illustrator, accountant, creative adventurer and the writer behind the Substack publication: While I Was Drawing.

Claire Fitzsimmons is the host of A Thought I Kept, as well as a writer, emotions coach, and co-founder of If Lost Start Here, a wellbeing company for everyday life.

00:00 Introduction to 'A Thought I Kept'

00:40 Introducing Emily Charlotte Powell

01:05 Emily's Guiding Thought: Create What You Love

01:25 The Origin of the Thought

03:53 Balancing Joy and Consistency

08:16 The Joy of Creating for Yourself

12:50 The Power of Joy in Creativity

19:47 Staying True to Your Creative Joy

22:11 Reflections on a Creative Life