Here's a truth I've come to embrace: You can't make meaningful art about life if you're not actually living it.

As artists, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we need to be in our studios constantly, producing, producing, producing. But that approach leads to creative depletion. You're drawing water from a well that's running dry.

Unnecessary struggle leads to burnout. It creates friction where flow could exist. It drains energy that could be channeled into creativity and joy. And honestly, it's exhausting. We all have natural ways we move through the world, patterns that may have served us at one point. Maybe tackling challenges head-on helped you prove something to yourself or others. Maybe the struggle itself became a badge of honor.

But what if there's another way?

"What exactly am I selling? How do I price it? What about taxes and business licenses? Can I actually make a living from this?" These questions often deter artists from transforming their creative work into a sustainable business. I know they initially stopped me.

When it's something you truly care about, something that feels core to your identity, it becomes easier to persist through the discomfort, through being a beginner, through making mistakes. Because you know it's who you are, and the only path forward is through the awkward growth stages.

Have you ever been so absorbed in a task that you completely lost track of time? There's something magical about that state of flow, but it can come with unexpected consequences when we let other responsibilities slide.

I had just left the community ceramics studio, where I had been talking to two clay friends about trying different ceramic techniques to find the ones that fit you. Not just as an artist, but as a whole person.

How they work with your lifestyle, personality, and artistic voice. For example, if you love the look of intricate carving, but prefer to work in quick, intuitive movements, you'll just be fighting an uphill battle trying to perfect that skill. Instead maybe you could ditch carving altogether and go for wild glaze combinations that make you happy.

What do you say when someone asks what you do? You get the feeling they want a succinct answer before moving on.

But if you say "I'm an artist!", you're still not done. Now you'll need to answer, "That's interesting! What kind of work do you make?" 

If you're anything like me, you'll find yourself rambling.

In this moment, she wasn’t editing herself, criticizing herself, or worrying about other people’s opinions. She used what was already natural for her, what she already knew how to do, and she just Let. It. Go.

Do you ever marvel at the incredibly detailed work of a favorite artist, or wonder what sorcery led them to be able to decorate like a pro, or build that elaborate dining room table set? Sure, it would be cool to be able to do that. But who has the time?! A girl has to eat and sleep every once in a while, you know?

You know in the movie Moana, how Moana is called to the ocean but doesn’t quite know why or how to answer that call? But then her grandmother reveals the history of her people and how they were voyagers. And it suddenly makes sense, and it grounds her in a way that helps her to decide how to move forward. 

Many of us have had that moment of realization, where deep down, you know something has to end. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but you know you have to figure this thing out, because it’s killing you. I know I felt that way working long hours as an optometrist. It was meaningful, I was helping people. But I was hurting.

We’re always looking for that magic plan that will turn us into a prolific, inspired, and organized artist or entrepreneur or professional, whipping up new works while balancing family responsibilities and home chores. Even once we retire, there are so many possibilities that sometimes we just stick to the status quo. 

So let’s back way up and just investigate where to start.

Flow became famous by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who studied this topic for decades and then wrote a bestseller on it in1990, when I was 12. I learned about it 7 years later, in college as an occupational therapy student. Today, flow still eludes me at times. But I’ve learned that it’s not rare, or magic, or chance. We can proactively create regular deep enjoyment and immersion in life.

Let’s get into a little neurobiology so we can understand and take advantage of this cheat code to developing stronger and healthier habits - and (of course) justify taking that next pottery class!

I wish I would’ve understood this 4 years ago. That’s why I’m saying it so bluntly now - I hope you will be catapulted farther and faster towards your art dreams because of it. You ARE ready to sell your art. 

The science doesn’t lie. Play is good for us. I think most of us can accept that it is healthy to incorporate play activities into our lives. But what really constitutes “play”? And how do we change our habits to actually incorporate enough play to make a difference?

It’s time to stop avoiding things you think you’re bad at, and getting in your own way. With just a little bit of strategy, and a lot of patience, you will get better at that next thing. And it WILL unlock the next level.

Sharing my favorite hidden key to finding your artistic style. Uncover your own “guilty pleasure” favorites, and mine them for the genius gold they can provide as you develop your own creative voice.

Blending my science and art backgrounds, I get into the key science behind sleep and creativity. I wrap up with 3 quick ways you can sleep better tonight for a more creative tomorrow.

This is required reading for any fans of creativity! Really, it’s a goldmine of gems for living with meaning.