The Striving Is the Point: Imperfection, Entrepreneurship, and the Art of Showing Up

There’s a certain rhythm to the creative life — one part inspiration, one part overwhelm, and one part quiet comparison you wish you weren’t doing. Whether you craft, spin, knit, or run a handmade business, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has a cleaner studio, better lighting, sleeker photos, or a steadier hand at the wheel.

We’re always told not to compare ourselves. That it steals joy, drains momentum, distracts us from our own path.
And while that might be true, it’s also human nature — especially in creative fields where the work feels personal and the results are public.

Lately, I've been reflecting on the idea of contentment—not in a passive, shrug-your-shoulders way, but in a deeper, more spiritual sense. In Sanskrit, there's a word for this: Santoṣa. It’s one of the niyamas of yoga, and it refers to a kind of soul-deep peace. A way of being where you’re no longer chasing perfection or needing to control everything. You’re not numbing out or giving up—you’re simply rooted in the truth that what you have, and who you are, is enough right now.

Discover how knitting, spinning, and yoga calm your nervous system by engaging the lizard, elephant, and monkey parts of your brain. A modern blend of neuroscience, craft, and calm from indie fiber artist Erin James.