Being a Clear-Minded Creative is about choosing to honour what we truly value, even if it means forging a new path in life.

For me, that means valuing things like creativity, freedom, peace of mind and health (and a healthy sense of humour). For other people it will mean different things.

By identifying and re-aligning our lives with our most heartfelt values, we can communicate clearly who we are and what we have to offer to the world.

This is crucial if we want our creative work to stand out – especially if we want to make a living from it.

Who this site is for

Clear-Minded Creative is for you if any of the following applies:

• You are actively creative (or would like to be)

• You love to learn new things and are open-minded and willing to change

• You crave more freedom and meaning in your life and career

• You value your physical health and peace of mind and are not willing to sacrifice them to satisfy other people’s expectations

• You want to be part of a community of like-minded people who support and encourage each other (and respect each other’s uniqueness)

• You see the current digital revolution as an exciting opportunity to get your work out to more people and build a platform for yourself

My Story

Photo by Fabian Kruse

Of course holding a particular set of values doesn’t mean you’re living in a way which honours them.

A few years ago I found myself in a deeply unhappy place because I had consistently ignored my gut instincts and instead followed what seemed to be a more “sensible” path.

I was stuck in a job and career which made little use of my creative talents and I was drinking too much alcohol and doing very little exercise. I was also doing a lot of creative work on the side but often not getting paid anything for it, meaning my options were severely limited.

Every time I looked in the mirror I wondered what I’d become. (The answer was obvious really -  a miserable, fat drunk!)

By leading a life that was completely out of sync with what I really craved, I ended up being diagnosed with chronic stress.

Back to the Drawing Board

The first ever logo for Clear-Minded Creative (January 2011)

I’ve since gone ‘back to the drawing board’ and begun to rebuild my life in a more sustainable and mindful way.

Whilst this has already been hugely rewarding, it has certainly not been easy. Changes I’ve made have included leaving my secure job to be a freelance writer and web editor, giving up alcohol for a year to help raise money for Charity: Water, and taking up meditation and running.

It’s made me feel a lot better, even though some of my old drinking buddies now regard me with a slight hint of suspicion!

Of course, we all have vices. I still find it very hard to resist cakes.

Keep in touch!

The best way to stay in touch is to subscribe and get bite-sized insights direct to your inbox. You can even choose how often you receive them.

As well as my own writing about forging a new path in life, you’ll get interviews with other interesting Clear-Minded Creative Types, and reviews of books and other resources I’ve found.

The aim of all this is to help you to identify, prioritise and persistently pursue what’s uniquely important to you.

You can also keep up to date with the blog via Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus or RSS.

Services

Clear-Minded Creative isn’t just a hobby – it’s part of a larger effort to build a sustainable creative business for myself which truly aligns with my values.

As a professional content producer, I offer freelance writing services including freelance blogging, copywriting, ghostblogging, video editing and copyediting/proofreading.

I am also offering a limited number of one-on-one Clarity and Strategy Sessions, as well as further updates and revisions to The Career Masterplan for Mad Geniuses series which provides an overview of how creative people can make a living in the current digital economy.

A bit more about me: 

Milo in contemplative mood.

My name’s Milo McLaughlin and I live in Edinburgh, Scotland with my wife Melissa and our cat Millie.

As well as writing here, I currently do freelance blogging,  copywriting and digital strategy work for a number of clients.

If you’d like to know more about my story, check out the archives or these interviews:

Media Muppet website | The Friendly Anarchist |The Edinburgh Reporter