Create Beautifully™

Not THAT Christian

Many of my friends were harmed by the church from the inside. Years of giving their blood, sweat and tears to a place seemingly established in the name of God (ie: love), only to find themselves spit out on the other end disillusioned, disheartened and, in some situations, downright traumatized.
 
Me? My harm was from the outside. Being the outsider looking in. Feeling like it was a club too exclusive to join, and eventually seeing with my own eyes that I would *never* want to join this club anyway - it was judgmental, self-righteous, damming, shaming, and not at all above exiling.  People were unabashedly using the name of God and Jesus to do SO. MUCH. HARM, and somehow justifying it and getting away with it at the most perverse levels all because they say it's God's will. (Yes, I'm purposely mixing past and present tenses.)
 
And while I've always had a connection to God, the Universe and an active spiritual life, I let all that keep me from getting to know God more deeply or pursuing my curiosity about Jesus (a name that still feels triggering, but I'm trying to neutralize it for reasons that serve my own heart) for 44 years.
 
But just as I shouldn't let stingy, asshole rich people keep me from wanting to make money, I shouldn't let these people keep me from getting to know perhaps the greatest source of love, joy and hope available to us. 
 
Let's dive into my story, my righteous anger (That's right, I said it!), and why these people might be doing so much harm and placing their actions squarely on the head of Jesus. (Ooooh, am I saying they're placing THORNS on his head? That's for you to decide.)
 
WARNING: Lots of F bombs in this one.
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URGENT: Love Your Body Now

We've all heard the lines of Mary Oliver's poem "The Summer Day" that ends in, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"  And we feel inspired! Ah, the possibilities! Ah, don't let it go to waste! I must live! I must laugh! I must love! I must have the most incredible life!!
 
But have you ever linked YOUR BODY to this? In all of the dreaming and planning of your "one wild and precious life," have you ever thought to yourself, "In order to live the most full life I can, I must absolutely LOVE my body!" My guess is no. And why not? Isn't it the only thing we have to experience this life with in the first place?  Can we, in fact, live, laugh, love, WITHOUT our bodies? Can we do any meaningful, purposeful work? Can we experience the love of a romantic partner or the hugs of our children without our bodies? 
 
Nope. 
 
And yet, this number one tool, this thing that we are gifted with as God brings us into the world is something many of us are constantly at war with. We walk around both with the rejection AND the thing we are rejecting at all times, day and night. Do you truly think you're going to be able to have the most fulfilling "wild and precious life" if you're walking around with a bag of rejection hanging at your side?
 
It's direly important we learn to love our bodies. NOW. As they are. Not when we lose 10 pounds, not when we get that surgery, not when we "finally get our act together and get to the gym," but RIGHT NOW. And THEN move toward health from a place of love - don't you think loving a thing is a greater motivator than shaming it?
 
Let's discuss here in this episode all these things and more.
 
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Listen to my podcast episode about my boob journey.

Am I Becoming Jesus-y?!

It's interesting. I'm realizing that, much like we all have a "money mindset" that we need to heal if we want more abundance in our bank accounts, that we all also have a "Jesus mindset" (or a "faith mindset) that we have the opportunity to heal if we want more spiritual abundance. To be clear, I don't think this is the only way to achieve more spiritual abundance - there are thousands of spiritual paths that bring people close to God - but I do think many of us have a mindset based in our upbringing that COULD actively be keeping us from something beautiful. And I think that because I've been living that.
 
I've shared on Instagram that I'm on a faith journey. Meaning, I'm looking to know more about God (per the Bible) and Jesus. It even feels weird typing that because I rejected this path for so long lest I be lumped into the people who use the name of Jesus to judge, condemn, and exile. 
 
My hair dresser today asked me how my faith journey was going. She told me how her mom was running way too deep into it, which was making her run away from it.
 
As I shared in my "I Just Can't Anymore" episode, I have been on a "faith journey" these past 6 months. Really, it's been about the past 32 years, but this particular leg feels deeper, more urgent. 
 
