20 Questions Interview
with Shia Lynn Toh

Copywriter, Blogger, Artist, Crafter

1. What's your name?

Shia Lynn Toh.

2. Where are you from?

Malaysia, Selangor.

3. Who are you today?

I am a Creative enthusiast, a happy soul on earth school.

4. What do you do? (Elevator speech)

I am copywriter, a blogger, an artist and a crafter.

5. What's your story (how did you get here)?

I was always a creative lover at heart ever since I was a little girl. I loved all kinds of creative from art, craft to fashion, etc. Along the way I lost who I was and what I loved because of the society system. I was judged and told that I was never going to be able to pursue art and being creative is only applicable for those who obtain formal art education which I didn't have. After years of battling with it, questioning life and purpose, and healing from drug abuse, I found my way back into creativity and redefined what it means to be creative when I discovered alternative arts. Since then I started blogging, took up a course to be a creative life coach, and started painting intuitively.

6. Why is creativity important to you?

Creativity is important to me because it is part of me, my soul and it completes me. Ever since I have redefined creativity and unravel creative boundaries, I find myself like Yin and Yang. Creativity is the other side of me that balances me out in this universe called Life and this vehicle called Body.

7. When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?

When I encountered my 3rd awakening in 2011 (I am 28 years old now). Even though I was already blogging my creative journey in 2008, yet something was still missing... I did not want to live a life of anxiety, monotonously waking up every day. I wanted to complete my life and stop feeling depressed and so I asked myself, "what was it I have always wanted to do in life?" With that one meditation moment I did on my own, thus began my creative journey from then on.

8. How did you embrace it?

I embraced it by overcoming my own shadows, my own battles. I faced my fears of becoming a creative person (especially when I was judged by others). I faced my procrastinating battles, and challenge myself to do projects that I never thought I would do, i.e. blogging and painting.

9. How did that feel?

It felt good. I felt I have control over my life and no one has the right to suck my energy out of me. I felt great that I finally succeeded in breaking beyond creative boundaries.

10. Where has your journey taken you?

To date, my journey has taken me inward to reconnect back with my soul. I can finally remember the little things that makes me laugh, makes me happy in life. I can remember my childhood memories, both good and bad, but no longer haunted by them. Instead, I remember how it feels like being a child, and I have reconnected with my inner child to start living life full of creativity. Whether it is taking photographs, painting, crafting, writing, I love it!

11. What challenges have you faced?

Some of the challenges I still face are inner battles; something that has always been part of me ever since I was a little girl. It is deep rooted, and I am still struggling sometimes to remove it. Some days I am aware that it is there, and no longer struggle with it, which led me to be motivated in my creative work. Some days I am doubtful, and unsure if my path is right. And it makes me compare myself with others.

12. What worked for you?

Reminding myself on what I love most about myself works best. I used to say this to my loved ones, "If I have one wish, I would wish to be reborn into this person, with the same unique intuitive characteristics and artistic personality that makes me special!" Another method is cutting off, whether it is to stop reading a blog that I feel intimidated from or stop talking to someone that drains my energy until I am fully ready once again.

13. What didn't work for you?

Continue to compare my own work with other people's work, especially when I am following someone else's blog.

14. What three tips can you share to help others starting on a similar path?

1. Ask yourself, "what is the one thing you wish to do everyday?" It can be poetry writing, drawing, singing, taking a class, etc.
2. Do it! Paint your life literally and visualize how you want it to be. Go towards it fearlessly because you are your own artist of your own painting.
3. Self-love: Compliment yourself, pat yourself on your back when you do good. Reward yourself even if you feel you didn't meet your own expectations. Be kind to yourself. You are your own friend.

15. What are you working on now?

I am currently working on setting up my online store selling my creative goods; creating an empowering creative life coaching programme called Divine Art Soul; working on a pre-launch e-book/pdf called 10 Break Free and Love Again Ways which is a teaser to my first book; working on a Creative Lifestyle Planner.

16. What's coming up for you in the next year?

Perhaps my creative lifestyle planner and my first e-book.

17. What else do you desire/dream to do?

I am living the dream that I have always wanted. I never really realized that this was what I was working towards, since I was in college, until recently when I turned down a job offer to join a big advertising agency (I am a copywriter). I realized that now I am living my dream already. My next desire is to move forward, bring my blog far, travel the world while I work on my blog, turn my blog into a big biz and create art after art after art.

18. How will you make that happen?

Believe. Stay passionate. I think that's the key for me.

19. What one question would you like to answer that hasn't been asked?

How do you describe The Artsy Craftsy Web site in a few words?

• Support and promote creativity.
• Inspire to create with creativity.
• Empower to live a beautiful life.

20. What's your Web site and/or blog address?

Visit my blog, The Artsy Craftsy at theartsycraftsy.com.

8/18/13