There's a common misconception that artists have a monopoly on creativity...But the very act of making waves - no matter the career - is a creative one. The Chase Jarvis Live Show is an exploration of creativity, self-discovery, entrepreneurship, hard-earned lessons, and so much more. Chase sits down with the world's top creators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders and unpacks actionable, valuable insights to help you live your dreams in career, hobby, and life.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

Morgan Harper Nichols is a poet, artist, and author with a goal to form meaningful connections through her work, and help others find peace in their own lives. Her most recent book, “Peace is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life,” is a must read that invites people to slow down and return to the present moment, using breath as their vehicle.

Morgan opens up about her financial insecurities and overall chaotic creative journey that brought her to where she is today. Her advice for anyone experiencing similar chaos? Keep moving, and stop comparing. Focus on knowing yourself on a deeper level rather than looking at what everyone else is doing. Early on in her career, she found herself comparing her own “success” to people she had nothing in common with, which she realizes in hindsight got her nowhere. Everyone defines success differently. Happiness requires defining what that looks like for you. There is a certain reassurance that comes from settling into who you are.

In the midst of writing her book, Morgan received a diagnosis that put some recurring experiences from her past into perspective. Morgan found out that she was on the autism spectrum, and that her lifestyle as a creative (i.e. long nights, loud music, lights, etc) was overworking her nervous system in ways that were detrimental to her health. Her diagnosis helped her realize the importance of engaging in restorative practices, such as breath work and mindfulness that can benefit your physiology.

No matter how stressful or chaotic things became, Morgan found peace in the fact that she could always return to her breath. I can breathe through this, she’d think. Keep breathing, you’re still here, keep connecting, keep creating, breathe. She credits James Nestor’s book “Breath,” for inspiring many of the techniques and perspectives shared in her book.

Practicing peace means learning how to listen to yourself. When we feel peace, it leads us to a deeper level of truth and understanding. What does peace mean to you? Morgan associates peace with places in nature that helped her calm down. It’s a feeling you get when you become attuned to the present moment. Peace is like a river, constantly flowing. Morgan focuses on intentional actions that can help awaken that consistent flow in all of us.

• Peace Is a Practice with Morgan Harper Nichols