This strange phenomenon happens all the time. I encounter a creative person who says they’re stuck. Often they paint themselves as desperate: looking for a lifeline from anywhere. Sometimes they claim to have no resources, no idea how to find their way to a job in their chosen creative field.

We lean into a juicy conversation about the miracles of networking, ways to reach out for informational meetings with creative folks, finding available resources, leaning on your “peeps” for support, creating balance through having fun, and treating yourself well.

The strange part is that this self-described “desperate” person, chooses to swat away every suggestion. They chime in with “I’ve tried that.” “That doesn’t work for me.” “I don’t believe in that.” “That’s weird.” One person I connected with recently actually said “I don’t believe in positive thinking.”

Now, I don’t profess to know everything, though I do bring some resources and experience to my creative life and I pass them on with gusto. And, while, this is not about me, and the validity of my suggestions, I do think there’s something strange about the kind of approach I’ve outlined here.

First: the person is asking for help. They’ve gone out of their way to put out a plea, to ask for a lifeline. They’ve requested guidance and are looking for resources. They’re admittedly facing a dead end. And Second: they’ve “decided” all the resources and suggestions are not worth doing. Or not worth doing again.

This seems counterintuitive. If we think scientifically, isn’t it true that any experiment requires trying stuff? And then trying other stuff? Or trying the same stuff a different way? If every suggestion (or series of suggestions) becomes a non-starter and we’re only in conversation, not actually trying stuff – maybe there’s something else to look at outside of the “state of the business”.

We’re storytellers. We hold magic and power to change hearts and minds. A well told story can transform the world. Haven’t you been altered forever by the stories you love?

So what are the stories you’re telling yourself? If the story is “There’s no room for me.” or “No one cares about what I do.” or “Nothing I do will make a difference.” Can you really pretend that the magic of THAT story won’t also change the world – your world? Any one of us can sabotage the process at any time. I relayed, in this very space, how I nearly didn’t submit my web series for the Emmy because I didn’t think I’d win. I believed it was a waste of time. And my friends (and my mother) invited me to think otherwise. The show got an Emmy nomination. If I hadn’t been willing to try,  – no nomination. And no chance of nomination.

Cultivating hope and willingness is not the only thing we need to do as writers to succeed. But it is essential in my book. And as for “positive thinking” or “affirmations” – well, if I’m going to think about myself at all – either way, I might as well toss some hopeful thoughts in the mix. Maybe you’re fully committed to the idea that negative thinking is the most realistic way to look at the world. If so, that’s fine. Hold on to that. I wish you luck.

But if, instead, you’re truly searching for a new way, if you’re actually hoping to try something different and get something new, if you claim to be willing to do ANYTHING – why would thinking hopeful thoughts be where you draw the line? Surely, that’s the least you would do. It doesn’t cost anything. You don’t even have to leave the house. No one’s saying you should turn yourself into Mary Poppins, but is it truly better to be The Grinch? You decide.

As you invent and reinvent your creative work and your creative life, my invitation stands: think of all the good that’s coming your way. And if you can’t, if you really can’t, think of any good stuff – if that’s impossible – maybe it’s time to stop thinking.

Wishing you the very best, because to wish you anything else would be cruel and pessimistic. And that’s not how I roll.

As you dance with hope, even a little bit, let me know how it feels.