The Pyramid of Creative Becoming

The Yin Way Isn’t About Performance. It’s About Presence.

In my own creative wellness practices, and in guiding others, what I’ve found is that the most sustainable, meaningful ways of being aren’t about quick fixes or 'hacking'.
They are unique to the individual, and are about slowly, authentically, and intentionally allowing your life to become the truest expression of who you already are.

That’s why I created this simple visual. Here's how it flows:

INTENTION: Start Here

Because we all have to start somewhere. And yes, that’s almost always at the bottom.

Every creative path begins with an intention.
It might be a desire to reconnect with your art, honor your body’s rhythm, leave behind performative versions of success, or reclaim your voice. Whatever it is, it starts here.

Intention is the seed. The impetus. It’s the yes we say to something before we even know how. It’s powerful, but not magic. Intention alone won’t make the change. But it’s the start of everything. It sets the direction of your attention and plants the energetic seed: this is what I want to create.

COMMITMENT: Choosing Yourself, Repeatedly

Commitment is act of choosing to show up.
Not for applause. Not for performance. Not for the algorithm. But because your intention matters.

This isn't hustle. It’s the quiet decision to stand by your creative truth, even on the days it feels messy, inconvenient, or like a chore. Commitment is how intention becomes embodied.

CONSISTENT PRACTICE: The Creative Anchor

This is where things start to happen. Practice isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. It’s the daily (or regular) return to what you value, even if that's not what you've been told you should. Consistent practice is staying connected through journaling, movement, breathing, painting, meditation, or whatever your medium is. Over time, your practice becomes an anchor that holds you steady.

EMBODIED WAY OF BEING: Beyond Performance

This is the shift from doing to being. From “I should” to “I just do.”
From thinking about your values to living them without overthinking. At this stage, creativity isn’t something you force - it flows through you. You’re not trying to be an Artist, a guide, a creative soul, you just are one. Not because of external validation, but because you feel it. You're living it.

WHO YOU ARE: Nothing to Prove

By now, there’s no separation between your inner and outer world.
No mask. No performance. Just your authentic way of living creatively.

Who you are is the result of what you practice.
And what you practice is the result of what you commit to.
And what you commit to comes from what you intend.

The Creative Path is Not Linear

This pyramid isn’t a one way staircase.
It’s a cycle. A practice. A process.

Sometimes you fall out of practice.
Sometimes you revisit intention.
Sometimes your commitment softens or shifts entirely.
That doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it just means you’re a human, living a cyclical, constantly changing life. And you're curating it as you evolve.

Why This Matters Now

We’re not meant to hustle grind our way into alignment.
We’re meant to become through intention and practice in our own way at our own pace. Through creative choices and authentic ways of being.

Whether you’re healing from burnout, stepping into a new chapter, or curating a life that feels more like art and less like survival, this pyramid offers a guide to get you started and keep you inspired. Not for perfection or performance, but for presence.

You don’t need to become anything other than who you already are.
But you do need to intentionally choose it, over and over again.
This is the way to Curating a Life that is a Work of Art