Leave Wanting More

I had a conversation today with a singer who was looking to strengthen their practice and creative output by finalizing a collection of demos. They had a number of ideas already written and a broad sense of where they wanted each one to go. The foundation was there. What they needed now wasn’t just to finish, but to find a steady rhythm — a way to keep showing up without burning out.

The challenge with creative work is that once you know where you’re headed, the next step isn’t just to do — it’s to sustain. Creativity asks for confidence in your direction, patience with your process, and clarity with the idea you started from. It becomes a kind of mental juggling act every time you sit down to create.

A concept I’ve started to live by, and one I wish I’d understood earlier, is the idea of leaving wanting more. Not in the sense of feeling disappointed, but in learning to stop when you’re still energized and inspired. When you find your groove, it’s easy to keep pushing, feeding off the dopamine and adrenaline of the moment. But like waking from a dream, the visions that once felt clear begin to fade the more you try to grasp them. Each attempt to revisit what you saw weakens the memory, making it harder to hold onto that original spark.

Recognizing when you’ve accomplished something and are satisfied with it — while still excited for what’s next — is often the best time to step away. Doing so leaves you eager to return and motivated to keep building on what you’ve started. The same principle applies in performance: the best musicians know to end the show while the audience is still engaged and wanting more, not after everyone has had their fill. Much like the first few bites of dessert, those are the moments that stay with you. Push past them, and what once brought joy starts to lose its magic.

I’ve struggled with this most of my life because I was raised to work hard and finish what I start. Accomplishing something takes effort, and sometimes you do have to push through. But I’ve learned that when it comes to creative work, pushing too hard too soon can burn out the very energy you need to sustain the process. I’m often more excited to come back to a project if I’ve stopped while I still had something left in the tank. The perseverance, I’ve found, is better saved for the end, when you know the finish line is in sight.

So, back to that singer searching for consistency in their process. They understood what I meant about burnout and pressure, so I offered them a different approach: instead of working until it’s done, give yourself short, intentional sessions each week. Keep it simple and achievable — maybe just record one take of each song. Then stop. Walk away.

You’ll probably feel like you could do more, and that’s the point. Because when you come back the next time, that urge becomes fuel. Each return builds confidence and momentum without draining the well. And in the long run, it’s that steady rhythm — the willingness to leave wanting more — that keeps the creative spark alive.

GDH