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In this episode you’ll learn:
- How to learn to manage failure
- What leading a creative life means
- What it means to do deep work despite the fear
Claire Higgins is a freelancer and a performance, mindset and motivational coach who has worked with many organisations including the United Nations and the International Red Cross.
In this episode, part one of our two part conversation, you’ll hear how daunting prison work as an Arabic interpreter led to finding the courage and confidence to create and run her own business.
Having worked in prisons, refugee camps, and having coordinated human rights campaigns from London, today, she resides in the Middle East and holds a Masters degree in violence, conflict and development.
With a black belt in karate, and a passion for both yoga and Arabic calligraphy, she has recently completed writing a new book offering her own deep insights, Wild Zen.
You’ll also hear what it means and feels like to do really deep work despite feeling fear, testing circumstances and tough situations.
Claire was introduced to Inspirational Creatives by coach, listener and mutual friend, Laura Fragiacomo, from Italy. Thank you, Laura!
Items mentioned in this episode (quick access):
Finding the ability to confront fear
[00:42] Introducing Claire Higgins.
[02:09] Discussing discipline and freedom in the context of martial arts.
[04:19] Claire describes a horse-riding accident.
[05:19] Karate and mindset. Confronting fear.
[05:57] Daunting prison work as an arabic interpreter with the Red Cross.
[06:50] Stepping up.
“Sometimes we just have to show up as we are” – Claire Higgins
A beginners mind
[07:58] What The Dojo means to Claire.
[09:15] Creating a safe environment.
[10:37] Where Claire finds her inner confidence.
[11:16] Confronting a prison director when prisoners had been beaten up.
[12:15] Finding strength and confidence. Doing what needed to be done.
[12:52] Building a business one step at a time. Getting the ball rolling.
[14:22] Claire talks about being introverted. Her passions and curiosities as a child.
[15:37] When Claire began her interest in Arabic calligraphy.
[16:44] What it means and feels like to do really deep work.
Curiosity, discipline and freedom
[17:26] Claire discusses curiosity, addiction in her family, discipline and freedom.
[19:12] How Claire measures her passion and interest in a subject.
[19:47] Teaching yoga and not wanting to teach yoga anymore.
[21:12] Finding meaning in her work. Identifying problems and creating solutions.
[22:29] Claire describes why it was easy for her to leave certain situations behind.
[24:17] What leading a creative life means to Claire.
[25:55] Routine and needing anchors in life. Trust.
“Sometimes we have to follow our gut instinct” – Claire Higgins
A safe place to practice
[26:44] Writing poetry, humanitarian work, karate and calligraphy.
[27:50] Daring to take the first step.
[29:14] The importance of the breath, the mind and the hand in calligraphy.
[31:20] The freedom of writing.
[32:02] Being made up of sub-personalities. Jung’s archetypes.
[34:15] Struggling with a judgemental mindset.
[35:39] Preview of part two with Claire.
Links and Resources:
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