74. Martha Creek

Questioning Thoughts, Kindness, and The Work

Martha Creek is a certified facilitator for Byron Katie’s The Work, and in this conversation she shares how questioning stressful thoughts can transform perception, soften reactivity, and reveal a deeper kind of honesty. We talk about her early sense of God’s presence, the strong inner conviction that shaped her life, and the practical power of asking whether a thought is actually true. Martha speaks with humor and clarity about fearlessness, addiction, divorce, trauma, identity, and the way the mind builds stories that keep us trapped in suffering.

She also describes The Work as more than a technique: it is a way of meeting experience without insisting that reality be different. From kindness in relationships to the role of the victim, from shadow work to the limits of describing enlightenment, Martha keeps returning to the same essential invitation: look within, question the thought, and see what remains when the story loosens.

Martha’s simple message — “Go within or go without” — runs through the whole interview, along with her emphasis on humility, integrity, and the possibility of living more fearlessly and honestly right now.

Website: marthacreek.net

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 6/12/2011.

YouTube Video Chapters:

• 00:00:00 – Introduction to Martha Creek and her background
• 00:04:24 – The Conviction of God’s Presence within
• 00:08:19 – Fearlessness in childhood and past lives
• 00:11:43 – Being an Old Soul with Strong Convictions
• 00:15:20 – Clear Thinking in a Crisis
• 00:17:59 – Sleeping and Addiction
• 00:20:59 – Following my Life’s Calling
• 00:24:20 – Discovering The Work
• 00:26:58 – The Perception of Horrible Things
• 00:29:38 – The Power of Perspective
• 00:32:21 – The Illusion of Good and Bad
• 00:35:02 – The Concept of Preferences and Accepting What Is
• 00:38:25 – Humility and Not Insisting on a Specific Outcome
• 00:41:28 – Being Blurred Over
• 00:44:16 – Choosing Kindness and Honesty in Divorce
• 00:47:38 – The Mind’s Resistance to Yes or No
• 00:50:55 – Questioning Unkindness
• 00:54:06 – Finding Kindness in Our Lives, Understanding Wholeness
• 00:57:10 – The Role of the Victim in Abuse
• 01:00:20 – Letting Go of Past Trauma
• 01:03:28 – The Innocence of Mistakes and Moving On
• 01:06:24 – The Limits of Describing Enlightenment
• 01:09:51 – Experiencing Joy and Energy
• 01:13:07 – The Power of Shadow Work and Questioning Thoughts
• 01:16:07 – The Meaning of Concepts
• 01:19:06 – Living Fearlessly and Dealing with Emotional Energy
• 01:21:37 – The Effect of Thought on Facial Expressions and Identity
• 01:24:19 – The Power of Questioning the Mind
• 01:27:46 – Accessing Resources for The Work
• 01:30:54 – The Power of Storytelling
• 01:34:06 – Reconnecting with an Old Friend