Magic Of Yes - Power of No

The Magic of Yes and the Power of No (Part One)

As a creative-aholic, I’m absolutely transfixed by the magic of saying yes to a new project. But after years of mining the creative landscape, I’ve learned that there’s just as much power in saying no.

The “Yes” Mindset for Growth

Saying yes can open doors to unexpected opportunities and creative breakthroughs. For example, I hesitated before saying yes to an NFT project, and now I’m in talks with game developers about turning my characters into a mobile game. It’s an ambitious project, full of unknowns. A big part of me wants to run in the opposite direction, but my gut is telling me to embrace the uncertainty. Sometimes, we need to lean into the things we fear the most.

I’ll be sharing more about this project soon, and I know some of you will offer sound advice while others will be in my cheering squad. So yes, I said yes to this gaming, animation, NFT adventure—but let’s not forget about the art of no.

The Art of the “No” – Protecting Creative Energy

So, an offer lands in your lap. You examine it from every angle, but something feels off. Does it align with your creative vision? Your values? If you hesitate, the answer is probably no. Saying no doesn’t just protect your time, it can help you grow personally and creatively. Mastering the art of no is tricky, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that it actually strengthens the power of yes.

Yes to Collaboration; No to Compromising Vision

As creatives, we all know that innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Creativity thrives in collaboration. But how do you say yes to new ideas that push the boundaries of your vision without diluting it?

For me, it’s a delicate balance. I’m all for pushing boundaries, but I often find that others want to reel my ideas back into a safe zone. The key is evaluating those boundaries—are they guiding, oppressive, or just plain clueless? These moments will teach you a lot about your collaborators, and help you make tough, necessary decisions. Don’t shy away from the process; it might just broaden, tighten, and clarify your vision in ways you never expected

.

Pro-tip: Seek balance.

Yes to Learning and Experimentation, No to Overcommitment

Right now, I’m in a creative shit-storm. I’ve got a book about to launch, a producer flying into NYC to see my immersive play, a film in the hands of a director, and I’m hustling to find gig work just to stay afloat. Why? Because I couldn’t say no? Nope, it’s because sometimes life just happens all at once—and sometimes, nothing happens at all. The trick is balancing it all without losing your mind.

Today, I said no to a play I really wanted to see, a networking event I probably should’ve gone to, my workout (my lifeline!), and, well... my sanity. Am I learning about the power of yes? Absolutely. But sometimes you need to step back and look at your projects through a long lens, so you don’t end up overcommitting without even realizing it.

Boundaries as a Form of Self-Respect

Have you ever looked in the mirror and not liked what you saw? Maybe the extra hours at your computer are catching up with you, or the late nights have gotten the best of you. If that’s the case, saying no means you’re actually saying yes—yes to self-respect, self-care, and self-love. These things are mandatory, especially for creatives. Your inner life mirrors your outer life, and if you throw in the towel, you’re done for. Learn when saying no is really saying yes to you.

I could go on, but I’m aware of the power of no. So, we’ll revisit this topic in Part 2.

Now, take a deep breath… and breathe out.

How to Master the Creative Itch

Warning: This post may cause an uncontrollable desire to create (but you probably knew that already).

If you're a fellow create-aholic like me, you've probably experienced the infamous creative itch. It hits you out of nowhere, all-consuming, like a spark that could either light a fire or burn you out. Today, I'm diving into mastering that itch before it takes over your entire life (because, trust me, it will if you let it).

I want to start by saying this: my projects are my babies—literally the only reason I can juggle so many at once without losing my mind. But I get it; not everyone's life looks like that. So take what works for you and leave the rest. Whatever you do, don't give up. I say this as much for you as I do for myself because I've been there—many times—wondering if I should throw in the towel. But I also know that if you're one foot in and one foot out of your creativity, it will drive you insane. Accept it. That internal conflict is always there. It's how you deal with it that matters.

Let's jump into mastering the creative itch!

What is the Creative Itch?

