Right now, there are countless traumatic things happening around the world, multiple social media platforms are changing AGAIN, and our own lives have ups and downs every single day. We're all just trying to keep up and keep going.

So where does your art fit in? Is there any point with everything going on? How do you keep going when things are so overwhelming?

Maybe you’re feeling this right now, in which case I hope this is the thing you need to hear. And if you’re not, it’ll give you some things to think about and work on for if you ever do feel overwhelmed by all the things.

Let me share what's helped me find clarity and purpose during these chaotic times.

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Are you feeling…

• Overwhelmed by everything happening in your creative business and life?
• Like your art doesn't matter in the face of global chaos?
• That social media changes are pushing you to breaking point?
• Unsure how to keep creating when the world feels so heavy?
• Lost about where your creativity fits in during difficult times?

And maybe you're…

• Questioning if your creative work even matters right now
• Struggling to find motivation amidst the daily overwhelm
• Wondering if you should just put your dreams on pause
• Feeling guilty about creating when there's so much suffering
• Doubting whether you can make an impact through your art

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If any of this resonates, you're in the right place. I know exactly how you feel, because I'm right there with you.

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The importance of your creative work

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Your work is important. Sometimes it can feel like our work is trivial – just nice to look at, fun to buy, or something we like creating. But it's so much more than that. Your work has such a powerful impact on you, your audience, your customers, and your wider community.

It impacts you by bringing creativity and comfort into your life. Being able to create, to do what you're meant to be doing, to do what you love – that makes a huge difference. We all need that element of creativity in our lives.

Your work also impacts your audience and customers in countless ways. Maybe your work brings joy when they see it in their feed. Maybe you provide entertainment they desperately need. When someone buys your work, you bring colour and creativity into their lives and homes in ways that help them keep going through their own chaos.

Your creativity impacts your wider community too.

Your work helps start conversations, makes people feel seen, brings people together, and helps them feel less alone. Whatever your work does, it will have an impact on the wider community.

That's what I love about creativity – the art we put out into the world really does make a difference.

Here are three things that can help you through these chaotic times.

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One: Discovering your vision and why

Knowing your vision or your "why" helps tremendously when things feel overwhelming. Your vision is the future state you want to see for yourself, your audience, your industry, your community, and the world. It's the impact you want to have on any of those people through your work.

I call these the MAGIC keys of impact (we go through this together over in the Brand Your Passion Collective!)

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Me: How your work impacts you

Audience: How it affects those who experience it

Guild: Its influence on your industry

Impact: How it affects your community

Change: How it shapes the world

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For example, my vision is to make the world a more creative place, one brand at a time, because I believe so strongly in the power of creativity and that it's what the world needs infinitely more of. So the more I can help you all with your brands, the more creativity we get in the world, and that's good for everyone!

Even this week when I felt like there was no point with everything going on in the world and I'm just over here yapping about branding, I remembered my vision, why I'm doing what I'm doing, and that it actually matters a lot.

Two: Taking the next small step

The next thing to know is that…

We don't have to solve everything all at once, or change the world through our next piece of artwork. All we have to do is take one small step forward at a time.

That could be choosing what social media platform to focus on amidst all the changes so you can move forward with your content, planning your next artwork so you can put more of your amazing creativity into the world, or writing your vision and mission so you have a direction for your business and life that will give you the clarity you need. Don't stress about what it all means and what all the answers are. Just think about your vision and decide what your one next small step will be.

Three: Contributing through your work

If you want to actively help through your work too, there are many ways you can make a difference:

• Donating proceeds from your work
• Offering services or products
• Running fundraising campaigns
• Volunteering your time and skills
• Sharing valuable resources and information

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Remember, in times of chaos, your creativity matters more than ever.

By staying connected to your purpose, understanding your impact, and taking small steps forward, you can continue making meaningful contributions through your work.

And if you need help figuring out your direction, Brand Your Passion Collective is a community of creatives ready to support you along the way.

So think about and figure out your vision so that when things feel chaotic, overwhelming, or confusing, you can remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing and find clarity, calm, and direction through that. Because the world needs your creativity now more than ever!