Tea for Creatives: Erin Haslag

Written by Possibiliteas. Posted in Blog

Meet Erin Haslag, a passionate wellness coach, consultant, and writer who helps people find the most practical methods and tools for integrating wellness-based practices into their daily lives. Check her out over at Well in L.A. and learn more about how she can clear the clutter from your everyday life!

Define creativity. What does it mean to you? And how has it inspired your career?

My junior year of college the onus of enrolling in a seemingly-obnoxious required course was in front of me. My course load was stacked with cerebral intensive classes. The class reviewed as ‘easy’ by my peers appealed and I enrolled, hoping to use the time as a study hall hour.

The course, Creativity in the Arts and Sciences, became a defining moment in my education. Perhaps even life. A delightful, Mr. Rogers-like professor with sparkling blue eyes gave us the freedom to explore our creativity in a way I had never experienced in a formal education setting. There were no answers. Rules ceased to bar us. We played with various mediums. We wrote Haikus and free form poetry. We went outside and stared at the sky for an hour, simply breathing. Our ‘guides’ for the semester ranged from Ray and Charles Eames to Alfred Hitchcock and the father of flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

Ultimately, what I learned in that semester re-shaped my definition of creativity. I never felt like a creative person before that class. Creativity is the freedom to explore the world through your senses and to subsequently share, grow, collaborate and add value to life through your experiences.

In my career, I am honored to carry this responsibility when working with clients. I carefully ask questions that force them to be creative. I cringe when people say “… but I’m not creative”. Creativity is in everything – not just the arts. We have a lot of work to do in re-defining the notion of creativity.

How do you navigate the creative process? (Taking an idea from its conception, honing it, and then sharing it with the world)

I’m a visual person. My ideas are formed in pictures and words (there’s an antiquated beta version of Photoshop lingering in my brain) are used to convey and explain the information associated with those words. I love to write, but photos and design are my preferred mediums. I find it calming to be given the freedom to absorb an image. We have a tendency to over-complicate life with words.

Describe the biggest creative obstacle you’ve faced in the past. How did you hurdle it?

The translation of design concepts and branding into a web-based format. I had a zero dollars for a website and knew I needed one. I taught myself basic coding, content management systems, and struggled through the process. I made thousands of mistakes but relished every single “a-ha!!” moment and danced around my little home office when I overcame a hurdle.

Who is your favorite creative figure? How have they inspired your creativity?

This is a tough question! I admire a wide array of people, from singers and fashion designers to serial entrepreneurs and motivational speakers. With the advent of social media awareness of creative people, concepts or products is part of our normal day. If forced to choose, I would have to say I’m most inspired by innovative social entrepreneurs who work to improve the lives of women and children in developing countries. Shanley Knox of The Nakate Project blows me away.

If you could choose one quote as your life mantra, what would it be?

Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. – Paulo Coelho

(okay, really anything by Paulo Coelho)

Describe your favorite tea cup.

Any cup that’s bright, cheery and holds at least 8 ounces of tea at a time is a winner. I had an oversized tea mug covered in ugly pink hearts all through college, but I loved it. It didn’t survive multiple moves around the country, but holds a special place in my heart after seeing me through 8 semesters of finals without fail!

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I would love to have a cup of tea with any of you should you find yourself in West L.A. Social media is a wonderful tool for connecting, but nothing quite replaces the subtext of body language nor the laughter share

The Tea for Creatives series celebrates the creative minds that Possibiliteas seeks to serve with its brews. We aim to bring the creative community insightful and eye-opening profiles of the best and brightest creative professionals across various industries. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for more conversations on creativity.

Tags: coaching, erin haslag, health, tea, well in LA, wellness