The Modern Creative Woman
The art and science of creativity, made simple.
Through the lens of art therapy, neurocreativity, and cutting-edge research, you’ll learn not just why you create, but how to create with more freedom, intention, and joy. Dr. Amy Backos — author, art therapist, psychologist, professor and researcher, with 30+ years of experience — unpacks the evidence-based psychology behind creative living.
Come for the science. Stay for the transformation.
The Modern Creative Woman
155. Procrastination Cure
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What actually creates a meaningful life? In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores the deep connection between meaning, motivation, values, and behavior. Drawing from psychological research, personal stories, and her own creative process, Amy unpacks why fulfillment is not found through certainty, productivity, success, money, or external validation—but through acting in alignment with what matters most to us.
Amy shares a candid behind-the-scenes look at finishing her latest book, including her struggles with procrastination, self-judgment, time anxiety, and the constant chatter of the mind. Through the lens of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), she explains the difference between thought fusion and thought diffusion—and how learning to step back from our thoughts can help us reconnect with purpose, creativity, and meaningful action.
This episode is an invitation to stop treating your thoughts as facts and instead begin asking: What kind of person do I want to be in this moment? Whether in parenting, work, relationships, creativity, or community, meaning emerges when our behavior reflects our deepest values—even when life feels uncertain or difficult.
Amy also discusses:
- Why procrastination is often part of the creative process
- How social media and constant stimulation disconnect us from meaning
- The neuroscience of thoughts and why they are not commands or truths
- The relationship between values, satisfaction, and psychological flexibility
- Why creating spaciousness in your schedule supports creativity and emotional health
- The surprising power of tiny daily actions that align with your values
Key Takeaway
We experience the deepest sense of meaning not when life is easy or predictable, but when our actions align with what truly matters to us.
- Where in your life do your actions currently align with your values?
- Where are you reacting to thoughts instead of responding to reality?
- What small action could you take today that would feel meaningful to you?
- What would happen if you stopped treating every thought as a fact?
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What actually creates a meaningful life? In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores the deep connection between meaning, motivation, values, and behavior. Drawing from psychological research, personal stories, and her own creative process, Amy unpacks why fulfillment is not found through certainty, productivity, success, money, or external validation—but through acting in alignment with what matters most to us.
Amy shares a candid behind-the-scenes look at finishing her latest book, including her struggles with procrastination, self-judgment, time anxiety, and the constant chatter of the mind. Through the lens of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), she explains the difference between thought fusion and thought diffusion—and how learning to step back from our thoughts can help us reconnect with purpose, creativity, and meaningful action.
This episode is an invitation to stop treating your thoughts as facts and instead begin asking: What kind of person do I want to be in this moment? Whether in parenting, work, relationships, creativity, or community, meaning emerges when our behavior reflects our deepest values—even when life feels uncertain or difficult.
Amy also discusses:
- Why procrastination is often part of the creative process
- How social media and constant stimulation disconnect us from meaning
- The neuroscience of thoughts and why they are not commands or truths
- The relationship between values, satisfaction, and psychological flexibility
- Why creating spaciousness in your schedule supports creativity and emotional health
- The surprising power of tiny daily actions that align with your values
If you’ve been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, stuck in overthinking, or uncertain about what matters most, this episode offers practical insight and compassionate perspective for finding your way back to yourself.
In This Episode
- Meaning vs. success and certainty
- Why values are expressed through behavior
- Parenting, relationships, and work as value-driven action
- Procrastination and creative resistance
- Social media detox and mental clarity
- Time anxiety and self-judgment
- Thought diffusion in ACT therapy
- How to stop believing every thought you think
- Creating space for reflection and creativity
- Motivation through aligned action
Key Takeaway
We experience the deepest sense of meaning not when life is easy or predictable, but when our actions align with what truly matters to us.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Thought diffusion vs. thought fusion
- Creativity and psychological flexibility
- The role of values in mental wellness
- Writing and creative process reflections from Dr. Amy Backos
Listener Reflection Questions
- Where in your life do your actions currently align with your values?
- Where are you reacting to thoughts instead of responding to reality?
- What small action could you take today that would feel meaningful to you?
- What would happen if you stopped treating every thought as a fact?