The Complicated Life of a Creative: Why It's Okay to Want More Out of Life

Are you feeling stuck in your life or work, even though it looks great on the outside? Do you feel like everything is fine and you should feel blessed, but you're still unhappy?

You're not alone. Last week, a client shared how he felt unfulfilled at work even though he has a "dream job" and asked, "why can't I just be happy with what I have?" The truth is: it's not because, on the outside, it looks like you're successful that you feel that way on the inside.

Creatives, in particular, need to understand how their brains are wired and what they need to do to be happy. You tend not to like boredom or continuous repetition of similar tasks. You crave variety and something creative that makes you want to get up in the morning. You will inevitably become bored and unfulfilled if you don't have this in your day-to-day activities.

It's okay to want more out of life - we all deserve our dreams

It's important to acknowledge that needing more is okay - we should feel no shame for wanting more out of life! But it's also essential to know when not to quit and push through even if things start feeling too routine or monotonous. Otherwise, you might miss out on opportunities that could bring you joy and fulfillment.

It's important to remember that feeling stuck is normal and doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It's a sign that it's time to reassess your goals and develop strategies to approach them differently or be creative in finding new solutions. The key is to find a balance between pushing through when needed and knowing when it's time for a change.

Creativity is an essential part of our lives, and boredom can be a real issue for creative types. If you need more variety in your life or work to keep you interested, it's easy to become unfulfilled. It's essential to recognize what you need so that you can make positive changes in your life. Here are a few things that can help:

#1 Understand your creative brain.

If you're feeling stuck in life or work, take time for self-reflection and use this as an opportunity to learn more about how your creative brain works. Psycho-education is one of the most freeing things you can do for yourself as a creative. It will help you to understand your needs better and make better decisions.

Understanding that a lot of the things you think are flaws and negative about yourself (seemingly not being able to stick to things, always wanting something new, scattered focus, and so on) is part of your creative wiring will enable you to harness the power of your creative abilities and make better decisions.

#2 Give yourself permission to try different things.

It's okay not to know what you want or what direction you're going in. Try something new and explore your options. This doesn't mean you have to quit your job right away or that it's an all-or-nothing thing (a trap many creatives, entrepreneurs, and generalists fall into) - it might just mean trying something new on the side or experimenting with other creative outlets.

When you give yourself permission to try different things, you open up the possibilities and learn more about what makes you happy and fulfilled. You'll be able to take back control over your life and find a way to make things work for you - even if it's not exactly how you initially expected them to.

#3 Take a break from the routine.

When you feel the itch telling you something is boring or has become too easy or repetitive, sometimes, getting away for a short time is all that's needed to reset and recharge. Whether it's taking a weekend off or just taking a walk around the block, take some time for yourself so that you can come back feeling refreshed and inspired again!

The complicated life of a creative can be frustrating at times, but knowing that it's okay to feel stuck and not knowing precisely what you want to do doesn't have to be anxiety-inducing. By allowing yourself to explore different paths, and taking regular breaks away from the routine, you can make positive changes in your life and find fulfillment.

#4 Feed your creative spark.

There's nothing worse for a creative than a life without a creative spark, where there seems to be no freedom to explore, learn new things, or express yourself. Feeding your creative spark is vital for feeling fulfilled and inspired, so be sure to find ways to stoke the fire in your life.

One of the best ways to break out of a rut and find your creative spark again is to do something completely different. Not only will this spark creativity and help get your juices flowing again (literally!), but it can also open up possibilities that you never thought were available. This might mean making time for a passion project, learning something new, or taking on an exciting challenge. It could also mean taking regular breaks away from work and doing things that will refresh your mind and refuel your creativity.

#5 Surround yourself with supportive people.

Finally, remember that plenty of creatives and entrepreneurs feel your pain and go through it themselves. It's helpful to surround yourself with like-minded people who are interested in the same struggles and successes that you are. Whether it's a friend, a mentor, or a coach - having someone to turn to for encouragement can be invaluable when feeling stuck.

By understanding your creative tendencies, giving yourself permission to explore different paths, and taking regular breaks away from the routine - as well as feeding your creative spark and surrounding yourself with supportive people - you too can find a sense of fulfillment and joy in your life. So don't let yourself be stuck - go out and make something great!

No matter how successful your life appears on the outside, it's okay to feel stuck. It doesn't make you a failure or someone who doesn't know what you want. We all need variety in our lives to stay inspired and motivated. Remembering this can help us take steps toward our goals while still accepting where we are in the present moment. With patience and perseverance, you can make the changes in your life that will bring about more satisfaction and joy.

