I Am a Therapist, and I Paint Orks.
I frequently work with clients to help them find meaning through passions, curiosity, hobbies, and creative expression. In a world that often feels chaotic or overwhelming, it is easy to get caught up in productivity and comparisons, measuring success by how much we achieve or how we stack up against others. But when we engage in activities that spark joy, regardless of whether we become experts at them or not, it is like offering ourselves a gift. A powerful and well-deserved gift that comes from within.
Doing this is an investment in our own growth, joy, and sense of fulfillment. It is less about the outcome and more about the experience—being present in those moments of curiosity and imagination, even if what we are doing is not considered "important" by society’s standards, because it is essential to nurturing our true selves.
This idea has been explored by people throughout history, but much of what I am talking about was popularized by Viktor Frankl in his influential book Man’s Search for Meaning. I highly recommend giving it a read.
While I did not come up with the concept of creating meaning in this way, I do hope my personal experience will resonate with someone who realizes, as I did, that curiosity and embracing the journey (as another author I love, Brandon Sanderson, puts it, "journey before destination") are key to feeling more confident and proud of who we are. I have always had hobbies, but one that has brought immense meaning to my life in recent years is painting Warhammer 40k miniatures—specifically Orks.
My fascination with the Warhammer 40k universe began when I was about 10. My dad bought me an illustrated guide to the universe, and I was hooked. For those unfamiliar, Warhammer 40k is an expansive, "grim-dark" science fiction universe centered around a tabletop strategy war game. Players build, paint, and battle with armies of miniatures in a dystopian galaxy filled with warring factions like Orks, Space Marines, and Chaos Daemons. The stories and lore run deep, and the world is intentionally over the top in its brutality and scale.
Though I loved the game and its lore, I avoided painting the miniatures for almost 20 years. I did not start until I turned 30, and that delay largely came down to a particularly uncomfortable emotion—fear.
I was afraid I would not be good enough at it, that I would become frustrated, quit, and feel like a failure. On top of that, I have Tourette’s, and my motor tics—especially in my hands, wrists, and jaw—make fine motor tasks challenging and painful. And what is more…I am color blind!
Fear of imperfection kept me from pursuing something I was passionate about. But when I finally started painting, I realized perfection does not matter. It was not about creating museum-quality models (though that would be awesome), but about the act of creating itself—the joy of seeing my Orks come to life and the sense of accomplishment that came from pushing through the obstacles. My first miniatures were not great, but with each one, I improved. What started as a simple hobby has brought real meaning and depth to my life.
Now, painting miniatures is a form of self-care for me, a way to channel my energy and creativity. It is also an opportunity to practice self-compassion. I am not the world’s best painter, and that is okay. With every model I complete, I learn new techniques, and this progress has filled me with a confidence I did not expect to gain from what some might consider a "trivial" hobby that I am not naturally suited for. Ironically, my Orks are starting to look pretty great!
Outside of my work, I can think of few other activities that bring me to that elusive flow state where anxiety falls away. When I sit down to paint, I am fully present. The world fades, and I can become absorbed in bringing my little Ork warriors to life. This is something I encourage my clients to explore—finding a passion, a hobby, something that allows them to lose track of time. Whether it is painting, writing, gardening, or something else, it is about immersing yourself in an activity that ignites your inner fire, without worrying about being perfect or comparing yourself to others.
In the field of psychotherapy, we can sometimes become overly focused on trauma, pathology, and identifying what is “wrong.” While that work is incredibly valuable, exploring one’s inner world, gaining insight, and understanding oneself more deeply are all key to leading a meaningful life. Part of this is finding and nurturing passions in a society that often pushes us to conform to its demands and expectations.
I help my clients discover what excites them and makes them feel connected to themselves. When we allow ourselves to explore hobbies and passions, we invest in our mental and emotional well-being. We engage different parts of our brain, step away from the stresses of daily life, and connect with the world in new, creative ways.
My goal as a therapist is to support my clients in cultivating a meaningful, passionate life.
Forget becoming a master or striving for perfection and together we can strive to be present, curious, and enjoy the process. This kind of engagement brings richness to our lives and reminds us that we do not need to be productive in every moment to feel valuable. Sometimes, the most meaningful thing we can do is simply follow our joy and curiosity.
For me, that means painting Orks. For you, it might be something else. Whatever it is, I encourage you to dive in wholeheartedly and let it light up your life.
If you are feeling stuck or starting your journey to discover your authentic self, I would be honored to join you on that path. I offer free consultations to see if we are a good fit. Find out more about me and on my website, www.ggl-therapy.com.