How A Creative Pursuit Can Help You Find Hope in Tough Times

Written by contributing author Chris Anselmo.

When I started my newsletter, Hello, Adversity, in 2023, I had modest expectations. Although I was excited to write about how I’ve cultivated resilience on my rare disease journey, I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep up a consistent writing habit, or if anyone would want to read what I had to say.

But I did know this: I desperately needed a creative outlet. 

In the last few years, with the continued progression of my rare disease, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B), I’ve struggled to handle the emotional side of things. As my muscles have withered away, my mental health has suffered. 

Although my primary goal was to help others become more resilient, my secondary goal was to use my newsletter to help me process and understand everything that’s happened in my life. 

I’m happy to report that 2+ years later, I’m still writing Hello, Adversity and enjoying it. It has become the outlet I sought, a release valve for my daily anxieties. 

But the best part of writing my newsletter? It’s given me hope for the future.

This was a view from my apartment in business school at Boston. I've always found daybreak to be a hopeful time.

College. I've always found daybreak to be a hopeful time.

This was a happy byproduct I didn’t expect. As my audience has grown, doors have opened. I have a loyal readership with thousands of subscribers. I’ve made dozens of new friends. I’ve been invited to speak at events. And I’m writing a book that will be out later this year. 

For so long, I was so fixated on what I had lost with my disease, that I failed to see what I’d gain by sharing the ups and downs of my journey. 

I share all this not to toot my own horn, but rather to show that a creative pursuit is so much more than just having fun; it can help you find hope, too.

I think you’d agree – life is hard! A creative outlet, whether it’s writing, playing music, painting, pottery, or something else, can be just the antidote you need to counteract the daily grind.

There are numerous benefits to a creative pursuit. It can reduce anxiety and stress, boosting your mood. It can be something you work hard to improve at, giving you a sense of accomplishment and pride. It can open doors, connecting you to new opportunities and like-minded people who share the same interests. And it might even become a future profession!

If you don’t know where to start, consider an activity you enjoyed as a child, but may have stopped as an adult. Or if there’s something you’ve been meaning to try – like painting or writing – give it a shot. This isn’t about becoming a world-class expert as much as it’s about the feeling you get from doing the activity. 

And make sure you block off time on your calendar. Make it a non-negotiable part of your day – it’s that important.

There are many sources of hope in the world, but few are as enjoyable – or as doable – as a creative pursuit. My only regret with my newsletter is that I didn’t start sooner!

Chris is a Connecticut resident living with a rare muscle disease called limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B. He writes about his experience in his newsletter, Hello, Adversity (helloadversity.substack.com) where he shares reflections on cultivating resilience in tough times.

We hope you enjoyed this article written by contributing author Chris Anselmo. If you or anyone you know would be interested in becoming a contributing author for The Understanding Digital, please reach out to our editor, Mitch Blatt by sending an email to MitchB@INCIGHT.org