Yoooo, peace fam.

I turned on the news the other day and couldn’t help but think about the mental state of creatives.

Not the art, content, paintings, or ideas.

The people behind them.

How yall doing out there? How are you creating with all this stuff happening around the world right now?

We put so much value on the product of creativity that sometimes … we forget the source.

And if the source is exhausted…
confused…
depressed…
or overwhelmed…

then eventually the art starts reflecting that too.

I’ve been noticing more and more conversations around ADHD, autism, and other forms of neurodivergence in creative communities. A lot of artists are discovering that the way their mind works isn’t “wrong”… it’s just different.

Some people have ADHD and their brain is moving a mile a minute with ideas.

Some people are on the autism spectrum and have an incredible ability to lock into patterns, details, and systems that most people overlook.

And some creatives are walking around completely undiagnosed, just thinking they’re “weird” or “too much” when really their brain just works differently.

But here’s the real point homie.

None of this is something we should just ignore.

If you’re driving a car and the check engine light comes on, you don’t just keep driving for 10 years pretending everything is fine.

At least… you shouldn’t.

But a lot of creatives do exactly that with their mental health.

We keep producing.

Keep performing.

Keep delivering.

While the check engine light has been on for years.

And I get it. Sheesh, I’ve done it. Life is expensive. Therapy isn’t always accessible. Some people don’t have the resources to even start that process.

But if you do have access to help … even if it’s small … it’s worth exploring.

Talk to a therapist.
Talk to a doctor.
Consult a spiritual advisor.
Read.
Ask questions.
Learn how your mind works.

If you’re a musician and you want to understand sound better, you go talk to an experienced engineer or a producer.

If you want to understand law, you go talk to a good lawyer.

So if you want to understand your mind, why wouldn’t you talk to someone who studies the mind?

These folks exist for a reason!

And the truth is this:

This world we’re living in doesn’t need MORE creatives… this world needs more HEALTHY creatives.

Art heals people.
Art helps people process life.
Art helps people survive difficult seasons.

But that healing has to come from somewhere.

And for me personally, that “somewhere” leads back to the Creator.

The Source with the capitol S.

The more I study how my mind works, the more I realize that understanding ourselves is part of honoring the gift we’ve been given.

Taking care of your mental health isn’t a distraction from creativity.

It’s part of the work.

I believe the body is a temple. Who’s gonna sweep the ailes tho?

I’ll answer that for you…

And if we really care about the future of creativity, we have to start teaching this to the next generation too.

But let me bring it back to that check engine light for a second.

Because I know how creatives are.

Some people will read something like this, nod their head, feel seen for a moment… and then keep driving.

Light still on.

Engine still shaking.

Music still blasting loud enough to ignore the noise under the hood.

I get it. Life keeps moving. Bills still exist. Responsibilities don’t pause just because something inside us needs attention.

But sometimes the most responsible thing you can do as a creative is pull the car over for a minute.

Pop the hood.

Take a real look at what’s going on.

Ask yourself some honest questions.

Why am I feeling like this?
Why does my mind work this way?
What support do I actually need right now?

And then go to the people who know how to help you figure it out.

Therapists. Doctors. Counselors. Mentors. Teachers.

Just like you’d go to a mechanic if something in your car didn’t sound right.

That process isn’t separate from creativity.

It is creativity.

Because creativity isn’t just painting a canvas or making a beat.

Sometimes creativity looks like building a better routine.

Sometimes creativity looks like restructuring your day.

Sometimes creativity looks like going to therapy.

Sometimes creativity looks like finally asking for help.

Taking care of your mind is one of the most creative decisions you can make.

Because the healthier the source becomes…

the more powerful the art can be.

So if the check engine light has been on for a while, maybe today is the day you finally pull over and take a look under the hood.

Not because something is broken beyond repair.

But because this world still needs what you’re here to create.

-Gold