In this episode, I share what it's looking like. Why I'm searching, what I'm searching for and how I'm going about it. Check it out if you're also searching, looking for a way in where it feels like there hasn't been one before, or if you just want to know what this is looking like for me.
 
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"That I Would Be Good, Even If I Got the Thumbs Down" | Being Our Own Beloved

The excessive need to do, to accomplish, to succeed, to heal, to find answers, to help others, to know it all - are all of these things in an effort to thwart the harsh voices in our heads telling us we're simply not good? Not loved? Not worthy?
 
I pulled a card from the Mary Magdalene Oracle Deck to help kick off this episode. My improv background coming in clutch with, "Hey God, I need a suggestion...." And what showed up was the card BELOVED. And what the guidebook gave as the meditation was, "How can I love myself unconditionally in this moment?" *deep exhale, y'all*
 
That hit me. I'm SO GOOD at working to find ways to heal. I mean, I'm EXCEPTIONAL at that. But I don't think I get a passing grade when it comes to offering myself unconditional love. I forget this step. I forget it's available. 
 
So, let's talk about it. Let's talk about all the ways in which we push and overdo and run and shove and force all in the ultimate effort to simply know we are GOOD. (Cue Alanis Moirssette's "That I Would Be Good" - don't worry, I read all the lyrics. Take them in, friend.) And then how easily we skip over the part where we offer ourselves unconditional love. How we forget to take it in from God, we forget about the divine within that's connected to God and that we can go to that in any moment and offer ourselves this most beautiful gift.
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I Just Can't Anymore with the "Right" Way to Do Everything

After a 7-month long HARD season of stress, anxiety and illness, I'm coming out of it and getting back on track (or, getting on a NEW track because the old one wasn't exactly working). 
 
Here's what I'm coming to realize and move toward in my life: the "experts" always tell you the "right" way to do things - your business, parenting, finances, health, even creativity! And so we twist and contort our lives to try to do everything "right," but we find we're sacrificing our energy, our resources and stuffing our intuition in a box and telling it to shut up. And then we feel stifled and we begin to die inside - but at least we're doing it right!! Right? 
 
Wrong. I've been trying to do things this way for at least 20 years and I JUST CAN'T ANYMORE. This past season took me down HARD and there was no way to do anything "right" and even as I can breathe again the "right" course simply won't work if I have any hope of dreaming, creating and finding joy.
 
And so this is what it is going forward: I will no longer contort my life to try to do things. Instead, I will follow my instincts and ask for God's guidance and I will find the way that works FOR ME. Not the way that makes excuses okay, but the way the allows me to show up fully for my life, for the people in my life, for my dreams and my creative ideas. And it's not linear by any stretch of the imagination, for if I tried to make it linear into this non-linear and unpredictable life of mine then I would never move forward - isn't that an oxymoron for you?
 
So, let's chat about this season and what I'm learning and how I'll be showing up. Come along with me and see if this opens up anything for you, too.

Anniversary Extravaganza Week 1: Ask Me Anything!

It's the Create Beautifully Anniversary Extravaganza Week! It's been one year since I launched my podcast and I'm ready to celebrate and show my appreciation for all of you who have supported me and any new listeners! Get ready for dance parties, giveaways, lots of fun and the GRAND PRIZE(S)...not one, but TWO PHOTOSHOOTS WITH ME! Virtual OR in-person, so you don't have to be local to Nashville! 
 
This episode is a super fun way to get to know more about your host, Liza Hippler! Me!  First, I'll give you all the deets on the Anniversary Extravaganza, which run February 7, 2024 through February 14, 2024 (Valentine's Day)! 
 
But the fun is in the ASK ME ANYTHING questions and answers!
 
I answer these questions:
 
1. What was your worst job? (Hint: It had to do with Care Bears, can you believe it?!)
2. What's your dream photoshoot?! (I have 3, each in different categories. Very enneagram 7 of me.)
3. What are the top 3 must-haves for someone who just turned 40?! (For me, it's just two main things.)
4. How do you get unstuck from patterns that no longer serve you? (You know, still figuring that out, but here's what I'm doing now.)
5. What is your favorite movie and junk food? (Bet you can't guess the main movie I was obsessed with with I was 13!)
6. How do I make friend with my new gray hairs! (haha! Who said I know anything about this?!)
7. What's your favorite oracle deck?
 
