Everyone thinks their story has already been told. But it hasn't been told by you yet, and that makes all the difference. On this episode of Created Creative, Dawn and Ruth are getting real about kicking self-doubt to the curb and why your voice matters in this noisy world.

We reflect on last week's theme from 'The Artist's Way' - reading deprivation. Sounds terrible, right? Well, buckle up buttercup, because it's actually pretty amazing what happens when you step away from everyone else's words for a hot minute.

Then we sit down with Laurie Neill, a pastor and author who's not here to play games. She's tackling the lies we tell ourselves about who we are versus the actual truth about our identity and spirituality in her book. Laurie walks us through her journey from graphic designer to published author - and let me tell you, the road was no walk around the lake.

We get into the nitty-gritty of creativity and inspiration, plus Laurie shares her gorgeous devotional blog (seriously, the art pieces will make you stop scrolling) and her one-of-a-kind junk journals. Because here's what we know for sure: your spiritual life and your creative life aren't separate things - they're meant to work together, every single day.

So grab your favorite mug, settle in, and let's talk about why your story is exactly what the world needs to hear.

Dawn Trautman's coaching: bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Ruth's subscription boxes for ministers: consecrate.cratejoy.com

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00:00 Overcoming Self-Doubt

00:17 Introduction and Delays

01:08 Artist's Way Week 4: Reading Deprivation

01:41 4th of July Fireworks Chaos

04:09 Reflecting on Reading Deprivation

05:43 Recovering a Sense of Possibility

06:15 Synchronicities and Community

08:27 Dreams and Aspirations

12:28 Virtue Trap and Self-Abandonment

14:18 Interview with Lori Neal

22:03 The Journey of Self-Publishing

22:23 Marketing Challenges and Strategies

22:58 The Essence of the Book: Christ-Centered Transformation

23:14 Personal Stories and Authenticity

24:08 Exploring the Blog and Artistic Background

26:27 The Concept of Junk Journals

27:49 Favorite Artists and Inspirations

28:57 A Creative and Musical Household

29:30 The Story of Meeting Her Husband

30:53 Balancing Creativity and Discipline

35:52 Publishing Dilemmas and Solutions

38:52 Encouragement for Aspiring Authors

39:24 Conclusion and Contact Information