Workaholicism and Writing

Unaliving Your Darlings Shouldn't include Unaliving Your Creativity

Welcome back again, lovelies! I hope you’re taking care of you.

Where has July gone?

I feel like I was saying something similar about a month ago, when we switched from the second quarter of this year to the third… well, looking back on the last few weeks made me wonder, “Am I working away my hours just to say, wow, look at the time pass as quickly as it is?”

Since losing my full-time teaching position in April 2023 due to lack of funding on their part, I’ve become rather aware of how much time I spent working. Not just for pay. Not just as a teacher. I mean in general, between the house WORK, and the WORK I do for my business.

No one else might be taking those things seriously, but the energy investments we all make into our art, our business, our lives, and more transforms a great deal of energy from one thing to another.

From point A to point DONE.

And that was when I realized, “I’m done. Done being a workaholic.”

That’s right.

I’m addicted to working.

There.

I admit it. Own it.

What am I not, though? A machine. I am never. Ever a robot or a machine. I’ve been a human doing instead of a human being. That’s a different cog in a much more fleshy, mushy, feely-feels machine full of burnout and perfection poisons I’m not sampling anymore in such large quantities.

When I looked back at the amazing things I’ve created in the last month, including a solid foundation to Soul Bard Academy, I see all of the stress and epic work starting to pay off. However, the energy investment is what I should be focusing on in that statement. We’re guided to focus on the work to the point we forget we are humans.

I’m learning to slow down. To celebrate the wins. To reflect through my work so that my writing doesn’t become dry. Doesn’t become lost in the humdrum of many things I do for myself and others as an author.

I hope you’re finding more time and inventing reasons to stop the addiction to proving your worth through work as much as I am.

You’ve been worth it all along.

Anyone who convinced you otherwise is a liar—and you don’t need to carry their baggage. Their words. Their self-deflection. Not anymore.

If you’re feeling like your creativity, whether it be writing or more, is taking a hit—maybe because you’re working too hard? Enjoy the extra self-care and soul-care.

You’ve been worth it all along.

ONE DAY until Soul Bard Academy launches again! The first episode will be out this coming Tuesday, August 1 @ 5 pm Eastern for watching live or on the replay.

What IS Soul Bard Academy? The aim of these courses is to help writers with what they feel their traditional education did not prepare them for, what they feel has changed since their last writerly class on __ topic, and more. As a writing coach and editor ... making some courses on the things I share most in our meetings seemed the right way to go! Consider joining us? Check the bio link for your portal hop to YOUTUBE for more information!

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Take care of yourself! I know you’re worth it.

Sincerly,

Jenna O’Malley

~Your Soul Writer