Are You Putting Off the Thing That Could Bring You Back to Life?

Have you ever felt like a part of you is missing—but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is? Maybe you’ve lost your spark, your sense of joy, or even just the feeling of being you. Do you find yourself constantly putting off the things that make you feel alive?

I’ve been there. And so has Mike Brennan.

In this week’s podcast episode, I sat down with Mike to talk about something that so many of us struggle with: deferring our own joy. Mike is an artist and creative mentor now, but for TEN years, he stopped creating. He let life, responsibilities, and self-doubt take over, convincing himself that creativity wasn’t a priority.

But here’s the thing—when he stopped creating, he didn’t just lose his art. He lost himself.

What Happens When We Put Off What Lights Us Up?

We all have something that makes us feel alive—whether it’s painting, writing, dancing, traveling, or even just giving ourselves permission to dream. But too often, we tell ourselves:

🔹 “I’ll get back to it when life slows down.”
🔹 “I just don’t have time right now.”
🔹 “It’s not that important.”

But as Mike’s story shows, waiting doesn’t make the desire go away. It just buries it deeper.

When we ignore the things that bring us joy, we start to feel disconnected from ourselves. We become more stressed, more stuck, and more like we’re just going through the motions instead of actually living.

Your Creativity Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline

Mike’s journey back to creativity was more than just picking up a sketchbook again. It was a process of remembering who he was. He committed to a daily creative habit—not to be perfect, not to make something “good enough,” but simply to show up for himself.

And that’s the real secret: Creativity isn’t about the outcome. It’s about the act of creating. It’s about making space for yourself in a world that constantly demands your attention.

You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from this. You just have to start.

I Didn’t Realize I Had Lost Myself—Until I Did

This conversation with Mike resonated deeply because, without even realizing it, I had lost my own passion, too.

I got so caught up in the need to make money… and more of it, that I lost sight of who I am and why I’m doing this in the first place. I was grinding, producing, pushing forward—without stopping to ask if I was still me in the process.

For me, it took stepping away. I had to physically remove myself from my daily routine and return to one of the places I feel most alive. (Read more about my Guatemala retreat here.)

But I know not everyone has the opportunity to literally leave everything behind to find themselves again. And that’s exactly why this conversation with Mike is so important.

We can’t afford to put off joy until later. We need to learn how to microdose fun, creativity, and the things that make us feel alive—every single day. Because waiting for the “right time” might mean waiting forever.

What Have You Been Putting Off?

If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get back to your thing someday, let this be your reminder: Life isn’t waiting. And neither should you.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be big. Just start.

Mike’s story is proof that it’s never too late to reconnect with yourself. And our conversation is one you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now! 

And if this resonated with you, drop a comment below—what’s one creative practice or joyful habit you’re committing to today? I’d love to hear from you. 💛