Years ago, my therapist gave me some advice I still come back to:
Aim the flame.
When I’m creating something, I can be relentless. It can be better. Rewrite it. Throw that bit out. Start again.
That intensity can do wonderful things for a project.
But without a creative outlet, I sometimes turn it on myself. I become the project. Everything about me becomes something to scrutinise, fix or improve.
And the energy that helps me create can become pretty corrosive.
Reflection matters. So does taking responsibility and working on yourself. But there’s a difference between doing that with care and treating yourself like a draft you’re never satisfied with.
I’ve learned I always need somewhere productive to put that passion. Something to make, explore or develop, where the flame can be put to better use.
