Off the Beaten Path
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
— The Way
I grew up in a place where the other shoe was always ready to drop. It was best to keep your head down and wait for the inevitable fallout. Questioning things wasn’t an option—you just stayed quiet and figured it out as you went. This “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” approach often left me feeling one step behind. Over time, I started to believe that everyone else knew what they were doing, and I had missed some crucial lesson along the way. I share this, not as a sob story, but to give context for both my general approach to life and my creative work.
So, when my friends talked about “finding their voice,” I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something. But I’ve learned that’s not how it works. Finding your voice isn’t a lightbulb moment. It’s a slow, gradual process—making mistakes, fumbling through uncertainty, pretending you know what you’re doing until you finally discover what really resonates with you—and then you stop pretending.
The Value of Doing
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
— Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
I used to think I needed everything figured out before I could start creating. But the more I tried to map it out, the more I got tangled in my own thoughts. Trying to define my voice before I even started only made things more complicated. You don’t get clarity by overthinking. You get it by doing. So, I trust that the answers will come as I go, and I just keep making.
You can’t wait for the perfect moment to begin. You learn as you go. The path only becomes clear when you take that first step, not when you plan it all out.
Reclaiming Your Voice
“We are who we choose to be.”
— The Iron Giant
My creative voice didn’t disappear—it got buried under doubt and expectations. Rediscovering it wasn’t a dramatic “Aha!” moment; it felt more like finding my way back after straying from the path. That sense of relief—of reconnecting with something familiar—became more important than any grand revelation. It wasn’t about uncovering something new but about shaking off the rust and returning to what I love about the process.
Even with that, there’s still a hint of fear. Part of me wants to test the waters, do just enough to say I tried, and walk away if it doesn’t feel right. But rediscovering my voice isn’t about having a perfect vision—it’s about taking the next step, and giving myself the space to explore, even if I don’t know where it’s headed,
Happy Accidents
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”
— Dead Poets Society
Here’s something no one tells you about “trusting the process”: it means you have to embrace failure. When I tried to control every little detail, the process was frustrating. I’d overthink everything and feel like I was spinning my wheels. But when I started to let go—the detours, the missteps, the moments when I thought I was totally lost—I tend to discover the good stuff shows up.
Inspiration in the Everyday
“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”
— Raiders of the Lost Ark
Inspiration comes from everywhere — scary things, funny things, joyful things, music I play on repeat, and snippets of random conversations, and the filmmakers I admire — the Coens, David Lynch, Jeunet & Caro. I watch films and try to absorb what resonates with me — not copying them but about letting what moves me mix with my own experiences. When I trust my gut and bring in those quirky, personal pieces, the work feels right.
Create What You Know
“Don’t think. Feel.”
— Enter the Dragon
At the beginning, it’s easy to overthink every decision, second-guess yourself, and try to mold your ideas to resonate with others. I’ve been there, and the harder I pushed, the further I felt from why I started creating. It’s frustrating.
But I’ve realized that the moments when I feel most alive creatively have nothing to do with other’s expectations. They happen when I lean what excites me — the stories I can’t stop thinking about, the ideas that won’t let go. Those are the ideas drive me into a project.
Focusing on those stories is helping me reconnect with my voice. It’s about exploring what matters to me, even if it’s imperfect. By staying true to what feels real, I’ve found the work resonates in a way that feels authentically me.
The Road Ahead
“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.”
— The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
If you’re just starting out—or even if you’ve been at it a while and feel stuck—you’re not alone. The path isn’t straight, and that’s okay. It’s full of twists, turns, and moments of uncertainty.
If you’re feeling lost, take the next step, no matter how small. Embrace what excites you, make mistakes, and trust that things will come together over time. And then keep moving forward, even when you’re unsure.
That’s how I’m finding my voice. I’d love to hear your experience and where you are on your creative journey—drop a comment or share your thoughts!