Being honest with yourself about what you need is the first step toward making positive changes. So if you're feeling stuck or unfulfilled, don't be afraid to admit it and seek some support or guidance. Good luck!

Feeling bored and unfulfilled? You're not alone.

There must be more to life than this. Why can't I be happy with what I have?

Private coaching can help you figure out what you want in life and how to get there. With the help of a coach, you can finally start living the life you've always wanted. Coaching is an investment in yourself - one that will pay off for years to come.

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Quiet Quitting: A Creative Generalist's Response to Not Being Valued

You're stuck in a job you hate, doing work that doesn't challenge you, being undervalued by your boss. Maybe you've even tried to talk to them about it, but it always ends in disaster. So what do you do? You quit. But not just any old way – you quietly quit.

Quiet quitting has been in the news lately, with more and more people doing it. And there's a good reason for that. People want to be valued and recognized for their work; they want to feel they matter. As someone who works extensively with creatives and entrepreneurs, I know this to be true. In this article, I want to explore quiet quitting a little further, how it affects us creative types, and what to do about it.

What is quiet quitting?

What is quiet quitting? It's when you don’t leave your job, you just stop caring about it. You don't hand in your notice; you stop stepping up and doing your best. It might not be the most professional way to do things, but sometimes it's the only way to deal with a situation that's making you miserable.

There are a few reasons why people might choose to quietly quit their job. Maybe they feel undervalued, bored, and underappreciated, or they can't stand the thought of going to work another day. Whatever the reason, quiet quitting is on the rise. Low pay, poor working conditions, burn-out, unsustainable workloads, and pressure are only a few reasons why people choose to stay in their jobs but not give their all to them anymore.

Although the concept and term are pretty new, quiet quitting isn't. It says, "I'm still here, but I've checked out." Demotivation and loss of a sense of purpose, alongside negative experiences at work, often lead to quiet quitting. I see it in my coaching practice a lot: people remaining at the same workplace but relaying to doing the bare minimum, putting in time but not effort.

Why do creative generalists quiet quit?

I would argue that although quiet quitting isn't new, and many people do it, creative generalists especially, have been doing it for years. We've always been told that we're not good enough, that we're not focused enough, and that we need to pick one thing and stick with it. We've been told that our multiple talents and interests are a hindrance, not an asset. We've been told that we're not valuable. So we've quietly quit.

Creative generalists are often quiet quitters because their work is undervalued. They're told that their ideas are too out there, that they're too chaotic, that they'll never make it. So they give up and resort to doing what is asked of them, not what they’re capable of producing.

Just this morning, one of my best friends and a creative generalist told me she was quiet quitting her highly demanding job. "I'm tired of always hearing about the little thing not being right when I've moved mountains for this company and made miracles happen. I can't stand being underutilized and seeing my talents and interests go to waste. So if they don't want what I have to offer, I won't put in any extra effort from now on."

Last week, another creative client said something similar: "I'm so bored at work, I'm begging for them to use my talents, but they just want me to fill out spreadsheets. So now I've decided only to do the bare minimum; they don't appreciate me anyway."

Both are scaling back at work, taking a stance about exploitative work cultures, and thinking about where to take their careers next. One clear thing is that the next move needs to be meaningful, where they can reach their potential and hone in on their skills, talents, and expertise.

What to do when you realize you're quiet quitting?

People quiet quit for different reasons. Once you realize that you've been quiet quitting your job, my advice would be to do something about it. Don't just stay in a job because it pays the bills; you need more than money to be happy.

If you're bored and undervalued, it might be time to move on. Talk to your boss about using your talents more, or look for a new job that will value what you have to offer. If you're feeling burnt out, try cutting back on your hours or taking some time off. And if you're just plain unhappy, it might be time to start exploring other options.

Other things you can do when you realize you're quit quitting include:

• Talk to a career coach or mentor about your options

• Take steps at work so you can do more meaningful work

• Consider a career transition and find something more aligned with who you are

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to quiet quitting, but the most important thing is, to be honest with yourself about why you're doing it. Once you know the reasons, you can start taking steps to change the situation.

The bottom line is this: if you're not happy in your job, don't just quiet quit, do something about it. Don't stay in a situation that's making you miserable. Life's too short to waste time on things that don't make you happy. Quiet quitting doesn't have to be the end of your career. It can be a new beginning. So if you're quiet quitting your job, it might be time to make a change.

Quit quitting your job?

You're not alone. Many people find themselves at a dead end, feeling like they've hit a wall. That's where private coaching can help. Together, we'll explore your options to help you find new opportunities and get unstuck in your career.

I know it can be hard to take that first step towards change, but I'm here to help you every step of the way. Coaching is an investment in yourself and will pay off for years to come.

