When the Creative Path Offers You Lemons 🍋
A Few Zen Practices Can Transform Them Into Lemonade
It can feel overwhelming
I know this firsthand. When I opened my first online business, I had a difficult time transitioning from a regular job to one where I didn’t have a boss.
The sudden open schedule and lack of structure… at first, it felt like freedom. Then it felt like quicksand, but without the proverbial vine to grab onto. (In Hollywood movies, there’s always a vine nearby, right? 🤷🏼♂️)
Being a creator is far preferable to working a 9-to-5 job in many ways.
Still, it has its share of things to get used to, such as uncertain pay schedules, a general lack of engagement from readers who remain silent, and frustration of launching a product or service your audience asked for but then didn’t buy. 🤯
It’s enough to skyrocket your blood pressure and stress levels through the roof.
That’s what happened to me
In the chaos that followed, I found myself taking five prescription drugs for hypertension and another for anxiety. And yet, I still found myself actively searching for clarity and calm.
The prescriptions were helping my body, but my mind was turning over worst-case scenarios at a frightening pace.
It was as if nothing made sense anymore.
My health was improving, but my sanity was questionable. My creativity tanked, and my creative drive fizzled.
I was on the fast track to solopreneurial burnout.
Something had to change
I’d read some Zen books a few years prior, but I never took them that seriously.
That’s when I realized something…and it got my attention:
I’d never seen a stressed-out monk.
I recalled that the Zen monks I’d read about and those I’d met weren’t on the edge of a breakdown like I was.
Instead, they observed meditation, mindfulness, kindness, and other Zen practices.
Did this mean I had to become a Zen monk?
No, but I did start practicing spending time in solitude and simplicity as a starting point.
I started each day with a cup of coffee and a walk, without my earbuds and without listening to the input of others.
Sometimes, after the walk, I’d sit in a chair and quietly allow my thoughts to slow.
I also simplified my daily routines and workflows to their most basic forms.
I limited my to-do list to three items per day.
With these simple practices, I soon began letting go of the overwhelm, experiencing less bodily stress and fewer periods of racing thoughts.
Years later, when a relationship crisis arose…
I had a proven path to help me get back to my calm center.
By then, I’d incorporated five daily practices, and without fail, they were still accessible.
Studying with teachers
Having left the religious tradition of my ancestry long ago, I’ve always remained open to non-theistic communities — ones that relied on experiential truth rather than religious dogma.
Soto Zen (a Japanese Zen path) seemed the right one for me, and I formally embraced the practices, taking vows as a lay Buddhist follower.
I’ve practiced Zen for nearly 10 years, trained as a meditation teacher and coach, and written about my experiences in two mini-books.
I’m now sharing what worked for me with other creators. You can follow along by subscribing below.
To sweeten the deal, I have a gift for you…
🎧 Two 5-minute guided audio meditations (mp3 files).
🎧 One for the morning and one for the evening.
🎧 You don’t need any prior experience; I explain everything in the recordings.
