Jai Long and Cara Mia on creativity, burnout and holding space for your metamorphosis

Written By Lei Lei Clavey

Really to refuel your creative tank?

Metamorphosis is virtual workshop hosted by Cara Mia and Jai Long on May 29th (US Time) and May 30th (AU Time). Delve into honest discussions about mindset, creativity, and photography with Cara, Jai and guest speakers as they share their experiences navigating their own metamorphosis. In anticipation of the launch next week, Cara and Jai share their inspiration for the workshop on the Life & Lens Podcast. 

Cara is a wedding photographer and educator based in Utah. Best known for her creative photography, workshops and events, Cara’s shoot concepts approach art as ‘play’, unlocking a deeper creativity. I know personally, I have always loved everything that Cara has created and she is a source of inspiration for so many of us.

Jai is a creative business coach, photographer, educator and friend of the Life & Lens Podcast. Through his signature course, the Six-Figure Business Map he leads a heart-filled community of photographers and creatives worldwide to build fulfilling businesses by setting unrealistic goals and overcoming self-limiting beliefs. His passion is infectious and wherever he goes, he builds a deep sense of community through conversation and collaboration.

After meeting at the Unrealistic Workshop in 2023, Jai and Cara created Metamorphisis; a project bridging creativity and business. Using the journey of a butterfly as a symbol for the creative process, the workshop explores the stages of creativity; the beginning, the rapid growth and creation phase, followed by rest, reflection, recharge and finally the final evolution where we reach a state of flow, endless possibilities and opportunities.

Inspired by personal experiences of self-doubt where they struggled with creativity, Jai and Cara have created a workshop that explores metamorphosis as a construct and lived experience. Focusing on reflection, self-compassion and surrender, their approach to creativity and business is like a breath of fresh air. It’s not that they don’t advocate for working hard and ‘hustling’ but that they acknowledge that phases of intense activity should be followed by a period of rest. They emphasise how important each phase of metamorphosis is and that like nature, everything will happen at the right time and cannot be rushed. Surrender.

I really loved our conversation on creativity and feel inspired to give myself more grace. If you’re feeling a bit worn out after a hectic wedding season or creatively flat, may this podcast episode give you permission to take rest and refuel when you feel ready. I know I will be signing up to join Metamorphosis and can’t wait to experience their workshop on 30th May 2024 (AU time).

For more information on the workshop and to reserve your ticket, find out more here.

Lei x

Key Take-Aways

  1. If you live a creative life - it’s in everything that you do.

  2. The more unapologetically YOU that you are, the more opportunities will come your way.

  3. People are attracted to good energy; show up and love what you do.

  4. Burnout, taking rest and making time to recharge are not shameful. Rather, they are part of a necessary cocooning of creativity and ideas before an explosion of energy and endless possibilities. Schedule time to rest each day and block out time each year where you deliberately have low expectations on ‘being productive’. Don’t judge yourself for needing time to rest or step away from your business.

  5. What served you last year from a business and creative perspective, won’t necessarily serve you this year and that’s ok. Metamorphosis means leaving pieces of you behind and your making space for new parts of you.

  6. When we fixate on the things we might lose (money, status, success, creativity), they become harder to attain. By surrendering to your phase of business and creativity, you can find beauty in the place where you are and treat yourself with more compassion. Trust that each phase of metamorphosis and growth is just as it is supposed to be.

Tools & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Join the live launch here: https://jointhemetamorphosis.com/event
Sign up to the waitlist here: https://jointhemetamorphosis.com/
Listen to the Metamorphosis Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metamorphosis/id1738791949

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Lei Lei Clavey

Hi, my name is Lei Lei. I am a wedding and editorial photographer. I love to have a fun relaxed time with my couples and capture your day discreetly as if I were a fly on the wall. No posing, only gentle guidance from me when needed. My job isn’t only about being at your wedding but in the months leading up to it to get to know you and your love story. This is so I can capture the day as it naturally unfolds, staying true to who you are as a couple. Every love story is unique and I want to tell yours organically and honestly through my images.

https://www.leileiclavey.com
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