12 Lessons in Creating
I’ve learned these through falling on my face, dusting off, trying again—and more than a few moments of “What am I even doing?” They’re not rules, but reminders I return to when I feel stuck, uninspired, or overwhelmed. Your path will have its own lessons, but maybe some of these will help you skip a few wrong turns… or at least remind you you’re not alone when you hit them.
Here are 12 lessons that have stayed with me—ones that might just bring a little more clarity, joy, and freedom to your own creative work.
1. Joy Is My Compass
I occasionally watch MasterClass, listening to a variety of creative people across different fields. They all shared the same message, over and over: find joy in your work—love what you do.
For a long time, I resisted that idea. Joy felt irresponsible. I thought I had to be serious, build a proper business, make money, and act like an adult. Joy was something for children, not for grown-ups with goals.
The strange part is that I heard this message many times, but I didn’t truly let it in. Not until Maciej, my husband, asked me, “Do you really need a reason to feel joy?” Then he said, “Here’s your reason: spreading joy matters. It’s important—for everyone. Creating with joy isn’t selfish. Loving your work isn’t childish. When you make something with joy and share it, people feel it. If they create from that same place, and then give their creations to someone else, they spread that feeling even further.”
That landed. Finally.
I realized that creating with joy is essential. It’s not something to justify. It’s the right way to do the work.
Since then, I’ve started paying attention. When joy is present, the whole process shifts. And I’ve also noticed: if an idea excites you but the process makes you miserable, it probably won’t work. I’m not saying everything should be easy—especially when learning something new—but there shouldn’t be pain, stress, or resentment. But I won’t pretend it’s always easy.
I’ve come to recognize the inner critic, the fear. It still shows up now and then, just not as often. When it does, I’ve learned to either step away for a while, have a quiet word with it, and let it pass.
2. Go at Your Own Pace
This one took time to learn: I don’t need to move quickly to grow. Some things take longer, and that doesn’t mean I’m failing or falling behind.
There’s so much pressure to rush, to be productive, to figure everything out now. But real growth often happens quietly, slowly, and in ways that aren’t visible from the outside.
I’ve stopped comparing my pace to anyone else’s. One person’s ‘best’ might be launching five new things in a week. Mine might sit with one idea for a few days until it feels right. Both are valid.
Progress isn’t always loud or fast. Sometimes, it’s just showing up, staying curious, and trusting that your timing is right for you.
I’m learning to be okay with that.
Some lessons will take longer to learn than others, and we all should learn at our own pace. People will understand that or leave (your followers, for example); we have no control over it. But, I guess people who left were never meant to be with you anyway, so don’t worry.
Just do your best and try not to compare yourself to anybody or judge anybody. You are on your path, they are on theirs. Walk it the best you can for your growth.
We will figure this one out eventually.
3. Remember Your Mission, Goal, and Purpose
When doubt creeps in, come back to why you do what you do. You’re not here by accident. You create because you’re called to—because something inside you knows it matters. The world needs your uniqueness, your vision, your voice, and your creativity.
But it’s easy to lose that clarity. Fear gets loud. The mind gets noisy. And tools like Instagram—well, they can be both a gift and a trap.
For a while, I was stuck in the trap. Reading about algorithms, chasing trends, and obsessing over what to post and when. Trying to ‘do it right.’ But that made me a servant to the platform, not a creator in charge of her path.
Now, I’m shifting.
Being the master means showing up with intention. It means posting when you have something to say, not just to stay visible. It means creating from purpose, not panic. And letting go of filler projects just to fill a feed.
So: plan slowly. Share with heart. Stay aligned with what you came here to do. Don’t follow trends. Don’t follow fear. Follow your truth.
4. Make Every Project the Best You Can
It sounds obvious, right? In theory, yes. In practice? Not always.
Why? Because fear sneaks in—with the most absurd, twisted logic—and somehow, I keep falling for it. :)
Let me give you a few examples. You might laugh (or cringe) when you hear this familiar, sarcastic inner voice whispering things like:
Is this really the best you can do? Is it even good?
To make it great, you'll need way more time than you have.
Nobody else would spend this much time on one project.
If it's too perfect, it'll become too complicated.
If the tutorial is too complex, people will complain.
If this turns out great, you'll have to top it next time—can you even do that?