I talk Disney, Jesus and...Tommy Lee Jones? Oh, yeah, this is a fun one to get to know me!
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Link to my fav oracle deck!
 

New Beginnings Week 3: Get Clear on Your Purpose & Next Steps with Clarity Coach Diana Morris

What better way to finish out the New Beginnings series than with master Clarity Coach, Diana Morris?! So many of us are looking for clarity. We want to feel that certainty when making decisions and big life choices. We're constantly asking ourselves, "BUT HOW CAN I BE SURE?!" 
 
And this is where Diana asks us, "What is it you want to be sure about?"
 
Boom. This whole episode is chock full of nuggets like that, things that make us stop and take a step backward to the question we need to ask BEFORE the questions we're constantly asking. You're bound to leave this episode with ah-ha's and some major re-frames. 
 
Plus, we get into some pretty mind-blowing stuff around FINDING YOUR PURPOSE. Are we doing it all wrong? Is the whole perceived journey of finding your purpose just a trick? We expose it for what it is and bring some new thinking to the table that ought to give you a lot more peace and, check this, clarity. 
 
Listen in, it's a good 'un.
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New Beginnings Week 2: Word of the Year (or Season)

A word of the year is a beautiful thing to help guide you throughout the year. It's like choosing the type of soil that you're going to plant the next year in. It's not the goal itself, it's not the plant. It does the nourishing, the supporting, the reminding all in an effort to move you forward, to help you grow, to continually prompt you to move toward your Higher Self and connect with your Creator. A word of the year can be used with any kind of spiritual belief or religion - it's for everyone who wants one.
In this episode I discuss:
What makes a great word of the year?
How do you find the perfect word of the year for you?
Share my word from last year & this year and how I'm working with it.
How do you work with your word of the year once you have it?
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New Beginnings Week 1: Reflecting on 2023, Setting Creative Intentions for 2024, and What to Expect from This Podcast This Year!

Aaaaaaand, we're BACK!! Happy 2024!
 
I'm SO EXCITED to start THEMES this year with you! Our first theme starts today and runs through Wednesday, January 31. And our first theme is...surprise...NEW BEGINNINGS!!
Whether or not you subscribe to all the hullabaloo about things like New Year/New You or not, there is energy behind the ending of a 12-month cycle, one that has been celebrated for thousands of years and it can be a beautiful time to get some kind of fresh start or even simply a little fresh energy in any are of your life. Maybe it's just lighting a new candle or getting rid of a single article of clothing, but whatever it is, starting the year with even the smallest of nods toward larger dreams and intentions can open up space that feels exciting. 
In this episode, I dive into what it was like to have committed to having a creative project (this podcast) for 2023. I go over what I felt went well, what didn't and what I'm focusing on for 2024. It's a great listen if you also started something last year, or if you're looking to get your feet wet with something creative this year!
There are also some exciting changes coming in 2024, so listen in to find out what they are!
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14 Powerful Affirmations to Love & Appreciate Your Body (Meditation Style)

The words we say to ourselves have incredible power and it can be so hard to move from the critical mind to one of self-love, especially if we have a lifelong habit of being hard on ourselves. Often, we simply don't know what else to say to ourselves, we don't have anything good to replace the negative thoughts. 
This episode is designed for you to repeat after me - I say an affirmation and you repeat it, we do that twice with each positive and accepting phrase. 
Some great places to listen and participate are:
When getting ready for the day in the mornings.
When getting ready for bed in the evenings.
When getting ready to go out with friends, on a date, to a meeting, etc.
When you have time to simply lie or sit still with your eyes closed. 
Driving in the car.
I purposely made this a little shorter so you could use it from beginning to end easily.
I would LOVE to know if you've enjoyed this episode - simply leave a review or DM me on Instagram! 
To dive even deeper into healing your relationship with your body and how you see yourself in photos, please visit lizahippler.com/lensoflove