The Art of Taking Without Guilt

The Thought That Stopped Me

It hit me at the end of yoga last week.
During meditation, a quiet voice whispered:
“It’s okay to take.”

Not to take advantage.
Not to take endlessly.
But simply to receive.

As a creative, that felt strange. I’ve always been the giver.
The one who checks in, lightens the mood, makes sure everyone’s okay.
For years, my service-based business rewarded me for that.
Keep everyone happy. Be the safe space. Give.

But lately, I’ve started to wonder what happens when we forget to refill ourselves.

The Hidden Energy in Your Work

Rick Rubin once said,

“Our thoughts, feelings, processes, and unconscious beliefs have an energy that is hidden in the work.”

When you’re running on empty, that energy seeps through everything you create.
Clients might not name it, but they feel it.
Your words sound tired.
Your photos lose spark.
Your calls start to drag.

I felt it in my own work too.
That’s when I realized it wasn’t just about rest.
It was about allowing myself to receive.

How to Practice Receiving

Here’s what I’m learning:
Taking isn’t selfish. It’s sacred.

It can look like:

• Saying no to the project that drains you.

• Taking a quiet morning walk before opening your inbox.

• Letting someone else hold space for you.

The best creativity doesn’t come from an empty cup.
It flows from overflow.

So this week, ask yourself:
Where can I take without guilt?
What can I receive that fills me back up?

A New Kind of Permission

You don’t have to wait until burnout hits.
You don’t have to earn rest by overworking.
You’re allowed to take.

And when you do, your art, your ideas, and your energy will all feel different.
Fuller. Softer. Truer.

So take what you need.
Rest.
Breathe.
Receive.

Then watch what flows through you next.

With love,
Ash