Finding Your Why For Creating Content When You Live in a Hostile Environment

Hi creators,

It’s been a while since I wrote to you. I want to start this off with an apology. I do intend to write more.

If you’re wondering where I’ve been, well, I’ve been here. Trying to survive.

I live at my parents’ home since I currently can’t afford to move out. This is what I’m working so hard towards. And living with two boomer parents is not easy, especially as a millennial in my thirties.

The problem is that my dad has been so adamant about trying to interrupt my environment lately. Whenever I close my door, he starts conspiring with my mom about what I’m doing in there.

He thinks I’m dealing with cryptocurrency, trading on the stock exchange, and all of those incredibly high-risk financial things. In truth, all I want is some peace and quiet. So I watch a YouTube video. My creative outlets lie with writing a blog or even filming videos for YouTube.

Living in an environment like this is incredibly frustrating and burns away my energy. I already have fragile amounts of energy as a Highly Sensitive Person.

And yet, something did change in my approach to this situation over the last few days.

I Realized All They Can Do is Talk

Will he throw me out of the house? It’s possible. And if he did ask me to move out, I would probably find a way to handle the situation.

Barring that, all he and my mom can do is talk. And they do talk about me behind my back. Never extremely negative things, but they do.

And yes, words can hurt, but only as much as I let them.

I Found My Why

Yesterday, I talked to a few people via Google Meet to talk about my YouTube channel. It was a surreal experience to hear someone say, “I can’t believe I’m talking to you right now, instead of watching you interview someone”

Am I this person for some human beings around the world? I guess I am. It’s mind-blowing to realize the work I’ve been doing for so long has come to fruition even though I don’t see it materialize in my own life yet. But it is an amazing experience.

I’m not a full-time creator yet. But I am invigorated to continue what I started.

Developing Thickness and Resilience

Regardless of how life is when living with my parents, I do need to develop some thickness. I started exercising again. I feel my muscles grow. I’m taking care of my belly and try to lose some weight. Doing the things that make me feel good in my own skin.

I did not really like what I saw in the mirror before the pandemic. During the pandemic, I really let myself go.

Now, there are some sentences in my mind that keep me going. Sentences that have changed the way I look at myself.

I also keep a tight leash on my expenses now since I want to move out and be comfortable about it. Rent payments are incredibly high, but I might find some sublets that can work for a while.

What Can You Do?

If you’re in a situation where normal life interferes with your creative life, how can you change it? How can you develop thickness and resilience to push through those challenging times?

Take some time to think about that over the weekend. Write it down on a piece of paper or in your favorite journaling app. Then, do the most important part: act on it.

Life isn’t easy for many of us. But that doesn’t mean life - the life we want to live - is impossible. We need to work for it.

Thank you for reading.

I’ll see you soon in the next one. Love you! ❤️

Oren