Failing publicly, creating more than I consume, and how delay doesn't equal failure

The Cosy Creative Diaries: 003

Welcome to The Cosy Creative Diaries – an almost monthly recap of life as a freelance creative and social media manager trying to make work a little cosier ☁️

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On failing publicly 👀

I gave up on my 30-day poetry challenge on day 17, and, to be honest, I've been a bit embarrassed to show up on Substack for the last two months because of that.

As someone with ADHD, committing to the challenge publicly provided me with accountability and extrinsic motivation, but it also meant that if I failed, I'd do it in front of an audience. Well, I failed, and a few people saw. But, you know what? I won't let that stop me from writing and sharing my writing. There's something beautiful about dropping the ball and gently picking it up again.

So here I am, trying again, writing again. Hi, hello, dear reader.

Creating more than I consume 🖌

As a social media manager, I'm constantly and chronically scrolling. Being so online comes with the territory, but if I don't have healthy boundaries and let myself watch too many TikToks for "fun", my mental health suffers.

One boundary I'm putting in place to heal my relationship with social media is to create more than I consume. Because, for me, consuming leads to comparison, whereas creating builds confidence.

There have been days where I scroll for hours, seeking inspiration – or maybe just dopamine – and end up feeling drained instead. Not inspired, just icky.

On the flip side, when I create something – whether it’s a caption, a poem, or this newsletter – I feel like I’m becoming more myself. I gain confidence in my ideas. I feel capable.

What have you created recently, just for you?

Delay doesn’t equal failure 💥

I've been a late bloomer in almost every area of my life, including work. I only found my career in my late twenties. I didn't study for it – in fact, I quit university 3 times and never graduated.

For a long time, that made me feel like a failure. Would I be further along if I stuck it out in university? Were the years working in uninspiring jobs a waste? No! Because each job taught me something: how to write, how to design, how to connect.

And when I landed my first social media client, I was ready (even if I didn’t feel like it). The winding route gave me the skills I needed – it just didn’t come with directions.

Delay doesn’t equal failure. The detours are where you learn and grow.

So if you feel like you’re still finding your way, don’t worry. You’re not behind, you’re becoming.

Little Wins & Cosy Things 🌿

• Little win: I finished editing a client’s videos ahead of schedule.

• Currently reading: cosy mysteries (well, listening to audiobook versions)

• Currently listening to: Takeaway Trivia Pub Quiz

• Currently watching: Midsomer Murders

• Cosy thing I’m loving: my new teddy jacket from H&M

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Thanks for reading! Stay cosy ☕️

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