There is something about creating that has always made me feel alive.
Whether I’m experimenting with a new recipe, writing one of these stories, or putting together a menu for a client, creativity has always given me a sense of freedom. It allows my mind to wander, solve problems, and turn simple ingredients into something people remember.
For me, cooking was never just about making dinner.
It was about creating an experience.
As a kid, Saturday mornings were spent watching cooking shows like Julia Child, Yan Can Cook, and The Galloping Gourmet. I wasn’t thinking about becoming a chef. I was simply fascinated by ingredients, techniques, and how food could bring people together.
Back then, there were no deadlines.
No payroll.
No food costs.
No customer complaints.
No labor schedules.
Just curiosity.
Then I became an Executive Chef.
Suddenly creativity had to compete with responsibility.
I wasn’t just creating menus anymore. I was managing labor costs, food costs, inventory, purchasing, staffing, scheduling, customer expectations, and making sure the business stayed profitable. Even creativity had to be scheduled.
That was the first time I realized that something I loved could begin feeling like another responsibility.
Passionate people often put the most pressure on themselves.
We care deeply.
We chase excellence.
We hold ourselves to high standards.
We want to give everything we’ve got.
That’s what makes us good at what we do.
It’s also what makes burnout possible.
Over my career there were times I seriously considered walking away from cooking altogether.
Not because I stopped loving food.
I still love food.
I still love creating.
What wore me down wasn’t cooking.
It was everything surrounding it.
The endless hours.
The politics.
The stress.
The responsibility.
Then I started a family.
Everything changed.
Missing dinners.
Missing holidays.
Missing moments with my wife and children.
That’s when I realized burnout wasn’t coming from a lack of passion.
It was coming from carrying too much for too long.
➡️ Related Reading: _The Hidden Cost of Always Saying Yes_
When I started building Plated Soul, the feeling was completely different.
Nobody knew who I was.
Nobody expected anything.
I could write stories, publish recipes, and experiment without worrying about the outcome.
Then something changed.
The stories started getting read.
People began commenting on LinkedIn.
Pinterest slowly started moving.
YouTube videos started reaching thousands of people.
Google started showing my pages.
The needle started moving.
Ironically…
That’s when the pressure began.
Not when nobody cared.
When people finally started paying attention.
I wasn’t hiding in the shadows anymore.
Now I was visible.
People could judge my work.
People could disagree.
People could reject it.
The AdSense rejection reminded me of that.
It wasn’t really about advertising.
It was about feeling like all the effort wasn’t being recognized.
Then I caught myself.
I wasn’t building Plated Soul for Google’s approval.
I built it because I love teaching.
I love telling stories.
I love sharing what twenty-five years in professional kitchens has taught me.
That realization brought me back to where I started.
➡️ Related Reading: _Why Being Busy Is Not the Same as Being Effective_
I’ve learned there’s a huge difference between healthy discipline and unhealthy pressure.
Healthy discipline says…
“Keep showing up.”
Unhealthy pressure says…
“You’re not doing enough.”
Healthy discipline builds consistency.
Pressure demands perfection.
Consistency compounds.
Perfection usually burns people out.
These days I’ve become much more aware of my warning signs.
Checking analytics too often.
Feeling guilty for taking a day off.
Thinking I’m falling behind.
Trying to move faster than life allows.
When those thoughts show up, I know it’s time to step away for a little while.
Sometimes that’s a long drive.
Sometimes it’s sitting quietly on a park bench.
Sometimes it’s cooking Sunday dinner with no expectations.
Sometimes it’s simply spending time with my wife and children.
My wife has been the one reminding me for years that life isn’t just about productivity.
She’s helped pull me back with difficult conversations, vacations, date nights, and simply reminding me that there will always be another event…
Another client…
Another opportunity…
But my family only gets one husband.
My children only get one father.
➡️ Related Reading: _The Real Difference Between Following a Recipe and Actually Cooking_
If you’re feeling exhausted doing something you once loved…
Don’t assume you’ve lost your passion.
Sometimes you’ve simply been carrying it too long without putting it down.
The fire isn’t gone.
It may only be flickering.
The next spark could come from a conversation.
A walk.
A great meal.
A memory.
Or simply giving yourself permission to breathe.
Protect your passion.
Because if you protect it…
It can last a lifetime.
Cook Slow. Live Steady. Stay Soulful.
