Permission to Want More: Reframing Ambition in Creative Lives
There’s a quiet tension many creatives and values-led people carry—especially those who’ve built their lives around generosity, care, and meaning.
You’ve done the work. You’ve shown up for others. You’ve made art, taught, given, listened. You’ve built a business or a practice rooted in purpose. But deep down, there’s a new thought forming.
What if I want more?
More income. More visibility. More ease. More creative freedom.
And just as that thought rises, something else kicks in—guilt, self-doubt, even shame.
Who am I to want more?
Does that make me ungrateful?
Is this too much?
Let’s reframe that.
Wanting More Doesn’t Make You Greedy—It Makes You Honest
For so long, particularly in artistic and caregiving spaces, ambition has been side-eyed. We’re taught to value modesty, restraint, and "just enough." Especially for those of us raised in environments where survival was prioritised over expression, the idea of wanting more can feel like a betrayal.
But the truth is: wanting more is a sign of growth. Not dissatisfaction, but expansion.
More doesn’t mean you’re rejecting where you’ve been. It means you’re honouring where you’re going.
Ambition Can Be Conscious and Creative
We need to reclaim the word ambition. Not as hard-edged hustle, but as purposeful direction.
Dr. Tara Swart, neuroscientist and author of The Source, explains that our brains are driven by goals—when those goals are aligned with our values and identity, we enter a flow state that enhances motivation, clarity, and fulfilment.
But when we suppress those goals to “stay small” or “not be too much,” we break that connection. We start to stagnate. We dull our own signal.
Ambition doesn’t have to be extractive or performative. It can be elegant, clear, and deeply rooted in service. It can be about scaling impact, not just income. It can be about expression, not just exposure.
Brene Brown and the Shame of Wanting
Brené Brown reminds us that shame shows up any time we fear disconnection. Wanting more can feel dangerous—like we’re asking too much, pushing too hard, risking rejection.
But here’s the truth she offers: you are worthy now. Not when you reach a goal. Not when you’ve earned it through burnout or perfection. Now.
From that place of worthiness, it becomes safe to want.
To want joy. To want money. To want rest. To want more reach for your work.
Not because it proves anything—but because you’re finally ready to stop hiding.
How to Honour the Want
If this resonates, you don’t need to overhaul your life today. But you can begin to ask bigger questions:
What would “more” look like—on my terms?
What am I afraid ambition will cost me?
What would I gain if I let it lead me?
Write those down. Sit with them. Let them stir something.
You don’t need to wait for permission.
You get to lead your creative life with as much depth, scale, and fire as you choose.
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And if you're ready to express more, earn more, and expand—on your own terms—browse the jewellery collection and claim a piece that speaks to who you're becoming.
Because art is oxygen. And ambition is not a flaw—it’s fuel.