Reflections of a new author (thank you, community!)

For my first post this year, I’d like to begin with gratitude and a look back on my biggest creative project of 2022/2023. I’ve shared bits and pieces of this through personal emails and social media, but I’d like to give space for deeper reflection here.

As some of you know, I published my philosophical picture book last fall. It still feels pretty cool saying that out loud. The book conveys wisdom that’s been a core part of my healing journey, and I’m glad that many others now have access to it. I truly hope that this book is planting seeds of light and comfort in all those who read it.

Finding Your Authentic Self began as a comic I drew in 2019, yet the ideas didn’t want to end there. They continued to evolve as I had more conversations and deepened my learning around inner well-being, particularly through eastern philosophy and psychology. Additional layers of meaning emerged and finally the story was ready to be shared in its new form.

I write as if the story has its own life, and in a way I believe that it does. I feel that I’m just another channel for ideas that are alive, ancient, and universal, expressing them in a way that can be understood in our modern times. It was delightful and unsurprising that a friend shared that similar symbols had appeared during her own journaling. As psychologist Carl Jung theorized, we are all tapped into a mysteriously beautiful collective unconscious (I explore this idea in this illustrated post).

What I did not expect was how the process of creating this book would spark so many new friendships and re-ignite old ones. Kind people emerged to guide me through the journey, offer encouragement, and give me the confidence that this story was helpful and needed. Publishing a book is not an easy journey. Every time I overcame one mountain, another two would emerge. But all along the way, friends were there to pull me up and over. If you were one of them, I am grateful to you.

Finally birthing the book and sharing it at the Toronto and virtual book launches was a dream come true. It was an electrifying experience to read the story out loud to a live audience. Afterwards, I invited participants into small and large groups to explore the themes of the book together. I felt the power of collective healing as intimate and inspiring personal reflections were shared. Thank you to all my friends and family who helped make these events beautiful and magical.

The love continued to flow through notes, photos, and reviews from readers around the world. Some shared that the book helped them connect more deeply with their kids and partners, others mentioned that they gifted multiple copies to friends, family, and colleagues. I appreciate and save every message I receive, for each is a reminder of the people this book has helped me connect with.

In looking back on this experience, I realize that so much of it was about working through my inner resistances, building creative confidence, and connecting with community. There were many months where I barely made any progress - weighed down by perfectionism, self-doubt, frustration, and overwhelm. I then felt added guilt for not making progress. There was so much to do, so many new things to learn, and every step forward felt like two steps back. I would constantly compare myself with other authors, wondering what I was doing wrong. Now that I’ve safely made it over the last mountain, I am filled with love, gratitude, and pride.

I am proud of myself for answering my heart’s call to create this book. I am proud that I kept going despite the challenges. I am proud of myself for asking for help. I am proud of sharing this book in a way that feels true to my values. I am proud of having an amazing community that encourages my creativity. I am proud of being able to support my community through sharing this story.

Image from *Finding Your Authentic Self*

Being quite meta - in creating Finding Your Authentic Self, I ended up living its story all over again. I wrangled with my emotional armour and grew confident in expressing my inner truths, supported and appreciated by many. It’s a story that I hope to continue living in my creative projects this year. To all those who’ve been with me on this journey so far, thank you for making it an incredible one.

Note: If you’re interested in writing and publishing your own book, my friend and fellow creative Viola Ng created a series of articles detailing her process. I found this to be a very valuable resource and inspiration. Also I recommend checking out her book Can You Hear the Halcyons Sing?

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