That’s fear of failure and fear of success, with a side of ‘not enough time’ and a big spoonful of ‘not good enough.’ A perfect little poison—and yes, I’ve swallowed it more than once. Enough times, in fact, that I had to check myself into creative ‘rehab.’ :)
Now? I’m still learning, but I try to give each project the time and care it deserves. I aim to make it the best I can right now—knowing full well that future me might see ways to improve. That’s growth, not failure.
Let’s not drink that old poison again.
5. When Everything Fails, Wait
Creative work—and life—doesn’t move in a straight line. It’s more like a spiral. Sometimes we circle back to the same problem or mistake, over and over… until we don’t. That’s how learning works. So there’s no need to beat yourself up. Judging yourself won’t help.
It’s funny how often something feels like a mistake, only to reveal itself later as a necessary lesson. One, we had to repeat until it finally stuck.
This shows up in our personal lives, but also in creative work. A launch that flops. A design that goes nowhere. A project that gets scrapped. We call it failure, but most of the time, it’s just a process. It’s part of the path—even if it’s frustrating, exhausting, or unclear.
Whatever you’re struggling with—be it creative burnout, self-doubt, a block in your process, or something more personal—what helps is having a grounding practice.
Find what fits you. Maybe it’s journaling, walking in silence, breathwork, lighting a candle, and doing nothing for five minutes. Don’t force yourself into someone else’s ritual. Try different things and see what feels like home.
And in the meantime, breathe. Let the chaos pass through. No storm lasts forever.
6. Learn from All Kinds of People—Then Step Away
Learn from artists, writers, gardeners, musicians, shamans, explorers, chefs, monks, witches, game designers, filmmakers, scientists, innovators, toy makers, warriors, leaders, and magicians. Inspiration is everywhere—across disciplines, cultures, and timelines.
I do most of my learning online. Platforms like Domestika, YouTube, Instagram, CreativeBug, and Pinterest have been amazing sources for classes and ideas. But here’s the thing: at some point, you have to step away.
Unless I’m researching or seeking specific inspiration, I try to limit my time online. Why? Because when I’m not watching what everyone else is doing, I can actually hear my own creative voice. My imagination flies higher. I care less about trends and more about what I feel called to make.
When I’m too tuned in to what’s ‘hot,’ I start following instead of leading. And I waste time scrolling instead of creating.
So yes—learn everything you can. Stay curious. But don’t forget to unplug. The best ideas often come when your hands are moving and your mind is quiet.
7. Don’t Block Your Creative Freedom
Once, I planned to create tutorials for toys and decorations, focusing on seasonal and holiday themes. I had many ideas at first, but over time, I felt anxious and uninspired. Creating for holidays is stressful and time-pressured if you don’t start soon enough. Sure, I could make Xmas projects anytime, but if a tutorial for December had to be ready by November, what would I post in July? Add IG posting pressure and poor work organization, and I became a prisoner of my own rules.
Eventually, I hit the wall—depression and anxiety left me with no reason to create. I took a break to figure things out. One thing was clear: I still wanted to create, but I needed to understand what and why.
After I looked deeper, a few questions came to the surface.
Do I really want to make holiday projects?
Why does Instagram have such power over me?
Do I need to organize my work and time better?
What do I truly want to create?
Did I hit the wall because I am trying to make stuff I don't care about?
Is the reason I have no good ideas because I am afraid to face who I really am?
Does fear make decisions for me? What am I afraid of?
The first step was to be brutally honest and ask as many questions as possible, and then answer these questions with more questions until I could see clearly what was going on. The next step was to move slowly and calmly wherever my intuition guided me.
It is a very good reason why something is going wrong. The universe is trying to tell me something. I just have to listen.
It doesn't mean I will never make stuff for holidays. I probably will, but only if I enjoy it, and never when I feel forced to do it often by myself.
8. If It’s Your Calling, It Will Keep Calling
When you doubt whether something you want to create is truly for you to make, notice how often it comes back into your life again and again. Even if you set it aside because you’re tired, out of ideas, or feeling low, it somehow sneaks back in.
Notice how subconsciously you are still being pulled to it. You keep choosing movies or books related to this subject. You start sketching without thinking. A random idea pops into your head while you’re doing something else.
If it’s still on your mind after days or weeks, it’s probably your calling. If yes, then this is for you and will not leave you alone. Probably ever! A true calling is like a loyal shadow—you can ignore it for a while, but it never really leaves. It’s part of who you are.
9. There Are No Rules
I’ve learned not to take any rule as absolute truth—no matter who it comes from. Parents, grandparents, a mentor, a spouse, a friend, society, or an algorithm—filter it all.
Ask yourself: Does this actually work for me?