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Boredom Versus Resistance: How to Know When to Quit?

Creative generalists (multi-passionate creatives) are a rare breed. We have more than one passion, and we don't want to choose just one path in life. But when boredom starts creeping in, it can be challenging to keep up the momentum of being creative or pursuing one or more of our interests. Resistance is often mistaken for boredom, but there's a difference between the two that you should know about if you're multi-passionate like many of my clients and me! In this article, I'll explore boredom versus resistance so you know when to quit on something and when it's time to push through and stay motivated.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Like all your efforts pointless? You're not alone! This feeling is known as boredom. It's when we no longer find a project or passion interesting enough to continue with. Often, we've reached what we came for in that project, job, or interest (usually some form of skill or new knowledge). We got what we wanted from it, so why would we want to keep going?

A new definition of done

We immerse ourselves into playing the guitar diligently every day for two years and then one day put the instrument to the side to not pick it up again for years. Or we decide we want to know everything there is to know about YouTube marketing, create the channel, buy all the courses, post a ton of videos, and suddenly decide to move on to something else.

Why do we do this? For most, finishing means an external endpoint, not for creative generalists. It's more an internal feeling of being done (bored) with something than anything else, often when, to the outside world, we don't seem done at all.

On the other hand, resistance shows up when something is important to us, when we're hitting on what matters most or makes us come alive. It's an inner feeling of not wanting to do something, even though we know deep down we want to or we should, often disguised as stress, anxiety, or fear.

Is it boredom or resistance?

For creative generalists, boredom is the internal feeling of not wanting to do something anymore because it feels like a chore when we've reached what we want from that project, job, or interest and feel no need to push through anymore.

On the other hand, resistance is a biological and evolutionary response to things that are important to us. It's a protection mechanism that is rooted in our fight-or-flight response. What resistance wants is for everything to stay the way it is. So although boredom and resistance can feel pretty much the same, they're each other's opposites! Boredom is a gentle nudge that you need change; resistance is a - often much harder - blow that you want things to stay the same, precisely when you should be moving forward!

Resistance is when we should push through boredom or whatever else we're feeling - fear, lack of self-confidence, doubt, self-loathing, procrastination - and continue with what we're doing for some other, more profound reason. It's that feeling of "I don't want to do this, but I just know it's the right thing for me" because it matters more than anything else in your life right now.

How to know the difference between boredom and resistance?

Knowing the difference between boredom and resistance can help you understand when to quit something and when to push through. Boredom means it's time for a change, while resistance is the only way we can get back in touch with what matters most right now.

If you're not sure whether you're experiencing boredom or resistance, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What is my goal with this project, job, or interest?

• Have I reached that goal?

• Do I still find this project, position, or interest interesting?

• Why do I want to quit?

• What would happen if I did leave?

• Would I regret quitting later?

Answering these questions can help you determine whether you're experiencing boredom or resistance. If you're bored, it might be time to move on to something new. But if you're feeling resistance, it's probably because there's something vital that you need to do! Instead of quitting, take stock of what's going on emotionally. How are you feeling? What is that telling you about what you're trying to resist?

When to quit?

There's no shame in admitting that you're bored of something or ready for something new. It doesn't mean that you're a quitter or not good at it. It means that you've reached a point where you no longer want to continue with that project, job, or interest. And that's perfectly okay!

In summary, here's how to know when to quit:

• The critical difference between boredom and resistance is that boredom feels like the project or job has become too easy. You've learned everything you wanted or needed to know from it, so the boredom feeling is our body telling us to move on and try something new.

• Resistance happens when we're doing something important to us, or that needs our attention for other reasons. It feels like, "I don't want to do this, but I have to because it matters more than anything else."

• If you're not sure whether you're experiencing boredom or resistance, refer to the questions above to find more clarity.

The most important thing to remember about being ready to move on to something else like a (multi-passionate) creative or entrepreneur is that your cut-off point, when you're "ready" with something, will often be different from that of other, more specialist people. So it's useless to mirror your actions to what they would do. They don't have your multi-passionate brain, and they're not you. How could you then know what you need or what is suitable for you?

So if you're feeling bored, it might be time to move on. But if you're feeling resistance, it's probably because there's something important that you need to do! Push through and see what happens!

Feeling stuck in your career or business?

You're not alone. Many people find themselves at a crossroads, not sure what to do next. That's where I come in - I'm a career and business coach with almost ten years of experience helping people figure out their next steps.

Quit your job? Start your own business? There are many options, and it can be tough to know which one is right for you. That's where I come in – I can help you figure out what to do next and put together a plan to help you achieve your goals.

Schedule your free session!