In this week’s episode, Majo Molfino and I talk about (among other things!) reclaiming your creativity as an important component of a meaningfully productive life.
Reclaiming your creativity and making a life that matters
Majo is an Argentine-American author, designer, and women’s leadership expert. She is the host of the HEROINE podcast, featuring top female leaders, creatives, and visionaries. Her leadership program, IGNITE, guides women to design and share a creative dream with the world. She lives in California with her husband.
When Majo was 2 years old, she emigrated from Argentine to Canada. Moving around a lot as a child, Majo never quite felt she belonged anywhere. She coped by being the “good girl”, getting straight A’s, figure skating, playing the piano, and winning competitions. She did everything that was expected of her until hitting a turning point in her 20’s. She became depressed and disillusioned, feeling like she was playing a role and never being her true self. Inside, however, she felt very passionate, creative, and free.
Since that time, Majo has been on a journey of reclaiming her creativity and sharing that with other women. One way she has shared her journey is through her first book, Break the Good Girl Myth, which is available for preorder now on Amazon. In this book, Majo discusses “5 Good Girl Myths”, which are subconscious tendencies ingrained in women which need to be unlearned in order for us to do the work we need to do.
A typical day
Majo says that given the current Covid-19 pandemic, as well the Black Lives Matter protests and other world events, her productivity has decreased and she has no “typical” day anymore. Everything has been thrown for a loop.
One thing that really helps her, though, is thinking back to when she was writing her book, and learning what time of day she has the most energy to work and be productive. For Majo, this time is in the morning. She has the most energy and focus in the morning and then it begins to decrease after lunch.
Therefore, Majo does her deepest work in the morning and puts strict boundaries in place. For example, she keeps her phone in her bedroom and does not turn it on until noon each day.
After Majo’s morning work is complete, she will schedule all other activities such as meetings and calls for the afternoon.
Now that she is promoting her new book, she has changed her day around because she needs all of her energy to go towards talking about the book, not writing about it. All interviews regarding the book (even if they are calls, which would normally be in the afternoon) are in the morning when she has the most energy.
By being flexible, Majo is able to maximize her positive impact for the season she is in right now.
Majo also struggles with perfectionism and this has manifested in her desire to always be achieving things. She’s been hard on herself these last few months as her productivity hasn’t been the same. She is trying to expand her definition of productivity and give herself grace when it comes to what she accomplishes on a daily basis.
Biggest productivity challenges
One of Majo’s biggest dreams is to write fiction. However, when that dream becomes really loud, she internally resists the dream because it’s uncomfortable creative work. She avoids it and procrastinates by starting new projects, or numbing herself with food or social media, anything that will distract her from the hard work. Her own resistance is her biggest productivity challenge.
She also deals with her inner critic saying “this has already been done” or “it doesn’t matter”. Or she will have scattered attention and become easily distracted.
Majo says that if we really want to bring out our most creative gifts, we have to have a handle on our own resistance. We will fight ourselves tooth and nail about doing the work that really matters. We will make excuses and put projects to the side in order to not commit.
Majo says prioritizing is important as well. Why are we not prioritizing our work? Is it because we don’t think we are worthwhile? Or maybe the work is not worthwhile? This is a worthiness issue. If we felt the work was worthwhile, it would be our top priority.
When you find yourself making excuses, ask yourself, “Do I have ten minutes”? When Majo finds her 10 minutes, she asks for help and support by designing systems of accountability within her social groups, such as with a group of women.
“When there is accountability, people get things done.”
Tools Majo recommends
Majo enjoys the writing tool Scrivener, which she used to write her book.
She is also a huge proponent of setting boundaries with her phone, keeping all notifications turned off and keeping her phone in perpetual “Do Not Disturb” mode. She uses an app called Freedom, which allows you to block any website for a specific amount of time. This has been extremely helpful with helping her focus on work.
Good Girl Myths
Majo designed her new book to help you dismantle outdated rules, unleash your power, and design a more purposeful life. Majo guides you through all five myths, you then take as assessment to figure out which myths you most identify with most, and then she gives you tools for unlearning each one.
- Myth of Perfection
- Myth of Rules
- Myth of Logic
- Myth of Harmony
- Myth of Sacrifice
Each myth looks and sounds like something, has an approval level, and has powers you need to reclaim which lies under each myth. Majo’s intention with this book is to help women reclaim themselves and figure out what their purpose is.
What do you do to get back on track on a day when everything gets away from you?
Majo says she definitely has days like this and during those times, she practices a form of yoga called Nidra, which is progressive body relaxation. Majo will lie down and do a guided body relaxation, which triggers her relaxation response, the opposite of her stressed response. She will come back refreshed and ready to get back to work.
What’s on the horizon for Majo?
Majo is most looking forward to her book being published in July and getting her message out. It is now available for pre-order and if you order before July 28, 2020, she offers a free training that helps you design your creative purpose.
Majo’s last words for the listener
“Take at least one mindful deep breath a day. If you can do this at least once a day, you ground yourself and that will support in your developing a better connection with yourself.”
Connect with Majo
What do you think? Questions? Comments?
Do you have questions for Majo or me? Please share them in the comments section below or in The Productive Woman Community Facebook group, or send me an email.
Resources and Links
- Scrivener
- Freedom
- Yoga Nidra
- Pre-order Break the Good Girl Myth and receive a free training to help you design your creative purpose at goodgirlmyth.com
- Take Majo’s free quiz to discover your creative, feminine power at majo.co
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