It’s okay to abandon a project that’s going nowhere. It’s okay to post only when you have something meaningful to share, instead of filling your feed with junk just to tick the ‘daily post’ box. And it’s definitely okay to ignore advice from people who are acting out of fear and dressing it up as wisdom, no matter who they are.
Trust yourself. You know what’s right for you. But to make sure you’re not running on autopilot, keep asking: Am I acting out of fear? If the answer is yes, that’s fine—you don’t have to change anything instantly. Awareness is a powerful first step.
10. Learn from Mistakes—Don’t Give Up
No matter how many times you tell yourself:
‘For the next project, I will be better organized, I will write so I can read my writing, and I will spend more time on the initial idea before jumping into it.’
And then you don't do any of it. You just jump into it, and it doesn’t turn out great, or even decent. It's OK, don't give up. Never give up! Try again. You will get it eventually. Just don't give up.
I used to make the creative process harder than it needed to be—no wonder I couldn’t enjoy it. Now, I keep a list of reminders to read before I start a new project for a tutorial. Well, at least I try… ;)
Spend more time with the idea in your head first—close your eyes, imagine, tweak, and refine. Time spent here is never wasted.
Keep sketching or doodling until you love it. Check again the next day to be sure you still love it.
Make samples and test before starting the real project.
Keep notes for the tutorial organized, clear, detailed, and readable. So, when you come back to it later, you know where you are.
Take plenty of process photos—it’s better to delete extras than redo the project because you missed a key shot for the photo tutorial.
Stay focused—carelessness costs time and energy. Double-check everything (especially when writing a crochet pattern).
Love, or at least like, the process. Never hate it.
If you sense it’s not going to turn out the way you want—no matter what stage you’re in—set it aside. Come back to it when you’re ready, maybe after sharpening a few skills.
Don’t rush the creative process.
Even if you promise yourself, ‘Next time I’ll be more organized,’ and then fall into the same habits, it’s okay. Just try again. You’ll get there eventually. The key is simple: NEVER GIVE UP.
11. You’re Going to Suck at First
I face this every time I learn a new skill or technique. I don’t publish as many projects as I’d like because I often need to learn something new before I can make a tutorial. And yes—I’m bad at it at first. Then I start stressing about time.
The thought creeps in: If I don’t do something new fast, people will stop following me. Anxiety grows, and the pressure slows me down even more. When that happens, I have to step back, go outside, make tea, breathe, and remind myself to see the bigger picture.
It didn’t bother me when I was terrible at crochet the first time I tried it as a hobby. But when it’s my work, it feels different. Still, there’s no shortcut. You have to go through it. Just be prepared for it and remember how long it took you to learn the last new skill—and how much easier it turned out to be than your stressed-out brain imagined.
All you need is practice, patience, and not to give up.
12. Get to Know the True You
I started by listing my strengths, weaknesses, fears, beliefs, hopes, and values—everything that makes me me. Then I asked, ‘Which of these aren’t mine?’
For example, I grew up absorbing society’s habit of judging people. It became an automatic reaction. But when I looked deeper, I realized that if I were given a choice to be judgmental or not, I would not choose it willingly. Therefore, this is not me. Becoming aware of that is instant, but unlearning it is a process.
Knowing myself to the core, even when it hurt, changed how I create. My work is me, after all. Pretending to be someone else? That was my reality for too long.
One of the old beliefs I ditched was: ‘If I start as a crochet designer, I have to stick to crochet forever.’ I still love crochet, but I also love mixing media. Fear of losing crochet-only followers led to even worse beliefs: I’m inconsistent… I’ll never achieve anything—total nonsense.
Now I know: if I don’t love my work, neither will anyone else. What matters is that the project is creative, engaging, fun, and reasonably easy to make—technique and materials are secondary. Switching mediums or styles is fine. Doing something simple one day and complex the next is fine. You are all of it. Embrace it. Please don't kill it. You need to go through this process to find your thing. And it's not going to happen overnight.
I practice shamanic journeying, and once, while feeling lost about what to create, I asked a spirit teacher for guidance. Their advice was simple: ‘Create from the heart and share it. What happens next is out of your control—don’t worry about it.’
. . . . .
The year’s end is a perfect time to check your creative compass. Are you creating from joy? From curiosity? From truth? If not, there’s no need for drastic resolutions. Just start small. One project, one day, one step at a time—led by joy, not pressure.
Here’s to a creative year ahead.
“Your playing small does not serve the world.”
