Publisher - October 2025

Photography by 
Jacie Elizabeth Millen

“Don’t think ‘what’s the cheapest way to do it‘ or ‘what’s the fastest way to do it...‘ think ‘what’s the
most amazing way to do it?‘”
— Richard Branson —

I counted more than 100 self-help books as I categorized the selections on the bookshelf in my bedroom. Those 100 books do not include the self-help books I have in my office, in one of my various business totes, in the car, on Audible, or that I have passed on to others. Does that make me a self-help junkie? Well, I don’t think so since I don’t feel the need to read self-help every day, and my fiction to-be-read (TBR) list far out numbers my self-help TBR list. Truth is, I’m going through a phase, or maybe I’ve reached an age of wisdom, where I have pretty much put self-help on the back burner for now.

As I scanned through the titles and topics of the 100-plus books, I saw help and advice on topics such as losing weight, breaking up with sugar, being a good leader, self-discipline, conquering fear, finding financial peace, becoming a bad ass, living my best possible life, being successful, daring greatly, untethering my soul and having no excuses. Sadly, in all of this written guidance I have at the ready, none of it is about creativity—being creative, finding creativity or maximizing creativity.

I, like many women, beat myself up over all things in which I feel inadequate, which drives me to rescue myself via this drove of self-help books. The struggle is real, as I am the first to admit, I’m not the most disciplined person on the planet, I can be my own worst enemy, and my to-do lists often take me longer to complete than expected. Some things absolutely blow my mind—like too much paper and mail, clutter, and stuff I have no idea where to put. However, I had a revelation in looking through all these books: This month’s theme is “Creative Minds”, and this is a topic I excel in! This is my brain’s groove, and therefore I’ve never had to seek help to ignite or bolster my creativity.

As the founder and publisher of Pink Magazine, creativity is of utmost importance, and my spirit has been renewed in realizing I don’t need a self-help book to inspire me to do my job. I continuously think about new, creative articles and how to creatively serve both our readers and advertisers better. But, I have to admit, sometimes needed creativity doesn’t flow like a river, but rather trickles like a leaky faucet. What do I do in this case?

I’m happy to share a few tips on how I get my creative juices flowing, which always makes things much more fun and interesting:

1. Downtime: As a busy person, it is hard for me to stop doing and thinking. The best thing I’ve found, so far, for taking a total breather from daily demands is getting a massage or some sort of spa treatment. First off, when I make an appointment, it immediately goes on my calendar, which means there will be no time conflict. Almost every time, it feels like the appointment comes in the midst of the busiest day ever, but I’m always glad I went. Mostly because of the therapeutic benefits the massage brings, but more importantly, is the affect it has on my brain. The complete calm of the massage clears the junk from my thoughts, and allows new, original thoughts to gently swirl about. Massages, for me, are like a 20-minute mega-brainstorming session, followed by 40 minutes of deep relaxation to let it marinate. I always leave refreshed both in body and mind.

2. Sleep: I used to be a night owl, working or reading until two o’clock in the morning. Not any more. Our bodies, brains, and creativity need sleep. Creativity is basically the opposite of lethargy, meaning tired creativity comes across, simply, as tired. If you want to boost your creativity, boost your sleep.

3. Inspiration: Surrounding yourself in an environment that sparks energy does wonders for your creativity. For instance, have you ever toured a gorgeous home and not left wanting to immediately spruce up around your own home? Our environments have the power to either energize or drain energy. That’s why it’s important to change things up occasionally—move the furniture, try new restaurants, go visit a different city or move into a different scene if you’re feeling blah— wake up those creative vibrations and ignite your spirit and imagination.

4. Park your cell phone. There is nothing zapping our creativity, inspiration, time, and energy more than our frickin’ phones. If I sound mad about it, I am. It is stealing a large portion of my life! And I’m not alone. Put your phone in another room, if only for an hour. Don’t resort to Pinterest or other websites before you try to imagine things on your own. Give your creativity a chance before allowing others to rope you into theirs. Look to these sites to fine tune your ideas, instead of letting them “think” for you. And if you’re trying to remember something, give your brain some time before resorting to Google. I always say, “Give me a minute; I’m conjuring it up!”

5. Don’t say you’re not creative: I have talked about labeling ourselves and how we shouldn’t do it. However, I can’t tell you how many ladies have told me, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” Well, in fact, you do. Even creative people are not creative in everything. Find your vibration!

6. Lastly, there’s the shower! I get the most ideas while showering each morning. This is my stress-free, quiet environment to free think without any interruptions, which is the key to manifesting amazing creative thoughts and ideas. In a rut? Take a long, hot, refreshing shower, and let your thoughts run free.

What self-help book topics are missing from your arsenal? Figure it out, and you may find your super power in that gap. And, here’s one more tip regarding all those self-helps: Sometimes it’s best to stop reading for a while and start practicing what you’ve read. When you do, be sure to include your authentic self—and your inner child— into your new discipline…now that’s being creative!

PS: What are you dressing up as for Halloween? I’ll probably be a Southern cook or a magazine publisher, aka as myself. Haha! I’m not a fan of dressing in costume, but some people are amazingly creative at it. If this is your thing, go for it, and send us pictures! Spoiler Alert: I may don a pink wig for the Pretty in Pink Partini Breast Cancer awareness event on October 9! And look for the new coming soon Pink Magazine Book Club!

Think Pink,
Elizabeth Millen