You ARE Creative: Breaking Through Blocks with Music, Poetry, and Mindfulness with Jenny Leigh Hodgins
Episode #31: Show Notes
Have you ever told yourself "I'm not creative"? If so, you're not alone. But what if I told you that belief is actually the only thing standing between you and your authentic creative voice?
Jenny Leigh Hodgins, a creative empowerment coach, joined me on this episode. She has over 30 years of experience as a performing musician, composer, author, and teacher. Today, we explored music, poetry, and artistic expression as powerful tools for personal growth.
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From Anxiety to Creative Empowerment
Jenny's path to becoming a creative empowerment coach is rooted in decades of personal experience. She trained in piano, voice, and composition, spending 30 years performing, teaching, and leading groups in music and creative expression of all kinds. Her students have ranged from age four to 90, from small children to senior citizens in retirement homes and everything in between.
But here's what makes Jenny's story so compelling: during that time, she faced and overcame really severe anxiety, stage fright, and self-doubt. Through her personal experiences, she saw firsthand how creative practice can alleviate stress, build resilience, deepen confidence, and help people connect with their authentic voice.
Jenny integrated music, singing, composing, journaling, poetry, and songwriting into her own daily life as a way to navigate personal challenges, loss, and major life transitions. She still uses creative expression to process emotions, create meaningful value from experiences, and celebrate victories.
Why Everyone Has Access to Creativity
One of the most common things I hear from people is, "Yeah, that sounds great, but I'm not musical. I'm not artistic." So I asked Jenny what she says to people who feel like they're not creative at all.
Her response was powerful: "I have heard that so many times in my life, and the reality is it's not true."
According to Jenny, creativity is inherent in every human being. It's accessible to you. What's happened is you've blocked it. And that's what her products, coaching, and books are all about: addressing these blocks.
Often it just starts with mindset, period. Then you work on reframing things. As Jenny put it bluntly, the idea that some people just aren't creative is "hogwash."
Everyone has creativity in them. It's just a matter of listening and getting back in touch with your authenticity, your own inner voice. We've kind of had it beaten out of us from other places. Jenny starts with self-compassionate practices, and from there, there are so many different tools you can use to tap into that creativity.
The bottom line? No one has a permanent block from creativity. Everyone has access to it, no matter what you think.
3 Pillars of Creative Empowerment
Jenny has developed a comprehensive approach to creative empowerment based on what she calls her "inspirational bookmark trio." All of her products and coaching program have expanded from these three pillars.
#1 Reset Your Energy & Create a Flow
The first pillar addresses the blocks that keep us from accessing our creativity. These blocks look different for everyone. Some people struggle with procrastination, some with perfectionism, and some with a loud inner critic.
This pillar is actually a framework spelling out the word RESET:
R is for Regularly Resting: Making rest a non-negotiable part of your routine
E is for Essentials Only: Focusing on what truly matters
S is for Stay in Your Lane: Setting boundaries and not overextending yourself
E is for Embrace What Nurtures You: Actively seeking out what refills your creative well
T is for Team Build for Accountability and Support: Creating a support system
The key is honing in on what's really bothering you, what your goals are, and what you'd like to be able to do. Then you reset your energy with very simple, practical, creative, and spiritual tools.
#2 The Creative Exploration Formula
This pillar is like a roadmap that walks you through how to tap into creativity. Here's how it works:
1. Set Your Parameters. Put yourself in a box. This might mean using certain materials, setting time limits, or creating procedural boundaries. For example, if you're writing music, you might decide to write only a 32-bar piece in eight-bar sections, using only the key of G, with only eighth notes and quarter notes.
Why set limits? When you have unlimited selections of things, it can be very overwhelming and stifle you. Having said that, you can also break that rule if you really feel like it. The goal is to take the pressure off a little bit.
2. Let Go of Expectations and Ego. This is where you deal with the inner critic. We'll dive deeper into this in the next section.
3. Set Your Intent. Attune to your own inner compass, your purpose, your why. Anchor in that intent and come back to it whenever you need to. The intent is the anchor of all of it because you really have to be in touch with your inner voice.
4. Visualize Ideas. Allow yourself to see what you want to create.
5. Experiment, Brainstorm, and Explore Without Judgment. Just let the process take you where it wants to go.
6. Allow for Failure. Recognize that sometimes it won't work, it doesn't sound right, or it doesn't look right. That's okay. Leave it there.
