From Stepping Out of Autopilot to Lifelong Creativity

How I Design a Life of Creative Freedom by moving away from Distraction and Burnout.

Me with the city background, Stockholm. By Janine Laag, June 2023.

We’re all born creative. Yet, pouring energy into too many cups can leave the creative spark depleted or stuck.

Brenda Ueland once said in her book, If You Want to Write: “Why should we all use our creative power? Because there’s nothing that makes people so joyful, lively, bold, and compassionate, nothing like creating, compared to fighting or accumulating objects.”

The longer we remain in a programmed or autopilot state, the more we distance ourselves from what makes us whole. Often, we have amazing ideas and big dreams, but we struggle to bring them to life. We crave a more creative way of living, whether in our work, projects, or how we connect with colleagues, friends, and family.

I’ve noticed that many of us lose touch with our creative spark when we pour too much energy into other people’s hopes and plans. This can cloud or derail our own. Feeling overwhelmed, scattered, empty, and distracted are signs that we carry too much and neglect ourselves. Emotional burnout is often a result of misalignment, not simply overwork.

Stepping back gives us space to clarify our boundaries, dreams, and authentic selves without closing ourselves off. It’s a delicate dance between our inner world and the people who energize us, finding that sweet spot where both can thrive.

We could also think of it as practicing detachment, or non-attachment, the same letting-go to any consistent meditation practice. The juice from this process fuels our motivations and drives us to expand into who we want to be, stepping away from what currently drains us or disrupts our creative spark. And there’s research to back it up, the MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten group shows how playful, creative learning boosts health and adaptability.

And that’s the same spirit I bring into my work, captured in my Brand Philosophy booklet.

Drawing on my experience as a cross-disciplinary designer living abroad and venturing off the beaten path, it offers practical strategies to:

1. Regain personal freedom from digital overload by simplifying your life.

2. Draw on timeless knowledge from ancient and non-traditional communities that endured.

3. Blend innovation with mindfulness.