Reflections on The Artist’s Way

When life feels heavy, keep creating.

It’s wild how the hardest part of a creative journey isn’t necessarily the big declarations or the grand plans - it’s the small, quiet moments. The ones where life is still heavy, dishes pile up, and deadlines loom, but you still choose to show up for yourself. That’s been the heartbeat of my time following the book ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron.

For those unfamiliar, The Artist’s Way is a 12-week programme designed to help creatives unblock and rediscover their artistic selves through two key practices: Morning Pages and Artist Dates. Morning Pages are three handwritten, stream-of-consciousness pages done every morning. An unfiltered brain dump that clears the mind and silences the inner critic. It’s not meant to be polished or even interesting, just honest.

The Artist Date, on the other hand, is a weekly solo outing designed to spark joy, curiosity, and play. It can be anything that nurtures the inner artist: a walk, a visit to a gallery, or even something simple like colouring. The programme also includes other weekly tasks, from decluttering your space to writing letters you’ll never send, all aimed at challenging self-limiting beliefs and nurturing creativity.

There were mornings when I wrote things in my pages like “I feel useless. I feel like a failure.” Other times it was just: “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m still here.” These weren’t always profound insights; they were confessions, frustrations, and desperate attempts to stay present.

But they were mine. And they were real.

Grapevine.earth is where I documented this journey. It is a space for creative reflections that often go unexplored or unplatformed. Like the pages of an artist’s sketchbook, filled with raw ideas, references, and introspection that rarely see the light of day. It’s become a space where different creatives can share their reflections on ‘The Artist’s Way’, a tradition that started when my friend and fellow creative, Larissa Fantini, first took it on before passing the torch to me.

It took me a year to finish the programme, not because I didn’t care or wasn’t committed, but because I spent a lot of time expecting some massive, transformative change to happen. Life kept life-ing: money worries, work struggles, personal setbacks, and the grind of just existing. I held back because I felt like I couldn’t share a big win. But that’s when it clicked: it’s the small moments of creativity that matter. Those pockets of joy and expression in the midst of chaos are the real magic. 

There were days I sobbed while writing, not knowing what would come next, but knowing I had to do something. Some mornings I wrote “I don’t want to exist today.” Other times it was just “I want to feel proud again.” I didn’t always feel better afterward, but I felt seen by myself more than ever before. Ironically, it was in those moments when I was closest to giving up on my creativity that I felt the lowest. Realising that creating was never about perfection or validation. It was about holding onto something that mattered, even when life was messy.

Morning Pages became a lifeline. A raw, messy, three-page purge of doubt, excitement, grief, and joy. A place where I could let my inner critic rage, talk myself down from panic spirals, and celebrate tiny wins. Sometimes, those Morning Pages weren’t three handwritten pages at all. They became a sentence, a sketch, or even a video check-in when my hand felt too weak to write.

Those pages taught me that creativity isn’t about perfection or inspiration. It’s about letting myself be messy and honest, even when I’m scared. It’s about persistence.

It felt like sitting across from myself at the kitchen table and saying, “This is what’s real today.” There was no audience, no judgment… just honesty.

Similarly, Artist Dates - those weekly solo adventures - didn’t always look how I thought they would either. Sometimes they were just showing up to the gym, or an hour to myself at home. Other times, they were indulgent: a walk through a gallery or buying myself something I couldn’t quite justify. I learned that I deserve moments of delight, even when life feels heavy, or money feels scarce. But even with all the practices in place, life didn’t magically lighten up: dishes piled up, financial pressures mounted, and self-doubt lingered as I continued feeling I wasn’t where I wanted to be. What changed, was my resolve. Creativity stopped being a luxury and became a necessity. Something to hold onto when everything else felt shaky. Choosing to keep going, even when it’s hard.

So, take it from me: If you’re struggling with your creativity or self doubt, don’t wait for the perfect moment or for life to make space for you, because it rarely does. Start small. Let the tiniest acts of creativity count: a doodle, a voice memo, a list of words that spark something. Consistency matters more than intensity. The creative path isn’t about sudden breakthroughs but gentle persistence. Some days it will feel pointless, but those are the days that matter most. The Artist’s Way taught me that showing up for yourself is an act of rebellion against self-doubt, and over time, the tiny acts of creation become the foundation of something bigger. Trust that process. Believe you can. Even when you can’t see it working, it’s working. Trust that it is. 

Thank you to dWeller for holding space for these reflections and being a beacon for creatives navigating the beautiful chaos of creating. Here’s to staying curious, committed, and creative, no matter what life throws our way.

My name is Olivia Abando. I’m a curator, creative consultant, and events producer based in London, running platforms like @grapevine.earth, @inters.p.ect, and @community.curates, while also working on various freelance projects. The initial piece I shared on dWeller, titled ‘Curation & Creativity as Care’, was a reflection of my practice but was also written as I was completing the final phase of ‘The Artist’s Way’, where a lot of reflections and realisations surfaced.

Article written by Olivia Abando @abando.baby

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