Creative Hustle: Building While Healing

By Julia Press Simmons

There’s a particular kind of grit it takes to keep showing up when life tries to knock you out. For creatives, the hustle doesn’t pause for heartbreak. The bills don’t stop for grief. The dreams don’t dim just because we’re tired.

We build businesses while navigating loss. We write through tears, create through chaos, and somehow still show up to meetings with our edges laid and our elevator pitch on lock.

It’s not always pretty. It’s not always poetic. But it’s real—and it’s powerful.

The Myth of the “Strong Creative”

There’s an expectation placed on Black creatives, especially women, to keep pushing no matter what. We’re supposed to be strong. Unshakable. Resilient to the point of silence. But here’s the truth: You can be powerful and still need rest. You can be visionary and still fall apart sometimes.

There is nothing weak about needing a moment to breathe.

Building with Broken Pieces

Healing doesn’t mean stopping—it means learning how to move differently. To set boundaries. To honor your energy. To delegate. To say no without guilt.

It’s learning how to speak your truth on paper while you’re still making peace with it in real life.

Some of the most impactful books, businesses, and brands were born in the middle of breakdowns. That’s not by accident. When everything falls apart, we get to decide what to build next—and how to build it with intention.

Tools for the Journey

Here are three things that can help you stay grounded while you create through the storm:

1. Creative Rituals
   Whether it’s journaling in the morning or lighting a candle before you write—rituals give your soul structure. They remind you that you are sacred.
2. Accountability with Grace
   Set goals, but make room for your healing. Allow space in your deadlines for being human.
3. Community Support
   Surround yourself with people who remind you that rest is not a betrayal of your mission. It’s part of the mission.

You Are the Blueprint

You are not behind. You are not broken. You are building—layer by layer, word by word, breath by breath. Every time you show up for your vision, even in pain, you’re proving that healing and hustling can coexist.

Not because you have to.
But because your purpose is too loud to be silenced.