Growing up, it was always made clear to me that creative pursuits were somehow “less valuable” than the easier-to-measure things like sports and academics. I loved art, loved making jewelry out random things like rocks, sticks and whatever else I could find. Yet, as I got older and time became more scarce, my creative side slowly got left behind.
I didn’t seriously think about doing anything creative again until my late 30s. I was feeling a little lost and I asked myself: What’s one thing I can do that’s so outside my comfort zone that it will force me to think differently?
So I painted.
Or at least, I tried to.
I bought a few canvases and paints, set up a little space in my basement and then felt an overwhelming fear wash over me. Almost a paralysis.
This big blank canvas was staring at me, just waiting for me to make a mistake. So I didn’t start.
It sat there for a while. I researched techniques, read books, watched videos, looked at art—anything to delay actually doing the thing. Every time I tried to begin, I froze.
This is what’s known as blank canvas syndrome, and honestly, it’s a perfect metaphor for almost everything in life that asks us to grow or step outside our comfort zone.
Blank Canvas Syndrome or Starting New
the paralyzing fear and creative block that strikes when a person is faced with a blank or new creative project, leading to procrastination, self-doubt, and inaction
I’m sure most people can relate. And with a new year around the corner, it felt worth naming out loud. We’re all humans, all quietly battling a lot of the same fears and insecurities.
(If you’re not, this newsletter probably isn’t for you anyway.)
For the rest of us, here’s the single most reliable way to overcome the fear of starting something new:
Just start.
It’s not profound. It’s not magical. And it’s definitely not easy. That’s why so many of us put it off year after year.
With 2026 right around the corner, I’m asking myself the same question I’ll leave you with:
What blank canvas am I ready to pick up?
And that brings me to something important friends.
Over the last year, writing this newsletter every month has been a joy and a way to process, reflect, and connect. In 2026, I'll be pausing to explore, recharge, and make something new—something I can’t quite see yet, but I know I need room to create.
So this will be my last newsletter for a while.
Not forever.
Not goodbye.
Just a pause.
I’m making room to explore what’s next, to create without a monthly deadline, and to let new ideas take shape before I come back.
Thank you for reading, for being here, and for letting me share pieces of my world with you. I’ll be back when the canvas feels ready for its next story.
Until then, may you start the thing you’ve been putting off.
Even if it scares you.
Especially if it scares you.
In solidarity 🖤
makeher was a labour of love because I believe that women deserve to feel good, build wealth and wellness, and create a life that inspires them. We do this by sharing our stories and challenging the status quo. I'm here for that and while I'm pausing, for now, I have plans. ;)
I'm the co-founder and CEO of joni, board member at FemTech Canada and mother of two teenage daughters. Over the last year, I've sent out an email on the first day of each month about entrepreneurship, tech, travel, finance, events and things I've learned, loved and tried through the lens of a 46 year old perimenopausal woman in a world built for men by men. makeher wasn't just a newsletter. It’s was about visibility, having a voice, and building something for women who’ve been told to quiet down. You can read prior months here.
If you don't feel this newsletter is for you, that's ok. This is the last one for a while. I'll miss you. Until next time.
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