Finding My Way Back to Joy: A Journey to Creative Renewal

Nobody told this kid that one day…All of the heart. All of the grit. And all of the talent…Wouldn’t be enough.

My name is Freddy, a multidisciplinary creative, and I’m here to share my journey of how I found my way out of burnout.

“Nobody told this kid that one day…

All of the heart. All of the grit. And all of the talent…

Wouldn’t be enough.”

My Story

I grew up with a natural wiring toward solving problems—it’s probably why I picked up a wide range of hobbies and skills over the years. I loved a good challenge. Throughout college, I fell in love with film, photography, and music. I spent much of my time writing my own music, leading worship, and learning the ins and outs of a camera.

Throughout college, I fell in love with film, photography, and music. I spent much of my time writing my own music, leading worship, and learning the ins and outs of a camera.

All of this paved way for me to become a multidisciplinary creative professional, spending the last decade serving in creative roles in various industries–from creative direction, live production, video/photo, music/audio, and design. I’m grateful for everything I’ve been able to create and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

The Problem

But three years ago, I lost a dream that I had been carrying since I was 14. It was devastating. I realized then that you could have all of the heart, all of the grit, and all of the talent… and it still might not be enough to get you what you hoped for.

Here’s what I really mean:

I created work I was proud of, but I was still burned out.
I poured so much into my work, but I was still undervalued.
I could make beautiful things, but I couldn’t get my finances in order.
I could sign on great clients, but I couldn’t deliver on my promises.
I always felt tired and stuck.
I didn’t feel like I had a voice.
I wasn’t being a good husband, dad, or friend.
I felt so disconnected from my relationship with God.
I completely lost the joy in creating.

I completely lost the joy in creating.

A Leap of Faith

So… I made a change.

In March of 2024, I took a leap of faith. I left an agency job to run my little side-hustle design business full-time. Slowly but surely, I began to get a handle on running a business (and I’m still learning).

More importantly, I was able to reconnect with my first love—songwriting. I created new rhythms for myself and started the process of recovering, healing, and repairing from the burnout and hurt I had been carrying for years. I became more available for my family and friends.

But something else happened, too. I realized there was a gaping hole in the creative industry:

There is not enough care for creatives.

The Dark Side of The Creative Industry

Being a creative can seem fun and glamorous, but there is a dark side to this industry:

• Creatives are often treated like machines, rewarded mostly for their daily, monthly, and yearly output.

• There are endless fulfilling last-minute requests, extra hours, and tight deadlines.

• The industry is full of tasks, timelines, turnover, and toxicity.

• While there are plenty of visually pleasing, beautiful projects, there isn’t enough care for the heart, mind, body, and soul of the creative.

A New Mission

This realization set me on a new mission: to bring care to creatives who feel stuck, tired, and burned out. This was born out of the journey I’ve been on the past few years.

I believe it’s possible for creatives to:

• Live a full and purpose-filled creative life.

• Prioritize rest over hustle.

• Build rhythms that sustain both our creativity and well-being.

I want to help creatives experience rest and renewal–ultimately rediscovering the joy in creating.

The Invitation

Join me on this journey of finding creative renewal. Together, we can create a healthier, more sustainable future for creatives.

Follow along for more thoughts, resources, and stories about how we can heal, recover, and move forward as creatives.