For me, the creative itch is that all-consuming sensation that hijacks your brain, heart, and entire being. It sounds a little trippy- right?. But that magical moment pulls me back to the drawing board, stage, or screen. Without it, creativity becomes a grind—endless rewrites, hours of filming, or drawing until my hand feels like it might fall off. Fun, right? But that's why balance is key in the creative process. The journey is always longer than you expect. I'll talk more about the process another day. Today, we're focusing on the itch.

You've felt it. You know it. But this time, you're not falling for it. You've been fooled before. You dive in, and next thing you know, two years fly by, and you're on the brink of a breakdown, losing touch with everything outside your creative world: your relationships, sanity, social life, and, oh yeah—your bills. Reality hits, and suddenly, you're questioning everything. Sound familiar? Maybe it wasn't this dramatic for you, but we've all been there if we don't learn to master the creative itch.

When it knocks, you've got to be ready. Here's how to take control.

How to Handle the Itch Without Losing Your Life

1. Time is Money – Set boundaries around your creative time. Whether it's X hours a week or a month, keep it balanced so it doesn't take over. (Pro tip: Meditate on abundance to bring in the cash so you can actually have time to create without stressing about money.)

2. The Story Already Exists – Trust that the beginning, middle, and end are already floating somewhere in your brain. Let it come to the surface, steadfast. Don't chase it; just let it flow.

3. Honor Both Worlds—Creativity is twofold: the world inside your mind and the one outside it. Respect both. Stay grounded in the "real world" (family, bills, fitness) and honor your creative space. You need both to stay sane.

4. Value = Clarity – The value you place on your project won't be the same as others unless you give them a reason to care. Keep asking, "What's the reason?" until it's so clear, you can hear others saying it for you. Your creative posse will form around you naturally.

5. No Self-Doubt Allowed – Self-doubt is not welcome in your creative space. If it tries to show up, kick it out immediately. You've got this.

6. The Path is Yours – Your creative path is unique to you. It's inside you, not out there. Look within to find the direction that's right for you.

And that's how I (mostly) keep my creative chaos under control. It's not perfect, but it's a balance I can live with. Now go out there and master that itch like the creative genius you are!

Welcome to My Creative Chaos

Hi, I’m Izzy, and I’m a create-aholic. My days? Well, they’re basically a marathon of creative projects, back-to-back, with plenty of moments where I’m banging my head against the wall wondering why I put myself through this. Maybe by writing this blog—and filming a weekend vlog—I’ll finally figure it out. (Fingers crossed.)

Starting this blog is my way of letting people into the madness. Usually, I just show up with a finished project and people are like, “Wait, you did this?” Then comes the shock: “How do you do all this? Do you even sleep?” The answer is yes, I do. I love to sleep, maybe even too much. But I also have this, let’s say, “healthy obsession” - inset me pulling out my hair - that drives me to keep going until I bring each idea to life.

Now, here’s the kicker: most of these passion projects—the scripts, the immersive plays, books, the animations, the pilot episodes—get written… and then they just sit there, gathering dust, waiting to go from Point A to Point B. But Point B? That feels like a mythical land behind Door Number Two, right next to a long-overdue vacation that my overbooked brain just won’t let me take. And though I’ve created so much, my bank account… well, it doesn’t reflect all the hours I’ve poured into these things. (If I could pay myself for every late-night writing session, I’d have trillions by now!)

I know some of you might be thinking, “Welcome to the club!” while others might be wishing they could just find any spark of inspiration. Either way, I think we have a lot to share with each other. So here’s what you can expect from my Blog/weekend vlog: a little glimpse into my life as a nonstop creative, tips and tricks that might help you on your own journey, maybe an adventure or two, and the self-care ideas I swear by to keep going.

Now, fair warning: I’m not exactly an “open book.” Writing this has my heart racing, to be honest. Letting people into the inner workings of my world isn’t easy. I’m not a “tell-all” kind of person, but whatever I do share, I promise, will be real and from the heart—and maybe that’ll be enough.

So, here we go—Day 1! Thanks for joining me on this creative journey. I’m excited to share, and I hope it sparks something for you too.