I was the kid who started a lemonade stand, the middle schooler who launched a lip gloss line, but never the teenager who stayed consistent.

I’ve started so many creative projects and mini-businesses, but none of them reached their full potential before I quit.

Now that I’m older, I see the patterns that used to hold me back:

💜 I’m multi-passionate. I want to turn everything into a creative project or business.

💜 Problems turned me away. The second I hit a wall, I took it as a sign to stop.

💜 When I lost motivation, I quit. My projects never lasted more than six months 😓

Now I’m working on another idea, and this time, I want it to stick. But instead of repeating the same mistakes, I’m trying something new:

💜 “Multi-passionate?” That’s not bad! I just start broad and niche down as I grow.

💜 “Problems?” They’re part of the process. Take a breath, watch a how-to video, and solve it.

💜 “Lost motivation?” This one’s tricky; motivation is never constant, but I’ve learned how to get it back when it disappears.

The secret? I learned what keeps me motivated when I want to quit.
So, let’s dive into the things that keep me (and maybe you too) from giving up when the motivation fades.

When I lose motivation as a creative, journaling always brings me back.
It’s like having a private conversation with my thoughts.

I treat journaling like a pros and cons list, but deeper.
I pour out every thought in my notebook, then go back and read it. This helps me slow down before making emotional decisions and gives me clarity on why I want to quit in the first place.

Sometimes, I don’t even find the answer right away. But getting my thoughts out of my head helps me see the situation instead of running from it.
This habit usually leads me to peace, new ideas, and a wave of motivation I didn’t know I still had.

If you’re feeling stuck, grab your notebook or open your notes app and ask:

💜 What exactly is making me want to quit?

💜 What’s something small I can do right now to feel better about it?

You’ll be surprised at how quickly that creative spark comes back.

The people around you matter so much more than you think.
Look at your circle; your friends, family, classmates, even the people you follow online.
They all influence how you think and what you believe is possible.

When I started connecting with other creatives, I noticed how much easier it was to stay motivated. They reminded me that I wasn’t crazy for wanting more, and I reminded them that they weren’t alone either.

If you want to use your creativity to build something purposeful, but your circle only believes in “playing it safe,” it’s going to hold you back.
Their mindset isn’t wrong, but it doesn’t fit your path.

Surround yourself with people who believe that creativity can be a career.
Those are the people who will:

💜 Encourage you when you want to give up

💜 Share your wins

💜 Remind you that what you’re doing matters

If you don’t have that kind of community yet, start building it!
Follow other creatives online, join group chats or Discords, or find spaces where people like you hang out.

(If you want a supportive space made just for young creatives, I’m building one! Click below to join the waitlist for my online community! It’s free 💛)
[Join the Community Waitlist →]

When I lose motivation, I remind myself of what I’m working toward.

I’ve always had huge goals, but for years they felt impossible because I couldn’t picture how to get there.

So now, I visualize it. When I say “visualize,” I don’t mean wishful thinking, I mean see it, then plan it. You can do this too. Imagine your future self:

💜 Where do you want to live?

💜 What does your dream space look like?

💜 Who do you want to work with?

💜 How do you want to spend your time?

When I picture that version of me, I start acting like her. You’ll do the same, because when your vision is clear, your motivation has a reason to show up.

It starts with your mindset, not your money or status.

“It’s not about what you don’t have; it’s about what you do with what you have.”

Some days, you won’t feel like journaling or networking or visualizing anything. I don’t either, and that’s okay. What helps me get through those days are my little motivation triggers.

You can create your own too. Mine include:

💜 Music that instantly lifts my mood

💜 Friends who hype me up when I doubt myself

💜 Sticky notes with affirmations or quotes

💜 Reminding myself who I’m becoming, not who I used to be

Think about what gives you an instant energy boost. Motivation shows up in the little things that remind you of your purpose.

Here’s what I’ve learned: motivation isn’t something you find, it’s something you build.
Every time you journal, connect with your community, visualize your goals, remember your “why,” or rest instead of quitting, you’re building it.

You don’t need to have it all together to keep going. I don’t either.
Some days, staying motivated as a creative just means showing up for yourself, even in small ways.

Until next week,

Jada <3

Following these same steps, journaling, finding community, visualizing my goals, and giving myself grace, is exactly what helped me finish and publish my first children’s book. You can read more about my book, The Ballerina Who Wore Blue, here.

There were so many moments I wanted to quit (trust me, plenty), but these reminders kept me grounded. I used to dream about holding my own book in my hands, and now that dream is real.

So if you’re in a season where motivation feels out of reach, know this: every little effort adds up. Stay patient with your process, your creative breakthrough might be closer than you think.