This week I opened the door to my tiny house and stepped inside—as I’ve done hundreds of times—but this time felt different. Instead of my eyes darting from unfinished part to unfinished part, I stepped back and took it all in.
I made this.
While far from finished, it’s an actual building—a home—that I built from scratch. The feelings of pride, gratitude, and elation washed over me as I walked through something that six months earlier was a lumber pile at Home Depot.
So often the feelings of being a creator are pain and frustration. The journey to create anything worthwhile isn’t easy. But if you persevere there’s another feeling waiting at the end. And it’s absolutely magical.
That feeling is what I want for you.
The feeling of finishing a project, taking a step back, and saying…
I made this.
I made this.
***
Is there a time that you’ve felt that? Drop a comment below and tell me about it.
Hey Nathan,
thank you for sharing your feelings. I’ve built a raised bed for plants in summer and was very proud of it. Working with your hands is an undervalued skill.
Dear Nathan, funnily enough today is the last day of my FIRST ever online summit called Festival of the Child. I created this too and feel such a sense of accomplishment and pride in all the work of the last 6 months.
It’s a new initiative, I’m interested in what will evolve, but so grateful to have been in the process of creating. Usually I save my “creativity” for sculpting goddesses out of clay… yeah I know quite a contrast! Every moment is an act of creation in some ways… congratulations on the success of yoru wonderful tiny house!
OMGosh I am feeling nothing but pain and anxiety … Not even sure why it is so intense, paralyzing actually!
I want to move my business to an online space but fail to launch…
Love it!! This is amazing :-)
In fact I look out my backyard and admire all of the things I’ve built. From regarding the backyard, seeding it and getting it to be green to building the play set for my children.
Next project is a Zipline and a tree house :-)
When I opened my office and couldn’t afford to hire painters. I painted every inch of that office from priming to finished product. Was so proud of myself.
Loved this article about the emotions we go through as a creator. I’m going through the process of creating my first course and it’s turned out to be way more time intensive than I ever thought. I’m pushing through, because I know that what I’m creating will impact not only my life, but so many others looking for a roadmap.
Totally. I built a little teardrop trailer this summer and had that exact same moment (https://www.instagram.com/p/B0zfZ_zFelB/). The first night sleeping inside wasn’t the best night sleep, but it was the most satisfying.
Hey Nathan, your words reached me at the right point and send me the perfect dose of motivation that I needed at this moment. Thank you.
Thanks for the inspiration Nathan! Wish you the best of luck with your amazing project! What an epic role model you are man!
Hi Nathan,
You are more than correct, making something with your hands is the best. Years ago, after completing a degree in recording arts and sciences, I was able to use my acoustic design skills and build a small recording studio control room and isolation room in my basement starting from studs and concrete floor. It turned out acoustically perfect and after outfitting it with my old multi-track analogue recording equipment, I was able to record 4 independant record releases and myriads of demo recordings.
Not only was the feeling of completing and building a couple “rooms” that became a source of income and artistic satisfaction, the act of recording, producing and mixing the finished project was superceeded only by making my own recordings.
Your blog is very inspiring, I’ve been a subscriber for a while now and your newsletter is one of the first that gets read and clicked.
Jon
Hi Nathan,
Yep, we need persistence, but there is such satisfaction we see our dream take form before our eyes. A key difference in people like you, who overcome, is that you still solve problems, but only as a means to an end. If we only focus on problem-solving, we cease to be creators.
Thank you for walking the journey with us.
I had a similar feeling the time I made my first online sale when someone purchased an ebook. The thought process in my head was: “Someone, somewhere in the world who I’ve never met just paid me for a PDF that I made on my computer… WHAT?!” It’s a crazy feeling.
Thanks for this reminder Nathan! I’ve definitely felt that. My most recent project has been writing a book on healing from rape- from my own bubbly, loving perspective. While usually my creations are all about the words (telling a story, sharing an idea), this one was about coming back to myself after a violently life-changing traumatic experience. I finished the first draft just a couple weeks ago, and I had this same moment where I just sat on my chair, looking at the draft and seeing myself reflected back at me… in awe. I didn’t just create this book. I created this version of me. And I’m not done, but man. I was worse off than a pile of lumber at Home Depot when this whole creation started- and to see me now. I teared up in gratitude and relief. I healed. I grew from it all, and now my healing is going to help others heal and find their beautiful loving cores as well.
YES! For the last 8 years, I’ve living with a brain tumor and all the horrible that goes along with that. But I wanted to start a blog. And I did! I started TWO blogs. I did this in spite of the endless migraines; the daily tension headaches; the annoying and distracting brain tumor symptoms that are my constant companions; the fatigue; the hours of writing, editing, proofing; and the taking and retaking of thousands of images. Now, every time I go to my site — StitchingInColour.com, I marvel at what I was able to create in spite of it all!
Love it!
Such a simple, but inspiring message.
I’m quoting my FT job in 6 months and right now I’m heads down building my own online business. I have multiple feelings of pain and frustration weekly, but I know feelings of pride and gratitude are on the way! 🙏🏽
Yes, Nathan, I have had that feeling. I still do and it’s extremely amazing and deeply joyful. In 2017 I wrote and published my first book. When I held the first copy in my hand I had the exact thoughts and feelings you just shared.
I had feelings of pride, gratitude, satisfaction, fulfillment and was thinking to myself “I wrote this book…I created this”… such a feeling of accomplishment!!!
I also have the same thoughts and feelings about a weekly Podcast I’ve been hosting over the past year, and I still find myself having those thoughts and feelings about my first book and I’m completing the first draft of Book #2!
Hey Nathan, after two years, I finally get that feeling while clicking through my website and courses. I am building a tiny house in 2020 and look forward to creating a physical home. When can I buy a lot for my tiny house in Cerro Gordo? Keep up the good work.
“ But if you persevere there’s another feeling waiting at the end.”
I don’t think you should create for what’s waiting at the end. At least, it shouldn’t be the primary purpose.
Nathan, I needed to hear this today: “The journey to create anything worthwhile isn’t easy. But if you persevere there’s another feeling waiting at the end. And it’s absolutely magical.”
It’s been a great, but at times challenging, journey as a writer. But looking back — and releasing my third book today — I have persevered. And finishing something is magical and helps keep the momentum going. Thanks for the reminder.
Nathan-
I agree, there is no better feeling than when I work hard, stay the course thru frustration and finish the/a project to its completion. I love your sharing. Thank you and happy Thanksgiving to you and your family☺️
Toni
I am in the middle of creating a tiny home too. Working on the walls and trim work at the moment. I feel the same way!
Amazing! I’ll publish a video on Monday of the progress I’ve made towards mine.