7. Redesign. This is where you shift or make changes.
#3 The Keys to Nurturing Your Creativity
These are research and experience-backed practices that boost your creativity. Many professional creators use these, and science has proven they help:
Forging trust in your inherent creative potential: Believing you have creativity within you
Self-care and self-compassionate care: Treating yourself with kindness
Rest and stillness: Allowing moments for absorbing and being in tune with yourself
Exploring other people's creativity: Watching, listening to, or learning about other people's works and processes
Leaving your comfort zones: Trying something completely different (even small steps like taking a different route home from work)
Getting out: Whether that's nature, someone else's art, or spirituality, expose yourself to what moves you
Be better: Striving to improve yourself, grow, or develop a skill or discipline
All of these practices fire new neurological pathways in your brain, which is exactly what we want when we're trying to unlock creativity.
How to Silence Your Inner Critic and Create Freely
The inner critic is a huge block for so many people. Even professional creatives like Jenny, who's been creative her entire life, still deal with it. So you have to really address it.
Jenny's approach to the inner critic is part of her creative exploration formula. Here are some of the strategies she uses:
Take Off Your Head and Set It Next to You
Literally imagine removing your head with all those critical thoughts and setting it beside you. You can have that inner critic conversation later. Learn to reframe it and put it somewhere else.
Play Devil's Advocate & Be a Rebel
Let's hear what the inner critic has to say, and now let's talk back and counter it. Show it things that are completely the opposite. I love this approach because it's active and empowering!
Put Negative Thoughts in a Balloon
Just put all of those thoughts, those negative thoughts in a balloon and send it off. Let it float away. When you want to tap into your creativity, you need to be able to learn how to navigate blocks, and that inner critic can be a huge block.
Focus on Your Intent
The real crux of the way Jenny looks at creativity is your intent. You can't get to your inner intent, your authentic voice, and what you want to create if you're not in touch with your own inner voice.
Even if it's a job you have to do for someone else or you have to meet a deadline for someone else, you can't get quality work done if you are not in touch with your own inner voice, your own intent.
A Real-World Example: The Horror Film Score
Jenny shared a fascinating example of how she applies these principles. She was hired to score an indie horror film, but there was one problem: she doesn't watch horror movies. She's a chicken, and horror is completely out of her wheelhouse. She's classically and musical theater trained, not a horror composer.
So how did she handle it?
She found ways around her discomfort. She minimized the visual to a tiny little square on her screen and stood back and just listened to the mood. Then she asked herself:
What's happening in this scene?
What's the mood here?
What are these people feeling?
Who's the main character?
What's the shift in this plot?
What emotion, feeling, or thought is it evoking from me?
Boom. That became her intent.
Then she narrowed herself in on really focusing on that intent, meaning she wanted people to feel that mood. That moved her to the next step of creative expression: experimenting, using judgment-free curiosity to just lead her wherever it went, leaving the inner critic aside.
This is the process Jenny teaches: once you're navigating that inner critic to get to your intent, ask yourself what do you want to express? Pay attention to your feeling. If it's a story, a sound, or artwork, ask what colors, what images, what's the mood, what's the feeling? Use all your senses and really envision it. Roll with that for a while so you get yourself connected to what it is that you want to express.
The "Make It Stupid" Strategy That Actually Works
Jenny shared another brilliant example from her own experience that perfectly illustrates how to bypass the inner critic.
She was hired to write a song for someone's wedding. The couple liked country music, and Jenny has nothing in common with country music. She's classical and musical theater trained, and her music comes out contemporary classical. She was really stressed about it and felt her own block, her own inner critic.
Then she decided to use something she calls "make it stupid." It's part of that letting go of your ego and letting go of expectations.
She decided to let go of any attachment to how it was going to be. She let go of any expectation that it was going to be good. She pretended she was Dolly Parton (or another country artist, she can't quite remember). She sat down to write like that person would, deciding to "make it stupid." She didn't care what it sounded like or what it felt like. As an experiment, just to see what came out, just to be ridiculous, she just did it.
And when she started doing that, it just started flowing out of her because that basically countered that negative thought and allowed her to open up a new train of thought.
The result? It's one of the better songs she's written. Very concise, very simple in form, but very accessible and warm in spirit. The couple loved it so much that she sang it at their wedding.
This is a perfect example of how you don't know where your creativity is going to take you. All you have to do is open the door and let it lead you.
Why Adults Struggle With Creative Process
I shared something from my own experience that really connected with this conversation. Years ago, I worked with a lot of little children because I ran a childcare. The whole point of doing art with little kids is all about the process— like when we painted with cooked spaghetti.
