Gutter Thoughts 020
Gratitude is the Process (Part 1): Stoic tools to help comic creators stay focused, consistent, and inspired.
This week kicks off a special series called Gratitude is the Process: Stoic tools to help comic creators stay focused, consistent, and inspired.
Over the next few issues, I’ll explore how Stoic gratitude isn’t just about “feeling thankful.” It’s a practical mindset for pushing through creative blocks, navigating long projects, and staying steady when progress feels invisible. If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure whether your work is even working, this series is for you.
Today’s issue is the field guide: what Stoic gratitude really means, how it differs from toxic positivity, and how it can become a quiet anchor in your creative routine.
The Stoic Quote of the Week
“While it’s true that someone can impede our actions, they can’t impede our intention and our attitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts and converts any obstacle to its actions into a mans of achieving it. The that which is an impediment to action is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way.”
–Marcus Aurelius, Mediations 5.20
You know that feeling when someone gives you gratitude advice and it feels completely useless? Like when you’re starving and your friend hands you cotton candy to satisfy your hunger.
Really?
I know I have.
Those fluffy "just be thankful!" posts completely miss what we're actually dealing with as creators:
The sleepless nights wondering if your comic will ever find its audience.
The rejection emails that land in your inbox like little punches to the gut.
That impostor syndrome that creeps in at 2 AM when you're questioning everything you've poured your heart into.
Here's what I've discovered through my own messy creative journey: there's a different kind of gratitude that actually works for people like us.
It's called Stoic gratitude.
And listen, it's not about pretending everything is perfect or putting on a happy face when things suck.
Instead, it's about building real resilience while you're creating something meaningful in a world that doesn't always understand what we do.
So today, I want to share this ancient practice with you. A practice that's been helping creators navigate uncertainty for over 2,000 years.
I'll show you exactly how it can transform your creative process and your mindset.
Let's dive in.
This isn't your typical self-help gratitude advice.
Look, I'll be straight with you—I used to roll my eyes at gratitude advice all the time.
Most of what passes for "gratitude" in the self-help world is basically emotional bypassing with a pretty bow on top.
It asks you to ignore real struggles. It wants you to pretend you're grateful for things that genuinely suck.
Got another rejection? "Just be grateful for the learning experience!"
Spent your last $50 on art supplies? "At least you're following your passion!"
That's not Stoic gratitude. That's toxic positivity masking itself as philosophy.
Here's what Stoic gratitude actually is:
It starts with brutal honesty about reality.
It doesn't ask you to be thankful for bad things happening.
It asks you to find genuine appreciation for what you can actually control.
This works even when everything else feels like chaos.
It's gratitude with backbone.
It was designed by people who understood that life is genuinely difficult.
They knew that pretending otherwise helps absolutely no one.
The Stoics were dealing with plagues, wars, and political upheaval.
They needed a gratitude practice that worked in the real world, not just in motivational quotes.
How my creative journey taught me to think of gratitude differently.
Here's something I've learned through years of creative ups and downs:
Gratitude can actually be your secret weapon.
Think of it like this—it's resistance training for your mind.
Just like lifting weights builds physical strength, practicing Stoic gratitude builds your capacity to handle creative challenges without completely falling apart.
It's not about feeling warm and fuzzy.
It's about developing unshakeable creative resilience.
When you practice Stoic gratitude, you're essentially training your brain.
You learn to find stability and appreciation even when external circumstances are completely unpredictable.
Which, let's be honest, describes the creative life perfectly.
One day you're riding high on positive feedback.
The next you're wondering if you should just give up and get a "real job."
But here's what I've discovered through my own journey:
This practice doesn't just help you survive the ups and downs of creative work. It actually makes you a better creator.
When you're not constantly at the mercy of external validation or circumstances,
you can focus on what really matters: the work itself.
You start creating from a place of internal stability instead of a desperate need for approval.
Why comic creators especially need this approach.
Creating comics is uniquely challenging, and I think we need to be honest about that.
You're not just writing or just drawing.
You're essentially making movies on paper, frame by frame.
And this often takes months or years before anyone else sees the full vision.
You're writer, director, cinematographer, and editor all rolled into one.
The scope is massive.
The timeline is long.
The feedback loop is often delayed.
This creates a perfect storm for creative anxiety and self-doubt.
You're working in isolation on something complex. There's no guarantee that it will connect with readers when it's finally finished.
Traditional gratitude practices focus on immediate positive outcomes.
They don't work here.
Comic creation is all about delayed gratification and long-term vision.
Stoic gratitude, on the other hand, was designed exactly for this kind of scenario. Here’s why:
It helps you find genuine appreciation for the process itself, not just the potential outcomes.
It trains you to value your daily effort, your growing skills, and your commitment to the craft.
This works regardless of external recognition.
When you can be genuinely grateful for the opportunity to tell stories through sequential art, even on the hard days, you've unlocked something really powerful.
What's coming next in this series.
Over the next few weeks, we’re getting practical with Stoic gratitude, tailored specifically for the messy, magical world of making comics.
You’ll learn:
How to stay grounded during the brutal middle stretch of a project
How to break free from perfectionism
How to show up daily even when life’s chaotic and the work feels invisible
We’ll dig into practices that help you stay present, not just future-tripping on success or obsessing over past mistakes.
And we’ll wrap with something I’m excited about: a guide to spotting the creative wins you’ve been overlooking.
This isn’t feel-good fluff.
It’s real-world Stoic thinking for creators dealing with long timelines, delayed feedback, and solo work that can mess with your head.
Every tool is built for the emotional and logistical grind of comic storytelling.
By the end of this series, you’ll have a gratitude toolkit that builds true creative resilience— the kind that helps you keep going, not pretend it’s easy.
Next week: We dive into how Stoic gratitude helps you survive The Dip, the soul-sucking middle part of every big project.
If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.
This Week’s Creative Sparks
Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:
TV Series Spark: Ironheart
I went into this show with very low expectations. I loved the comic series, but the MCU has been pretty underwhelming lately.
The first episode felt confusing and lackluster—though it had a few funny moments. Then I saw all the bad reviews piling up and thought, “Okay, let me at least watch the first three episodes before forming an opinion.”
Well, well… I was wrong. This show is amazing so far.
The first episode isn’t the strongest (let’s be real, in the age of streaming, the pilot barely matters), but episodes 2 and 3 had me on the edge of my seat and craving more.
Movie Trailer Spark: Relay
I love a good thriller. I’m not exactly sure how to describe this one—but I know it’s got all the right ingredients: suspense, espionage, forbidden romance, and it’s directed by the same person behind Hell or High Water (which I absolutely loved and highly recommend).
All I have to say is: yes, please.
Movie Trailer Spark: Ghost Killer
I watch a lot of movie trailers, and this past week had some great ones. But one in particular really piqued my interest.
I’m a big fan of movies that mix karate, kung-fu, and action. Add in some humor, and I’m all in. I mean, come on—who wouldn’t want to see a movie about the ghost of a hitman who possesses a young woman to get revenge on his enemies?
It’s ridiculous in the best way, and I can’t wait to watch it.
YouTube Spark: You’ll Find This Video When You Need it Most by Alex Hormozi
The title couldn’t have been more accurate. This video found me when I was in a rough headspace—and I’m glad I hit play.
In it, Alex Hormozi shares four practical frameworks for moving forward when life feels heavy or uncertain. It’s longer than a typical YouTube video, so you might want to break it up into parts. I know I did.
But it’s worth your time. There are some real gems in here—especially if you're feeling stuck or hopeless.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.
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