5 Actionable Steps to Inspire Your Creative Journey
Practical advice and inspiration to help creatives embrace imperfection, overcome doubt, and grow with purpose.
In 2022, I embarked on a journey to uncover my passion.
The plan? Dedicate each month to exploring a new skill. From January to December, I dipped my toes into a variety of pursuits—learning to play the piano, mixing cocktails as a wannabe bartender, and even attempting to improve my singing (spoiler: I’m still an awful singer). But everything changed in August when I picked up a camera for the very first time.
That decision, made seemingly on a whim, would go on to shape my creative path in ways I never anticipated.
A Colorado Memory: The First Clicks of the Shutter
Just two weeks after I started my photography journey, I visited my friend Aly in Colorado. Fast forward two years later, and a text from her brought back a flood of memories. She had sent me an iPhone-generated memory video—a montage of clips and photos from our trip. What made it even more special was that many of the images featured in that video were taken with my first-ever camera.
Watching that video transported me back to those early days of experimentation. I wasn’t a pro. In fact, I barely knew how to focus a camera. Yet, as I watched those moments unfold on the screen, I realized something powerful: even in those imperfect beginnings, I had created something beautiful.
After the video ended, Aly sent me another message. She wrote, “This just popped up on my phone, and I just wanted to say, you’ve come a long way since you didn’t know how to focus a camera.”
Her words made me smile. They also carried a profound truth: growth happens when we embrace our imperfections and keep showing up.
Actions to Inspire Your Creative Journey
If you’re a creative searching for inspiration or battling self-doubt, here are actionable steps to help you embrace your process and find purpose in the journey:
1. Start Where You Are
You don’t need fancy tools or a perfect plan. Begin with what you have and focus on creating. The simple act of starting is the most powerful thing you can do.
2. Let Go of Perfection
Imperfection isn’t the enemy—it’s part of the process. Some of your most meaningful work will come from moments when things don’t go as planned.
3. Focus on Progress, Not Comparison
Your creative journey is yours alone. Look back at your growth instead of comparing yourself to others. Celebrate how far you’ve come.
4. Tell Stories That Matter to You
Creativity is about connection. Whether you’re telling a story through photos, words, or music, focus on what moves you. Your passion will resonate with others.
5. Reflect and Reset
Take time to reflect on what you’ve created and what you’ve learned. Use those insights to refine your path forward.
The Beauty of the Creative Journey
As I look back on that trip to Colorado and the first photos I ever took, I’m reminded of a simple truth:
You don’t have to be perfect to create something meaningful.
Whether you’re a photographer, a writer, a musician, or any other type of creative, the journey itself holds the magic. Every photo, word, or note is a step forward—and every step is worth celebrating.