The confluence of creativity and excitement is a river of fire—beautiful, consuming, and hard to control.

It’s a powerful force, but one that’s better channeled than left to run wild.

Take it from me: when I get excited about a creative vision, I’m ready to go all in. Sometimes that excitement hits just before bed—and suddenly, I’m wide awake, carried by the current. The possibilities are electric, and I want to chase every single one.

But while there’s beauty in letting our creative forces run wild, there are downsides. That fire can flood our lives, burning through structure and stability. It’s like a wild, untamed horse—thrilling, but exhausting to hold onto.

I woke up today after riding one of those late-night creative waves. And I’m paying for it. I’m tired, unfocused, and low on willpower for the responsibilities waiting for me.

So when inspiration strikes, should we snuff it out?

Not quite. The trick is to capture the ember and channel it. Let it loose—but in the right container. Give it boundaries. Let it be a controlled burn.

If I could rewind to last night, I would’ve made a promise to myself: I’ll meet this creative fire in the morning. I would’ve given it a time and place where I had actual energy and focus to support it. Because even though I let my creativity run free last night, the progress I made was minimal. I got too tired to reach a milestone and I compromised my momentum for today. That’s a lose-lose.

If you carry a creative force within you, I invite you to build a relationship with it. Earn its trust so it knows you’ll tend to its wild instincts. Keep your promises to let it run free—just not at the cost of your foundation. Otherwise, it may not let you sleep.

Once you’ve earned the trust of your creative force, you can work with it—instead of being burned by it—to build something in harmony with your life.