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b'\\u201cWe are the midwives of creativity.\\u201d - Nick Onken\\n\\nHey, guys! Welcome back to ONKEN RADIO (previously NION Radio). In this podcast, we explore the body, mind, and soul of the creative entrepreneur. It\\u2019s my goal to help you take your creativity, business, and life to the next level. I\\u2019m so glad you\\u2019re joining me on this journey!\\n\\nThere are many times that I\'m on a schedule and my podcast producers need the content by a specific day to get it done and published for the following week, so finding time to do my own show or come up with ideas is something I often have trouble with. There are days when an idea comes into mind like an inspiration, or creativity just starts flowing from who knows where, and all seems possible! However, there are days that I feel like it\'s just not in me to create something.\\n\\nSo, when you\\u2019re being asked to create with a deadline like I am with this podcast, it can be very challenging to do your best work. But with a little guidance, a little practice, and a little help from your friends, it is totally possible to find your inspiration \\u2014 even under pressure.\\n\\nIn this episode, we are going to talk about some practical tips to help you create under pressure.\\xa0 I will also share why I started this podcast, how my childhood affects my creativity today, and what process of identity alchemy I am undergoing right now.\\n\\nIf you want to master my recipe for creating under pressure so you can do the same, then let\\u2019s jump in!\\nTip#1: Phone a Friend For Perspectives\\nDo you ever find yourself lost and confused? Do you sometimes feel like you\\u2019re always hitting creative blocks? One way to get around this is by talking with someone who has experienced the same thing you\'re going through. What better person could that be than a friend, right?\\n\\nI remember talking to my friend Jeff Holt when I had a creative block. He reminded me that everything is some type of medicine, good or bad and that we can learn and create something from every situation, including the exact moment or predicament that we\'re in.\\n\\nTalking to him, I was also reminded that this podcast is a labor of love. It is a creative passion of mine, especially interviewing people. But more importantly, speaking into a microphone has been a way to push me out of my comfort zone. I had a very conservative Christian upbringing where speaking and expressing your own truth, or any beliefs that were counter to Christian beliefs, were not accepted.\\n\\nThis brought me to another realization: my podcast is in some ways a process that helps me deconstruct. I\'m developing a process called identity alchemy, which involves the deconstruction of belief systems and traumas from childhood, as well as the deconstruction of our surroundings, environment, and anything else that impacts how we operate in life.\\n\\nThat\\u2019s because I believe we don\\u2019t have to allow what\\u2019s been constructed for us (such as family experiences, relationships, and philosophies that no longer work for us) to determine our course in life or who we are. We can change that. Life is a journey of self-discovery, and we get to choose who we will be in the world.\\xa0\\n\\nThese are things I\\u2019m reminded of when I call and connect with friends like Jeff, and I think you\\u2019d benefit from great conversations with your own friends, too. When we connect with people who know us and who we admire, we can get new perspectives and new ideas. We might even learn brand new things from a friend who has more experience with whatever it is we\\u2019re trying to learn or practice! They might also have some advice that could help us look at ourselves and our situation in a different way.\\n\\nBecause just like what Jeff said, the things that happen in our life \\u2014 even creative blocks \\u2014can be used as fuel to create something beautiful. We should ask ourselves: What am I learning through this process or challenge? Is there something good here? It helps when we choose to view things as a part of the "alchemy" or transformation.'