Are we really burning out?
- or are we missing something crucial?
There’s a whole movement about creative burnout recently - and OMG I get it!
The year is 2024 and as creatives we’re expected to be outputting both professionally and socially as content creators 24/7 whilst ALSO being rejected and actively hidden by algorithms which are instead favouring AI-created content and those pouring money into the algos in one way or another.
Oh, and being a creative is STILL (in 2024) somehow deemed to be a 3rd class role in life, so you’re still perpetually fighting against all the systems, judgements and preconceptions which do everything in their power to prevent your creative light and BRILLIANCE to actually light up the world.
It’s a lot, right?
I used to be a “Life Energy Alchemist” (by necessity)
As someone with myriad chronic conditions all colliding into a veritable Big Bang of a healing crisis starting in 2013, it was inevitable that I took my yoga training, cognitive psychology degree and lifelong experience together with my rapidly unveiling, innate shamanic wisdom and put it into helping others how to literally alchemise energy from nothing. Because that’s what I had to do.
It’s truly earth-shattering what we can shift and create from “nothing” when we simply shift a few energetic variables (which is entirely the opposite of “pushing through”), and that’s all without reams of rattling supplements and expensive testing protocols, private consultations and potions.
And it doesn’t have to start with you digging into ground zero like I was. Even before that, my soul energies spoke loudly enough to get my attention… I’m sure you can relate?
For example, I learned really early on in my awakening (when I started to remember I was more than just a meat-suit) that my rhythms were not and WOULD NOT fit into the standard ‘norm’ of 9-6, Mon-Fri, rinse and repeat till dead.
I literally experienced a mind-body-soul shutdown which forced me to leave my career and have a go at being self-employed. And here I still am…
The world is now waking up too (thank goddess!)
Thankfully, the first social awakening has been around our FEMININE rhythms, in that simply having progesterone and estrogen cycles means we literally experience different rhythms every-single-day. NOT like our male counterparts. Hasn’t that been a relief to finally acknowledge, understand and begin to accept that (and sure, it’s an ongoing struggle, but we’re moving forwards!)?
The second social awakening I believe is already happening, around neurodivergent rhythms and basic needs - and these align (funnily enough) with many creatives’ rhythms and needs.
Namely: our brain, creative impulses and energy tell us when we NEED to create and HOW. These cycles can often look like boom and bust because there’s simply SO MUCH neural, soul and spirit energy trying to come through all at once, and “regulating” that isn’t always going to work.
What this looks like then is a short-ish period of intense, hyper-focused creative activity & productivity with a tail-off and then an extreme need for rest, recovery and gradual (often entirely invisible) re-inspiration.
To the capitalist order, this is called failure and neglect. But in fact, it can be one of the MOST intensely, deeply honouring ways to live our creativity - especially if we actually fully honour and surrender to these cycles.
That means, nourishing yourself fully through all phases. Intentionally build and nurture your body to hold all of this wild, fluctuating energy. Remove guilt and apology from your cells, and ensure your loved ones really understand your needs and your WHY.
The insatiable desire for control (internal and external)
We may be conditioned to think we are failures if we don’t fit the 2024-capitalist ‘norm’ for production schedules. But that doesn’t mean we have to accept them - creative or not!
Tune deeply, and with so much reverence, into YOUR rhythms and cycles. What feels like magic to YOU, and how can you hold yourself within these rhythms without feeling broken?
When I stopped (or rather my body and mind stopped) trying to squeeze myself into the 9-6/M-F schedule imposed upon me, my whole being came back online. When I additionally started to honour my “boom and bust” phases, I felt like I was finally accepting my whole self unconditionally - and my body, mind and spirit thanked me profusely.
It’s not easy. I definitely get the balance wrong frequently! But then, I look at how the current model and it’s got no balance whatsoever. My husband is perpetually burnt out (and he is more suited to it). I was too in that system, but I wasn’t remotely suited to it. I just didn’t know that (and I didn’t know that I didn’t know 😅).
Here’s the crux: FIND YOUR RHYTHMS.
They are not anyone else’s, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation of them.
Then do your utmost to find ways to honour them. It won’t be easy. You’ll probably argue with your family and feel like you have to make excuses to your friends at times. But eventually, you’ll feel like you’ve put together a 5000-piece jigsaw puzzle and they all fit.
And finally, you can see, feel and BE the bigger picture you were always meant to be.
What natural rhythms is your soul calling in for you?
🤩Exclusive Preview Alert!🤩
Some of you may know that I went all-in this year, headlong into a crazy big vision… to create giant, immersive installation artworks for magical beings like you to dive into a potent energy-landscape of beauty and infinite possibility.
I’m excited to say, I’m now holding an exclusive preview event this Imbolc (2nd Feb) for my first 3 installation pieces, at my studio in Devon - and you can book tickets now!
Limited, timed-places are available, so please do get on this pronto!
Gift a magical experience
These would also make the most amazingly magical Christmas gift, so if you’d like hard-copy tickets posted to you in a gift format, email me this week (last UK posting is coming up fast!).
Merry Christmas everybody 😍💗🎇🙏
Zoë