I’ve been so engrossed in my writing journey that I’ve been blind to some of its costs.
I’ve been distracted from the fact that sitting in front of my laptop to write requires a significant emotional investment every single time. It takes a lot out of me. That’s the other side of creativity we rarely explore—the depletion that comes with constant creation.
So, in the middle of a breakdown today, my husband gently reminded me that it’s a lot. And I needed to hear that. I needed the nudge to see that perspective and be lovingly encouraged to find ways to replenish myself when I feel creatively depleted.
I’m focusing on that now. I’m focusing on finding things that can fill me up again, so I can sustain what I love.
Thinking deeply about things all the time is something I am entirely grateful to be able to do. Examining my reflections and the thoughts I silently voice in my head is something I never want to give up.
But my goodness, is it also exhausting?
In the tension between gratitude and exhaustion, I’m learning to be braver, more courageous, and foster deeper imagination. The very thing that drains me is also what transforms me.
And perhaps that’s the most profound truth of all: that our greatest gifts often demand our most extraordinary sacrifices, and finding balance between them is where we discover who we’re meant to become.
