Patient, hope-filled dedication to creative practice

Hey there!

I’ve talked a lot about betting on yourself in this newsletter. Usually that concept conjures up ideas like “going big,” “launching,” “making the leap.”

I align with those energies in general. I am an action-taker to my core.

But I’m in a season of life right now that is asking me to bet on myself in a distinctly new way.

It’s a call to bet on myself by investing in myself.

(Trying to) rest. Listening to myself. Gathering inspiration. Surrounding myself with the right supports.

I am so used to being in the state of burn out. Creating from a place of true necessity to feel alive and connected to myself amidst a packed life.

Prioritizing my well-being for the sake of my creative practice?! I haven’t had this opportunity in… ever?

The most similar experience I’ve had was when I went on maternity leave with my second son. A season where the fast-moving train was on suddenly stopped and I got to get off for a bit and reset.

But as all the parents out there know — a maternity leave is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Nonetheless, the change of pace it offered me awoke my creativity. It’s when I first conceptualized this newsletter and received a refined vision for supporting creatives in their creativity.

The uncomfortable truth is that it’s actually been really hard to feel safe investing in myself in this way. It’s bringing up all sorts of insecurities about my value.

My internal compass feels a bit jumpy, too. Like I’m having a hard time discerning what ideas I’m interested in thinking about and which ones I should actually pursue.

I know from lived experience that these are all indicators that I am growing. It is SO UNCOMFORTABLE.

When I started this newsletter, I called it Rekindle. I wanted to capture the essence of always going back to the creative fire in our hearts. Tending to it. Re-sparking it when it dims or goes out.

I’ve been on that journey, and it led me to a greater vision which I now call Creative Foresight. It’s part of what I’m learning to practice now: patient, hope-filled dedication to creative practice. Believing that any effort towards creativity is valuable—time well-used, literally making the future better.

I have such a strong belief that if I can learn to ground myself in daily creative practices (that don’t require a lot of time or resources!) I will flourish.

How is that for a bet on myself?
I think it’s quite radical after all.

Thank you for reading! I appreciate you!

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Warmly,
Jennifer