It’s Imperative to Create For Yourself

Dear Creative (yes, you),

You need to make things just for you.

Not because you have to.

Not because others expect you to.

Not for money or a job

Not for recognition, awards, or compliments

Not to 'seem more interesting' to others

Because you CAN. 

And by doing so you'll build self trust and give yourself internal validation.

Many of us learned to create and make decisions based on external reasons…

• Money,

• Reputation

• Job performance

• Family or friends' approval

• Deeply ingrained social, cultural, and religious norms

Blah, blah, blah…you get the idea.

Unfortunately, in prioritizing the external world we often abandon our internal world. 

We abandon ourselves. 

I spent a lot of time rushing around trying to make it to every social event, meet every crazy work deadline, and volunteering to take on more at work. 

I showed up for everyone but myself.

What little time I had left was spent recovering or preparing for the next wave of events.

This was unsustainable. I burned out. And I wondered why there was no space for myself in my own life.

The good news? 

We will always have ourselves.

And every day is a chance to give ourselves attention and care. 

For me, that meant spending time experimenting with what I enjoyed doing in my free time. 

It also meant learning to say ‘no’ (both at work and in my social life). Rather than rushing around, I SLOWED DOWN and got to know myself.

If you're a recovering people pleaser like me, it might feel selfish or sometimes pointless to have a hobby with no clear external reason or validation.

But it's imperative to nurture yourself. 

In the same ways we build relationships with other people, we need to build a relationship with ourselves. 

Creating and pursuing hobbies out of your own curiosity and interest will…

• Build self trust & confidence

• Strengthen creativity

• Expand our ability to handle “the unknown”
  

The funny part? By nurturing ourselves, we’ll be able to show up better for our external relationships! (I know, it feels counterintuitive).

This is why I use a FAFO Journal: To experiment, journal, and spend time with myself.

Want to build a relationship with yourself & your creativity?

Here’s a few prompts to get started:

• If money and time were not a concern, what 10 things would I like to try?

• From the list, what 3-5 things are the most achievable right now with my time and resources?

• What steps could I take towards experiencing those things?
  Example: I want to take a watercolor class, but don’t have time to attend one.
  Next best option: Find a free watercolor course on YouTube that you can use any time of day.

• Start small: Pick one and break it down into its smallest steps.
  If a goal of yours is to publish poetry, the first step may be ‘Write a poem today. Edit it tomorrow’

• Now Take Action!

You are creative. You got this.

XOXO,

Ambassador of the Official Fake Bureau of Creativity