We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christa Wells. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christa below.
Hi Christa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
It came naturally to me as a kid to get lost in creative expression. My youngest sister and I especially were always making things up, songs and dances and plays and imaginary characters. I wasn’t thinking about my “purpose” but my joy. And throughout my life, I’ve followed the thing that lights me up, which is the intersection of creative expression and meaningful connection. Turns out that’s my purpose, because it’s what I know to do. It’s what I bring to all my relationships and all my work. It’s what I give myself daily. It’s what I have to offer.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My first love has always been working with words and music. So I write and record, self-publish poetry books, lead creative retreats, and teach songwriting at the university level–and I used to perform a lot. Because of a lifelong struggle with performance anxiety, I stepped back from performance, and I discovered I really enjoyed guiding groups in creative practice, teaching songwriting or offering prompts that help folks discover themselves. I see people. I love asking questions that let people surprise themselves with their own wisdom.
My work takes many forms, but it’s united by a passion for stepping more and more into my authenticity, with courage and confidence, and inviting others to do the same.
Several years ago I experienced the loss of my marriage along with financial devastation, just after relocating to a new state. I’d never thought divorce was a possibility for me. I suddenly became a single mother with five teenage kids, one of whom experienced mental illness and got in trouble with the law.
But that crisis forced me to become the kind of woman who could survive all that. It called forth courage and resilience. It slowly and painfully forced me to reckon with the roots of my deep insecurity. I found my voice. I started a podcast called Ways of Life. And I continued writing and recording, crowdsourcing each project and creating an ongoing community through Patreon. I wrote a song called The Voice which has inspired many women to explore their relationship to their own inner authority. And then I began hosting Find Your Voice retreats for women.
Along with Johanna Middleton, an award-winning artist-scholar-educator and current PhD candidate at Northwestern University, I founded Myth Movement, which seeks to support women in corporate spaces through storytelling workshops. Just like my other work, it’s all about connecting to the authentic inner voice.
In 2025 I intend to release new music, host several retreats, launch a new version of my podcast, and work with Johanna to spread the work of Myth Movement.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think what I have had going for me above all is a relentless love for making stuff up. I can’t seem to stop creating, whether it’s songs, poems or gatherings. My mind is always busy with this.
Next to my passion for creative play is resilience. Of course, these are connected, because it takes creativity to be resilient. It’s the art of pivoting, finding another way you haven’t tried before. I’m not afraid to quit on things that don’t bring me joy, but I haven’t been able to quit on myself as an artist.
Finally, I have people skills. I’m good at making people feel seen, heard and accepted, and that’s a need in this world.
My advice for folks early in their journey would be to make sure they are choosing a path they truly enjoy for the journey itself, not merely for the potential rewards. If that’s not the case, find a different path. Once you choose this path, think of al the work as an extension of the creativity you love so much. In other words, the same creativity you apply to writing the song is applied to the way you post on social media. And finally, love people sincerely. If you don’t love people, you don’t have anything to offer them.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I’m overwhelmed, I take a nap! Then I go for a walk regardless of the weather. And then I re-evaluate all the things my mind has decided are so important, so crucial. If I’m overwhelmed, it’s most likely I’ve given something too much weight. My standards are higher than they actually need to be in some way, or I’m refusing to delegate or ask for help. I try to come back to: What is the absolute simplest way to get this done?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christawellsmusic.com
- Instagram: @christawellsmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristaWellsMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/christawellsmusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/christawellsmusic
Image Credits
Shelly Eve, Amanda Gann, Aidan Wells