It has nothing to do with the outcome. We're not going to draw a chicken or a sunshine or a tree. We're just going to explore. I remember we painted with cooked spaghetti one time, just because it's about them touching it and getting the color all over them and seeing what they create.
The point is: adults don't get it. We've lost that ability to focus on process over outcome.
Jenny agreed completely. That's why the strategies for getting in touch with your inner critic are so important. You need to put the inner critic aside and start becoming aware and identify patterns in language. Like when we say things like "It's so hard."
No, it's not hard. It's just a little block. And you need to be aware: what is blocking me?
You can externalize that critic. You can journal about it. You can play devil's advocate and be a rebel against whatever it's saying. You can reflect on where that voice or idea came from. Often it has nothing to do with you and something somebody else said a hundred years ago.
Jenny loves the kids example because kids are nothing but curious. If you can go back to the feeling of your own youthful curiosity and just stay in that zone, that redirects that energy and helps you focus on your intent as your anchor.
Small Steps to Creative Confidence
You don't need hours of dedicated creative time to make a difference.
Jenny explained that the baby step is letting go of the outcome. That step in itself is a step. Then just take really small steps to reinforce creative confidence. Doodle, journal, whatever art making you're doing, whatever you're doing with music.
It doesn't take much to open up that door to create a flow because research proves you only need like five or 10 minutes, not really much. Just dedicated time consistently starts to reinforce your flow, and you're learning how to get in that zone.
All of that, if you do it consistently, will:
Decrease your stress
Increase your mood
Help you develop creative habits
Bring structure and discipline into play
When you have these in motion, little by little, it does open up the door and you get rid of those negative blocks.
What Happens in Your Brain When You Start Creating
As Jenny was talking, I started wondering about the neurological changes that happen when somebody who thinks they're not creative starts expressing themselves artistically.
You're using parts of your brain that have previously been dormant since you were a little kid. That's got to be beneficial on multiple levels, right?
Jenny, while acknowledging she's not a scientist, has read the research. She pointed out that it's not just about going back to that earlier voice. It actually opens up new doors, new doorways to ways of expressing yourself that you hadn't anticipated you would find.
Her wedding song example perfectly illustrates this. She discovered she could write accessible, warm country music when she thought that was completely outside her capabilities. When you do something different that's a little out of your comfort zone, it fires new neurological pathways.
How Buddhist Practice Informs Creative Work
I was curious about how Jenny's spiritual practice influences her work, so I asked her to share a bit about that.
Jenny has practiced SGI Buddhism for 39 years. SGI is the lay organization of this particular Buddhist practice. SGI stands for Soka Gakkai International. It originated in Japan and means "value creation society."
Her practice really provides an anchor for her energy management and heightened focus and helps her cultivate more self-compassion and purpose-driven action.
All SGI Buddhists chant twice a day, morning and evening. In the morning, you're setting your determinations, and in the evening, you're reflecting and appreciating and setting the determination for the next day.
Jenny was raised Christian, but Christianity didn't help her alleviate the sufferings she was experiencing in her dysfunctional background. So she went on a spiritual quest and tried a lot of different philosophies and practices. SGI Buddhism is the only thing she has found that really helps her.
First of all, it raises her life states and her energy so that she can view things from a higher perspective and not be overwhelmed by the difficulties that are inherent in life.
The Difference Between Buddhist Prayer
By practicing Buddhism, Jenny is basically centering her life on hope and determined action toward contributing positively to her own life, growing her life, and contributing to others.
The difference in her practice is that it's not about seeking external help. A Buddhist prayer is more a vow or a promise to pull out her inherent potential and do her best to polish and fight against her negative aspects and use her greatest self to bring herself happiness and contribute to the happiness of other people.
That practice has helped Jenny navigate many losses and overcome many life transitions. It's inspired a lot of her music and poetry and the book she published about her poetry, Kaleidoscope of the Heart. Her practice is a philosophy, and it really inspires the podcast she has about inspired living.
How Spirituality Shows Up in Coaching
In Jenny's coaching practice, her products, and her client work, she doesn't strictly advocate Buddhism. She lets people know that's what she does, but she advocates mindfulness, reflection, gratitude, and intention setting, and self-compassionate care woven into creative expressions and reflections.
She also really encourages alignment between her client's personal values and the creative output. Even if a creative project has to be made for an outside source like a boss, a team, or a client, she still advocates her creative exploration formula's premise of tapping into your personal intent for that project.
