We recently had the chance to connect with Dr Marion Piper and have shared our conversation below.
Marion, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I wake up and do a little stretching then set myself up with coffee and my journal. I’ve been a journaler for as long as I can remember, jotting down my thoughts and adventures on paper everyday. I don’t really subscribe to Julia Cameron’s ‘morning pages’ because brain dumps are better at the end of the day, not first thing. Early morning is my favourite time to dream and ask myself lots of ‘what if’ questions. For example, ‘what if this year I approached more brands for collaborations, what could that look like?’. It’s one of the way’s I’ve learned how to ‘Spiral Up’ in life, creativity and business.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr Marion Piper (aka Dr Maz) a writer, artist and creativity coach teaching you how to ‘spiral up’ from life’s challenges using creativity. My background is in the creative industries, having worked as an art gallery assistant and creative agency copywriter for the past 15 years. I survived some rough childhood trauma and have spent the better part of my life learning how to turn my pain and passions into Art that’s both beautiful and helpful. I also run journaling workshops, speak on stages, and write about trauma on Substack over at The Creative Urge.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trauma breaks the bonds between people. When we don’t feel safe, we lash out – or if we’re hurt, we hurt others by projecting our pain onto them. I strongly believe that creativity can empower us and help to repair the bonds we break when we’re transforming after trauma. When you go through something huge, you become a whole new person. People really underestimate the impact that this can have on relationships, especially if you experience posttraumatic growth and change for the better, as other people might not like the ‘new you’.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I grew up with an alcoholic mother and an absent father, but I was lucky enough to be exposed to the Arts growing up so I had a place to channel all that rage, confusion and pain. I didn’t hide my pain but I did try to numb it out by staying busy, and then using alcohol later on. My pain only became a source of power when I started my PhD in 2013 and stumbled into the concept of posttraumatic growth. It’s the idea that it’s possible to experience positive psychological change after trauma. Once I knew there was another way, that I didn’t have to be bound to my pain forever, I started to unhook it from my identity in order to evolve. It was slow, painful and is still ongoing. That’s the thing about trauma: you never escape it, but you can learn to manage it and grow around it.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Smart people are really good at intellectualising their emotions. They don’t know how to FEEL. I’m guilty of this myself, ha! But when you first try to understand and put a story around an emotion, instead of simply feeling it and allowing it to wash over you, it becomes a loop you get stuck in. Especially if you don’t have an explanation for it. I’ve learned to let myself feel the intensity of an emotion, which usually only lasts a few minutes, then breathe my way out of it. Then I’ll turn to my journal (and therapist) later to unpack it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
The meaning of words and their magical powers. People are starting to outsource their writing and communication to AI and this is going to rob them of critical thinking and their manifestations. Words carry vibrations and they’re the bridge between our thoughts/desires and what comes to fruition in reality. Write down on PAPER what you want and watch it come true. Type it into AI and you’ll forget all about it. I deeply understand the value of making my thoughts into things via words – and I wish more people knew how simple it was to do!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drmarionpiper.com.au/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marionpipercreative/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionpiper/
Image Credits
– Red dress and brick wall image is courtesy of Mark Lobo Photography: http://www.marklobo.com.au/
– NO/BS Vol 2., 2022
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