I recently hosted a Salon Series talk for Coventry University on supporting Women in Academia and Business. The theme was Building Confidence and Beating Imposter Syndrome.

The session focused on building confidence and replacing unhealthy, toxic understandings of ‘success’, ‘knowledge’, ‘growth’, or ‘motivation’.

The space we created was safe, confidential, and fair. Everyone could share however much they wished, and whatever personal stories were shared stayed in the group.

So now I am leaning into my experience and talents as a creative and facilitator. I’m steering The DPA towards Creative Thinking development, with well-being enabling people to learn transferable leadership skills, such as;

• emotional intelligence

• communication skills

• strategy

• problem-solving

• confidence building

• team building

We use processes like Design Thinking and Lego Serious Play to develop a deep understanding and games to create a fun learning space and a deeper connection to build skills that strengthen leadership abilities. All the creativity and fun of The DPA, with all the practicality of application in the wider world.

... This realization of how powerful and effective this resolve was changed my business objectives. I pivoted from the last ten years of business/personal development support. I wanted to dedicate myself solely to figuring out this activity as a universal opportunity for anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected. To make a tangible difference in people's lives by utilising creativity to enrich wellness for people across the board...

The Artist On My Street Exhibition, ‘Connection’ launched at Coventry Railway Station.

The Life Path Trust community collaboratively created artwork with local coventry artist Donna Preece-Jones celebrating connections unveiled by the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership and Coventry Artspace.

Here’s what happened…

The following poem is written by a wonderful artist that I am fortunate to be friends with and have followed her work development for quite a while. This poem moved me when I read it and I felt it would resonate with you lovely people.

Knots a Poem by Marianne White

They start in the depths of my belly
Unbeknown to me while watching the telly
Sprouting one by one, what is this feeling i am not ready
The knots are making themselves known they are coming fast but steady

"Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity." Coco Chanel

The real conflicts came from an incongruence, a divergence from my values and my core purpose. I had neglected my true self and had suffered a breakdown because of this.

When I was in the darkest times, my raw creativity got me through. After 14r years of not picking up a paintbrush, it was painting that saw me through. That was when I realised there was power in that creative process.

The Tin Music and Arts, 10th Anniversary, DPA Exhibition launch on 16th September 2023.

From July 2022 to August 2023, The DPA has been running Well-Being Abstract Painting (CREATE) sessions at The Tin Community space. The space is fun and flexible, and the staff are kind and accommodating; it was the perfect place to relax without judgment and explore our well-being and creativity.

Our living spaces can contribute to our poor mental health without us knowing, but they can also help to rectify and heal these feelings of anxiety, especially in conjunction with other therapies. I wanted to take the opportunity to share some pointers about my own experience and what I have learned about how to help ourselves with our living environments as an essential foundation for greater well-being.

Business in general comes hand in hand with promoting products/services, people still need to know about what you do; that brings the marketing dilemma and an assumed potential social media strategy.

Finding a unique balance between maintaining the best working environment for my brain and creating the best results for my clients has taken some trial and error…

… Grabbing any device I could at work, notifications pinging around left, right and centre, constantly open and ready to connect and talk, always on the go-go-go on every platform, selfie-ing my way through life, running events, sharing everything.

I didn't understand the repercussions of social media and the decline of:

- my mental health
- my authenticity, who was I?
- the quality of my work...

That moment.

When you realise…
• That feeling I should be working or doing something
• Something unknown and genuinely awful was going to happen
• That lurking, invasive feeling that something terrible is about to happen
• I should of said 'xwz' and now everything is going to crumble

… it doesn't have to be this way.

How can I put this understanding into practice?

It's helpful to be aware of these effects, so we are more conscious and able to manage them in our lives.

What this means is that you can manage your schedule and energy levels effectively

What an unusual statement from John Cleese about creativity, I thought. I am used to more flowery and intangible statements about creativity, but this sums it up so primally for me and how I like to operate. But I’ve found it is underestimated and misunderstood…

If we don't take the time to sit down and consider what is best for us, for our careers and businesses, this will be decided for you. This lack of control has detrimental effects on our efficiency, productivity and mental health.

HOW CAN YOU BECOME MORE AUTHENTIC?

Authenticity is a hot topic now; many organisations and individuals recognise that being authentic is at the heart of self-care and emotional integrity. It's not easy, and after a lifetime of living a way that society has made us conform to fit, you can break the bad habits of a lifetime to enable you to become more content, more meaning and more fulfilment in your life.

Authenticity is an internal, constant state of self-awareness and recognition.

Externally what that means is that you show up with integrity, emotional and practical consistency because you are in tune with your more profound sense of self, and deeply value any given situation to which you commit yourself.

By mastering your authenticity, you become free from crippling, superficial barriers.

Guess what guys, my business is finally here.

It's taken time, blood, sweat and tears (or great conversations, creative outbursts and a journey of self discovery) but it's here.

How Donna Preece Academy came to be...