Every so often I am reminded of a phrase.
A phrase that resonates with me deeply.
A phrase that can often stop me in my tracks and make me think.

“Do more of what makes you happy.”

This phrase seems to only come up at times when I am feeling lost creatively.

But why I am feeling lost creatively?


In short, I become consumed by every day life. Work. Family. Relationships. The personal stuff that we all have to navigate in our lives.

Now, my job is my job. It’s just my 9-5 and not something that I am hugely passionate about. But there is no getting around the fact that it takes up one third of my life.

Another third of my life is sleeping. I kinda need that. Although I could probably get by with less.

This last third, this eight hour chuck of the day… seems like a long time, right? Seems like everyone else can do a million and one things during that time.

Me? No.



Between spending time with family, household chores, taking care of my health by going to the gym I just seem to simply run out of time to be “creative”. 

Now don’t get me wrong. Spending time with family and going to the gym does make me happy! Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my partner and I really enjoy my gym time, it’s important for my mental health as well as physical health.
But there is usually nothing creative in these areas. 

The word “more” is where I place the emphasis in the phrase.

Do MORE of what makes you happy, not do more of what makes you HAPPY. The former meaning that one should do more of the things that make them happy or include more variety of things in their life that makes them happy. The latter implying you’re not doing things that make you happy.


The thing I prioritise least is my creativity. My photography. Which, when stacked up against my family, partner and physical & mental health, you might think “quite right!”.

But when I think about it, I feel that creative outlet is a big part of my mental health, and if that isn’t in the best place then the rest comes falling down… and that is not good!

Ultimately I need to find a better balance of all of these aspects of my life and have the support in doing so. I need to continue to do the important stuff that I like with my partner and the important stuff at the gym and the important stuff of my photography and creative outlets and make sure that I make time for each of these. 

The important question here is “How?”. Really I have no idea. I guess I will just figure it out as I go and try to document it as best I can along the way.


Do more of what makes you happy.