Shanna Tyler: On Creativity
Marianna
What creative accomplishments are you most proud of?
Shanna
Self Soul Sport is a community that I founded for those who are looking to love self, nurture soul, and live sport. I founded it in 2017 and it had its run until 2019. I had a podcast (that is now archived) and a monthly meeting for us to have really real conversations on different topics. I hosted each intimate discussion and capped it at around 12-15 participants. That truly was one of my most creative, heartfelt works to date.
Marianna
Do you have a routine for entering into a creative headspace?
Shanna
I am my most creative after my own early morning ritual. Right when I rise, I allow myself time to slowly wake up, eat breakfast, sip coffee, pray/meditate, then give myself an hour for creativity. I sit in the same chair in my room, basking in the sunlight and will either have my laptop/notebook if I'm working on blog posts, new Instagram posts, or fresh new ideas for my full-time job.
Marianna
Do you have any habits you've built for yourself to foster creativity?
Shanna
Yes! I've created one major habit of not letting myself look at what others are doing before I have a finished product. That's something I had to learn the hard way in my time as an entrepreneur for a year and a half. I compared my own work too much and took elements of other people's creativity that didn't fit my own. It hindered my voice so I decided to restart my project and come in with a fresh mindset.
Marianna
Where do you think ideas come from?
Shanna
This is a tough question! I tend to that we have ideas sparked from our own personal circumstances and versions of self. Whether it's a problem we faced when we were little or a form of expression.
Marianna
What does creativity mean to you?
Shanna
Creativity is a form of self-expression. It is the way you're able to let out all of your emotions, whether you're happy, sad, frustrated, and more.
Marianna
When do your best ideas hit you?
Shanna
My best ideas hit in the morning after my morning ritual or in the middle of the night via dreams. Dreams are some of my most expressive ways that my mind can create ideas without any bias or emotion attached.
Marianna
What are the unexpected turns your life took to lead you to become who you are today?
Shanna
My major depression diagnosis in 2014 was a major turn that led me to become the well-rounded, empathic individual I am today. If it wasn't for my involuntary stay in a health clinic, I wouldn't have the ability to really meet people where they're at.
Marianna
What sources of inspiration do you use to foster creativity in your work?
Shanna
I must say - I gravitate toward silence! I'm known with loved ones as someone who needs a quiet workspace and headspace in order to foster my own creativity. External influences like sound or even people, really distract me.
Marianna
What do you think is something that the most creative people in the world have in common?
Shanna
They're passionate. I strongly believe we all can be creative and bring forth ideas if we are passionate enough.
Marianna
How do you make sense of chaos in your life?
Shanna
In my life, chaos signals a lack of balance in one way or another. For example, last week I had a room filled with physical chaos. Clothes, shoes, bottles, dishes were everywhere. I stopped for a moment and thought of my current situation. This was all because I was chaotic in another area of my life that I'm working on now. Chaos for me signals lack of balance elsewhere.
Marianna
Why do you think people get stuck on problems?
Shanna
Because they aren't solutions-oriented.
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About Shanna Tyler:
Shanna Tyler is a side-hustler and wellness blogger located in the New York Metro Area. She's always keeping it really real on her Instagram page, and sharing the honest truth about living a holistically well life.
In 2016, she decided to launch her Shanna Tyler blog with categories like yoga, mental health, and lifestyle. It’s now led to many amazing collaborations with big names like Blink Fitness and SELF Magazine.
In 2017, she became registered as a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher and founded a community of women. She officially founded Self Soul Sport in June 2017 with the first NYC event being a brunch with three basic questions: How do you love self? How do you nurture soul? How do you live sport?
In 2018, she launched The Self Soul Sport Podcast, where she shared her own personal journey of entrepreneurship with morning coffee chats, along with interviews with other girl bosses who share their stories of loving self, nurturing soul, and living sport.
She also began life coaching and biz consulting. Through her 1:1 coaching services and biz consulting, she started to provide individual support for entrepreneurial women to get unstuck and live their passions.