creative awakening // Truth Tribe interview: Anab Roa
Anab Roa once longed to live a more creative and meaningful life.
Now she's realized that it's never too late to be who she wants to be. She's designing the vibrant reality she always dreamed, one small step at a time.
Anab is a freelance landscape architect in the Philippines by day. By night, though, she is a painter of bold, colorful mixed media artwork that's both whimsical and full of passion. Her #15MinutePractice and #15MinutesFaces are beloved on Instagram, proving that we don't need infinite amounts of time to express our creative voices.
Although Anab loves her day job, she felt restless and unfulfilled before discovering her creative practice. Something was missing. After three years working in the corporate world, "the desire for something more grew louder."
Anab and I have long been Instagram buddies, but I never knew much about her creative journey.
I was thrilled when she accepted my invitation to join our Truth Tribe interview series, so I could learn more about her and share her story with you. Her colorful artwork and joyful spirit are a perfect match for our Vibrant Life issue.
Anab and I chatted about how she discovered her passion for art-making, why her daily creative practice is important to her, how she takes extra good care of her sensitive soul, her guiding words for 2017, and more.
image by Anab Roa
One of my favorite revelations from Anab's interview is that she believes "we are all born creative makers."
We may not always recognize that, though, if we are not "raised in an environment that encourages and/or is conducive to 'making things.'" But Anab says even if we are not, this feeling "will not completely leave you: for we are creativity itself; for we are maker itself."
The key, then, is learning to listen to our true selves:
“The challenge is, will we ever have, find, or give time to listen to our still, small voice, our inner wise-self . . . I did, after all those years of trying, stopping, and failing; after all those years of ignoring, sabotaging, and not paying attention.”
Anab finally listened to her inner wise-self:
“. . . I finally gave myself permission to feel uneasy, uncomfortable, and troubled; knowing that it is okay to want and to desire things; knowing that it is okay to be not as good as them; knowing that comparison is the killer of joy. I did discover that passion is for reals. That I have it and you have it in you. I did discover my passion for art-making the day I started making things again . . . and again . . . and again.”
artwork by Anab Roa
Creative expression is key to living our most vibrant lives, even if our practice occupies only a few moments of each day. This is a chance for your true self to whisper, shout, sing out. To let go of whatever is numbing and dulling your vibrancy. To shine up that radiant soul of yours!
“Keep living. Keep asking. Keep hoping. Keep dreaming. Keep believing. You are not alone on your journey. No matter how quiet it may seem. No matter how much you feel unseen. No matter how lonesome it can be. You are not alone. You are not alone. You are not alone.”
Phoenix soul, it's never too late.
Begin your creative awakening today.
with love & awe,
Amanda
your fellow phoenix
The Phoenix Soul: Vibrant Life is vitamin C for your soul! Come juice up your life with us. You are so welcome here.
