The Emotional Cost of Caring Deeply About Your Work

The profound emotional impact is a core element of creative media, even though the creator's journey remains unexplored. Although it might not be massive or all-encompassing, it may culminate in a series of smaller moments.

You're going to second-guess. You're going to put out vulnerable parts of yourself. Your mood affects your work, and loving your work comes with a large emotional weight.

As an author, amateur digital artist, and lover of creating, here is what I've learned about the cost (and why it's worth paying).

You staple pieces of yourself to your work

Caring deeply about your work turns it into something more than a project. It's personal. To write, your words, hopes, fears, and instincts are apparent on the page.

It makes receiving feedback that much harder. Rejection and silence are intensified, but that doesn't mean you should avoid criticism. The work is a piece of your soul, and it reflects your inner self. You may feel like people are judging you when they judge your work. I relate to this heavily when I write poetry, knowing not everyone will understand or enjoy my words.

You're never off the clock

Maybe every author experiences this, but my plot and poetry constantly accompany me. I spend a significant part of my day trying to remember a line of poetry I thought to myself in the shower, or playing out a scene between two characters. I'm always thinking of what I could work on, and my imagination is endless.

There is no world where I am not in a constant state of thought. It can be beautiful when everything fits together, but that's a perfect scenario. Most days, my passion feels more like pressure to perform and crank out more content.

You measure your worth by your work

This is the deadliest part of being so attached to your art.

It's too easy to sink into imposter syndrome. You may feel like your work is a mirror reflecting all your faults, and you just can't help analyzing each detail. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than anyone else. You feel invincible on productive days, but on days when you are unproductive, the lack of accomplishment lingers. The genuine challenge lies in understanding that your value isn't dependent on how much you produce.

Your work reflects your efforts and growth, not your value.

You keep going back to it

Because your work brings value to the world. The value of your creation increases when you pour your heart into it. The ability to connect with another person is what I believe gives the work its true meaning.

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Your work will ask a lot of you. You'll need a resilient spirit, a soft heart, a hardened resolve, and courageous actions. It will stretch you into uncomfortable shapes, but in the end, you'll feel the sweet release of accomplishment and know the cost was worth it.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you have a lovely Saturday <3