I Am a Therapist, and I Paint Orks.
I often work with my clients to create meaning in life through genuine passion, curiosity, hobbies, and creative expression. In a world that can often feel chaotic or overwhelming, it’s easy to focus on productivity and compare ourselves to others, measuring success by how well we “perform," how much we accomplish, or how the people we are comparing ourselves to see us. But when we tap into our interests—those activities that ignite a spark in us, whether we master them or not—it is like we are giving ourselves a gift. A gift that we deserve, and one we created from within.
To do so is to invest in our growth, joy, and sense of fulfillment. It’s less about the final product and more about the journey, the moments we spend in curiosity and imagination, fully immersed in something that may not be “important” to society, but that is vital to our authentic sense of self.
People throughout history across the globe have explored this idea in, but much of what I am discussing was popularized within the world of psychology by Victor Frankl in his seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning, which I encourage you to read.
And though I may not have originated the concept of creating meaning, I am hopeful that at least one person will resonate with my own realization that it truly is curiosity and a “journey before destination” attitude (to quote another author I love, Brandon Sanderson), that afforded me with more confidence and pride in who I am. I am a person of hobbies and always have been, but one that has brought me tremendous meaning in recent years is painting Warhammer 40k miniatures—specifically, Orks.
I have been in love with the Warhammer 40k universe since I was about 10 years old. My dad bought me an illustrated guide to the universe, and I was immediately captivated. For those who may not know, Warhammer 40k is a rich, “grim-dark”, and expansive science fiction universe that was created around a tabletop strategy war-game where players build, paint, and battle armies of miniatures set in that universe. The stories and lore run deep, with factions like the Orks, Space Marines, and Chaos Daemons vying for power in a dystopian, war-torn galaxy of near infinite scope and intentionally over the top brutality.
Despite my long-standing love for the lore and my fascination with the game, I held off on painting the miniatures for nearly 20 years. It was not until I was 30 that I finally picked up a scalpel, some glue, and a paintbrush to begin working on my first model. And the reason for that delay? Fear.
I was afraid I wouldn’t paint them well enough, that they wouldn’t be the best, that I would become frustrated and give up…that I would "fail" and feel awful about myself. I also live with Tourette’s, and my motor tics—particularly in my hands, wrists, and jaw—make tasks requiring fine motor precision challenging and painful.
I let that fear hold me back from something I was truly passionate about. But once I started painting, I realized that perfection didn’t matter. It was not about being the best or having my models look like they belong in an art gallery, exciting as that would be. It was about the act of creation itself, the joy of seeing my Orks come to life with each brushstroke, and the sense of accomplishment from overcoming the obstacles that made this hobby difficult for me. Sure, my first models weren’t amazing, but with each miniature, I improved. And what started as a hobby turned into something that has brought real depth and meaning into my life.
Now, painting miniatures has become a form of self-care, a way to focus my energy and creativity. It’s also become a place where I can practice self-compassion. I’m not the best painter in the world, and that’s okay. The steady improvement of my skills has filled me with a confidence I never expected from something many might view as a "silly hobby.” And the irony of it all? My orks look pretty great these days!
And there is little else I can think of outside of my work which I am fortunate to be passionate about, that I can find that level of that elusive flow state where anxiety melts. When I sit down to paint, I am fully engaged. The world around me fades, and I’m completely absorbed in bringing a little Ork warrior to life. This is something I encourage my clients to explore—finding that passion, that hobby, that thing that lets them lose track of time, whether it’s painting, writing, gardening, or something entirely different. It does not matter if you do it alone, with friends, or even through parallel play (where two people engage in their own activities side by side). The point is to let yourself be immersed in something that lights your fire, without the pressure of perfection or comparison.
In the world of psychotherapy, our field is sometimes guilty of hyper-focussing on trauma, pathology, and what is “wrong.” And while there is absolutely genuine value in all of that, the exploration of one’s inner world, deepening of insight, and growing to better understand one’s authentic self and relational patterns are all also essential for creating a full and meaningful life. In my mind, part of this is creating and pursuing passion within a society that has evolved to compress and break humans into what the modern machine demands.
I work with my clients to help them find that fire, to discover what makes them feel alive and connected to themselves. When we give ourselves permission to explore hobbies and passions, we are investing in our mental and emotional well-being. We’re using different parts of our brain, stepping away from the stresses of daily life, and allowing ourselves to engage with the world in new, creative ways.
My goal as a therapist is to support my clients in exploring their passions and cultivating a meaningful life.
It is not about mastering a skill or being the best—it’s about being present, curious, and allowing yourself to enjoy the process. This kind of engagement adds richness and meaning to our lives, and it’s a powerful reminder that we don’t always need to be productive to feel valuable. Sometimes, investing in joy and curiosity is the most meaningful thing we can do.
For me, it is painting Orks. For you, it might be something else entirely. But whatever it is, I encourage you to pursue it wholeheartedly with imagination and vigor.
If you are stuck, or just taking your first step onto the path to finding your authentic self, I would be honored to be your companion in that journey. I offer free consultations, and encourage you to reach out to see if we are a good fit. Find out more about me.