Once you can really connect that inner intent to your creative work, flow is authentic and it's more readily available. That's how her Buddhist practice always rejuvenates and nourishes her creative approach.
Even on low-energy days (like the day we recorded), Jenny chants in the morning. Through that act of chanting, she recognizes when she might need to pace herself, be self-compassionate, acknowledge that she's doing her best and showing up. That really helps her stay aligned with her purpose and her why.
Finding Common Ground with Different Paths
I loved our conversation about spirituality because I was also brought up with Christian beliefs and love God very much. But I've also been curious about other philosophies, and I think it's good to keep our minds open and explore other things. That's the only way we're going to grow.
I'm the type of person who reads like three books at a time (who knows why). But at night, I've been reading something by Ram Dass again. I love the concept from his teachers about how there are different paths up the mountain, but the top is the same.
That's how I see it, and Jenny agreed completely. It's universal.
She was so glad I brought that up because it's not just about our spiritual and universal quest. That's creativity. That's the source of creativity. Everyone has that. You just have a different path to get there. But it's in all of us.
We all have the commonality there.
Jenny also shared that she lives with her mother and is her caregiver. Her mother is Christian, but she's chanted with Jenny and gone to her SGI Buddhist discussion meetings. They have lots of interfaith dialogues about it.
It was actually the church Jenny's parents raised her in that put her on this spiritual quest because it's a more open denomination, Disciples of Christ. They had classes on the Book of Revelations and introduction to Buddhism. They're very open-minded. Jenny's mom had a friend who was Muslim, and she would invite her to the coffee table to have chats about Muslim beliefs and Christian beliefs. They found the commonalities.
Access Jenny's Resources
Jenny created these free resources to help people reconnect with their creative energy and momentum.
Her Creative Empowerment Sampler is built on the three concepts we discussed today.
She also offers a Burnout Reset Guide for those who need immediate support for burnout or energy restoration.
Both of these resources are simple, actionable guides that anybody can use.
Final Thoughts: You Are Creative
If there's one thing I want you to take away from this conversation, it's this: the belief that you're not creative is the only thing standing between you and your authentic creative voice.
Jenny's three-pillar approach gives you a clear framework for:
Resetting your energy and overcoming blocks
Exploring creativity through a proven formula
Nurturing your creative practice with research-backed strategies
Whether you're dealing with perfectionism, procrastination, burnout, or just feeling disconnected from your creative self, these tools can help you reconnect.
Remember, you only need five to 10 minutes of consistent practice to start rewiring those creative pathways in your brain. You don't need to be "talented." You don't need special training. You just need to open the door and let creativity lead you.
So what's one small creative step you can take today?
Meet Our Guest: Jenny Leigh Hodgins
Jenny Leigh Hodgins is a creative empowerment coach, musician, composer, and author. She helps people rebuild trust in their authentic voice, sustain creative energy, and integrate music, poetry, and other forms of artistic self-expression into daily life for personal growth and holistic wellness. Her work is grounded in over 30 years of experience teaching, performing, and coaching across ages 4–90. She guides individuals to transform obstacles into actionable growth, cultivate resilience, and maintain joyful creative flow even amid life’s demands. Jenny’s SGI Buddhist practice anchors her approach, emphasizing inner strength, mindfulness, and the ability to maintain hope and purpose in challenging circumstances.
Connect with Jenny:
LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram
Free Creative Empowerment Sampler to boost creative energy & sustain your authentic voice
Free Burnout RESET Guide to reclaim energy, reduce overwhelm & reset your focus
Tools for Empowering Creative Flow & Inspired Living
Meet Our Host: Jennifer Robin O’Keefe
Jennifer Robin serves as a relatable, down-to-earth, REAL Wellness & Success Coach. She’s not a fancy, perfect makeup, airbrushed kind of woman. She’s been told many times, in a variety of environments, that she’s easy to talk to, and makes others feel welcome and comfortable. Her mission in life is both simple and profound: to make others feel worthy.
Professionally, Jennifer holds several wellness certifications including Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping, Thought Field Therapy (TFT) Tapping, Reiki, and more. She continuously expands her knowledge in the fields of Qi Gong, Xien Gong, Vibration/Energy Wellness and Natural Health. She also studied extensively with Jack Canfield, and serves as a Certified Canfield Trainer, authorized to teach "The Success Principles."
She’s an active reader and researcher who loves to learn, and one of her biggest joys is teaching and sharing what she’s discovered with others.
