Find Your Spark

Recreate your life – infused with health, vitality, and purpose. At the Institute for Creative Living, we help you connect with what matters most so you can thrive across every domain of life.
About: The Creative Path to Vitality

The heart of our work is transformation. Our approach combines research-based practices, timeless wisdom, and rituals to support you in becoming who you really are.

Offerings: Ignite Your Potential

Explore workshops, retreats, and 1:1 guidance designed to help you align your physical health, mental clarity, and emotional fulfillment. Every program is crafted to light the path home to yourself.

Creative unBootcamp

Live Series with Jacob Nordby. This live workshop series has touched thousands of people in the last decade. Back by popular demand after a long hiatus, you will enjoy the trauma research, neuroscience updates, and more in this new offering that is based upon teachings found in The Creative Cure book.

Artist’s Way Toolkit

COMING SOON!

With Julia Cameron & Jacob Nordby. Based on her brand-new book and drawing from the classic, The Artist's Way, this virtual workshop series will restore the connection to your inner creative self – in every area of life.

Work with Jacob 1:1

Are you moving through a major transition and need a compass? Do you face challenges or blocks and need help to move beyond them? Jacob has worked with thousands of people over the years and is ready to serve you, too.

Creative Self Journaling Program

This popular, therapist-tested program has helped 10,000 + people learn to use their journal as a powerful guidance and healing practice. Download the full mini-course now – FREE.

Transformational Workshop Leader

COMING SOON!

Become a Transformational Workshop Leader Live Series with Jacob Nordby. After many years of facilitating and producing transformational workshops, Jacob offers this in-depth series for any teacher or healer who wants to create life-changing experiences for others.

Add your name to the waiting list for early alerts when this course is available!

Upcoming Book Clubs

We open space to dig into enriching books together. These sessions are marked by personal sharing and insight, in the company of fellow wisdom lovers.

Join Our Heal+Create Community

Our Approach: The Domains of Life

We know that true well-being comes from balance across all domains — body, mind, heart, and spirit. With our support, you’ll learn to nurture each aspect of your life, unlocking a sustainable sense of harmony.

Blog: Kindlings

Inspiration, tips, and creative insights delivered directly to you.

Kindlings offer fuel for exploration and growth, offering tools to enhance your health, vitality, and sense of purpose.

Why INFJs and INFPs Overthink Everything

Overthinking is a big problem for both INFJ personality types and INFP personality types. As a writing coach who specializes in working with both types, I’ve seen that overthinking is tied to INFJs and INFPs struggling overall with creativity, feeling connected to their intuition, and life in general. So many INFJs and INFPs have said […]

The Secret to Getting Unstuck

Dale Carnegie’s wisdom reminds us that our reactions to circumstances shape our emotions. Moments of Feeling Stuck We’ve all experienced those moments when it feels like we’re trapped in a quagmire. It’s a time when we might feel immobilized, question our worth, and find ourselves in a state of bewilderment. We yearn to move forward, […]

The Power of Unconditional Love

“I don’t want someone who sees the good about me. I want someone who sees the bad and still loves me.” —Anonymous “The beginning of love is to let those we love to be perfectly themselves and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we […]

Two Things Are Hard. Doing Nothing. Doing Something.

Life is hard. We want to find an easier way, but we struggle with it. Part of the problem is simply this. There may be no easier way. We just have to make a decision about where we are going to put our energy. In counseling there is the idea that we never really solve […]

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Customers Are Saying...

Jacob is more than a guide for creatives—he’s an extraordinary person. When I needed guidance for my projects, he was the first to come to mind. Jacob generously shared his time, professionalism, and expertise, offering invaluable advice to help me refine my focus. Our 1:1 session felt like talking to a trusted friend, with his intentionality and care shining through. I walked away empowered, equipped with actionable steps, a clear deadline, and deep gratitude. His support was truly priceless!

Read more from Benivia’s Substack

Benivia Lee

Writer, Global Nomad

I went to Jacob when I had the seed of an idea.  An idea that I knew had potential.  An idea that I wanted to pursue.  An idea I had no idea where to start.  I sat down with him over a strong cup of coffee and laid it on him.   Like in the movies, he immediately pulled out a napkin, and started taking notes, and drawing pictures, and sketching hieroglyphics. After he was done, he had the bones of a well-thought-out business plan that was creative and actionable.

Over the next few months I would talk to Jacob about thoughts, fears and questions I had about this journey.  He was always calm and supportive. Gently guiding me towards the safer path and away from paths that were higher risk or unreasonable.

I still have that napkin.

I also have a 6-figure business!

Jacob is who you want in your corner and on your shoulder as you are embarking on something that is important to you but you do not have the map.  Jacob has the map.

Visit Matt Dietz’s Agency Launch

Matt Dietz

Entrepreneur, Podcaster, Coach

Meeting Jacob felt like a dream I didn’t even know I was wishing for. I always believed there was something special in my writing, but Jacob didn’t just see it—he brought it to life.

He created a space where I felt safe to share, to grow, and to embrace the writer I am meant to be. He didn’t just tell me I was a great writer; he made me believe in a future filled with possibilities I hadn’t dared to consider.

Jacob is truly one of a kind, and anyone lucky enough to work with him should be ready for magic. He has a way of making dreams not just feel possible—but inevitable. He’s that special.

 

Faith Alpher

Writer at Funny Girl Faith

I reached out to Jacob in a time that I was in, what I call, a creative crisis. Attempting to put a book of poetry together for the past 10 years and getting nowhere! Jacob truly helped me wrangle it all in by seeing myself for who I truly was becoming and in a way I never thought capable. Since then, writing has become a deep practice for me.

Read more from Paul’s Substack

Paul David Shea

Writer, Meditation Teacher & Co-Founder of Breathing Lotus Living Arts

Jacob Nordby

Author & Founder
At the Institute for Creative Living, we help you connect with what matters most so you can find your spark & thrive across every domain of life.
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