How Creative Thinking (and a Rubber Chicken) Can Help You Make Health Decisions

02/24/25 • 60 min

Feeling stuck in your healthcare decisions? Need to figure out what’s right for you but feeling overwhelmed? This episode of Regarding Me is here to help!

Today, I’m joined by Marilyn Barefoot, an award-winning creative strategist and expert in problem-solving. Marilyn shares how the principles she’s used with global brands can help you get unstuck so you can make confident decisions that align with what matters most to you—even when things get complicated.

Whether it's navigating medical appointments, making tough treatment decisions, or simply regaining a sense of control, Marilyn’s insights will empower you to approach your healthcare with clarity, confidence – and creativity!

In This Episode:

How creativity can unlock solutions when you feel stuck in your health decisions
The power of a binder to help you stay organised and confidently advocate for yourself!
Why writing by hand improves information retention and understanding
How tactile tools (like Play-Doh or a rubber chicken!) activate more of your brain for better decision-making
Why self-advocacy doesn’t have to be big and bold—sometimes it’s as simple as asking for help or requesting your favourite music during treatment

Self-advocacy isn’t just about standing up for yourself—it’s about creatively shaping your healthcare experience so it truly reflects who you are. And this episodes helps you do just that!

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling stuck in your healthcare decisions? Need to figure out what’s right for you but feeling overwhelmed? This episode of Regarding Me is here to help!

In This Episode:

How creativity can unlock solutions when you feel stuck in your health decisions
The power of a binder to help you stay organised and confidently advocate for yourself!
Why writing by hand improves information retention and understanding
How tactile tools (like Play-Doh or a rubber chicken!) activate more of your brain for better decision-making
Why self-advocacy doesn’t have to be big and bold—sometimes it’s as simple as asking for help or requesting your favourite music during treatment

Self-advocacy isn’t just about standing up for yourself—it’s about creatively shaping your healthcare experience so it truly reflects who you are. And this episodes helps you do just that!

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

You've Got You: Trust Your Wise Inner Advocate

How can you stay calm and make clear decisions when facing unexpected medical news? What happens to your brain in a health scare? And can you shift your mind from fear to clarity?

In today’s episode Luan speaks with Josie Thomson, a neuroscience expert, and award-winning mindset coach who’s faced cancer twice, to explore how you can calm your mind in a health crisis and advocate for yourself with confidence.

In this episode we talk about:

The brain’s automatic response to a critical health moment —and how to take back control
Why we default to fear (and how to move into calm clarity)
The hand-on-heart technique to instantly reduce anxiety
The way to ‘prime’ yourself and cultivate a sense of calm
The inner critic vs. the wise advocate—which one are you listening to?
Why self-awareness and self-trust are your greatest tools in a medical crisis

When you’re in fight-or-flight mode, it’s hard to process information or make clear decisions. This episode is packed with science-backed strategies to help you self-regulate, stay calm, and advocate for healthcare that’s right for you.

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Biology and Biography: Shared Decision-Making in Your Healthcare

How do you make healthcare decisions that balance the biology of a diagnosis—the research-based facts and figures—with the biography of what matters to you and how you want to live your life?

Today, I talk with Dr. Susannah Graham, a leading breast surgeon who champions patient-centred care. She shares her insights on empowering patients to communicate their wants and needs effectively, fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare that respects your autonomy, values, and life priorities.

Join us as we unpack how shared decision-making improves patient satisfaction and well-being, empowering you to shape your healthcare—not just as a patient, but as a person.

Together, we discuss:

· What shared decision-making is and why it matters, particularly for women.

· How to actively participate in healthcare decisions to feel more informed, confident, and in control.

· Your role as a patient and the role of the healthcare professional in shared decision-making.

· Strategies to communicate openly and feel confident in your choices, even when discussing complex topics.

· Real-life examples of shared decision-making in breast cancer care, including navigating reconstruction options after a mastectomy.

· Balancing medical recommendations with your personal values, lifestyle, and preferences.

Self-health advocacy is about knowing what’s important to you and confidently communicating it with your healthcare team, so together, you can make an informed shared decision that honours your values, needs, and the life you want to live.

Want to learn more about decision-making? Listen to Marilyn Barefoot's episode 'How Creative Thinking (and a Rubber Chicken) Can Help you Make Health Decisions'.

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.