For most of my life, I’ve been told, directly and indirectly, that results are what matter. That achievements are the proof of effort. And honestly, my inner critic has adopted that mindset too. It whispers that if there’s no clear outcome, then maybe the work wasn’t worth doing. That voice has stops me before I’ve even start more times than I’d like to admit.

But I’ve been learning to shift my focus. Instead of obsessing over whether something will be “successful,” I’m trying to stay rooted in the process itself. The act of trying, experimenting, and exploring is where the joy actually lives. That’s where I feel most alive.

As a multipotentialite, I chase a lot of ideas. I light up when I follow my curiosity down a new path. That surge of energy? That’s dopamine. It’s real. And it’s part of what makes this path so rewarding. But it also means I’ve had to make peace with not always finishing things, or not knowing exactly where they’re going.

What’s helping is this idea of “inside-out creativity.” It’s about making things because it feels good to make them. Not because someone else will like it. Not because it’ll go viral on Instagram. Just because it nourishes me. Even 20 minutes a day doing journaling, doodling, or making a mess keeps me grounded.

There’s something really freeing in letting go of the need to justify every rabbit hole. Every experiment doesn’t need to become a masterpiece. What matters is being curious and giving myself permission to explore.

So here’s what I remind myself: focus on the doing. Trust the process. Let the joy of creating be the reward.