Sean O'Kana |

Creative Confessions

X

Reply

Reply All

Delete

Mark as Read

Date:

June 18, 2025

From:

Sean O'Kana

To:

To Whom May Create

SUBJECT:

Announcement

this isn't a rebrand, but a re-alignment

Dear friend,

I need to address the elephant in the inbox. I've rebranded… again. Bear with me here, as this time it feels more like a re-alignment. It took a while to get here. This newsletter started out as a source of encouragement for disciples, evolving into a resource for leaders, then offering guidance for ambitious minds, to recently—a companion for the creative soul.

I can't thank you enough for letting me yank you in so many directions. I'm grateful that the foundation of this newsletter is so many of my friends and family who accept that I am like this in real life.

Thank you to all 180+ readers for your patience and support.

The show must go on.

I was being pulled in numerous directions. Not solely because of my self-diagnosed ADHD, but primarily because I was wrestling with the tension between what was true to me and what would measure as successful by social media standards.

And as promised, here’s your Creative Clarity Worksheet. This is the tool that helped me find my authentic creative focus. It’s the same set of questions that moved me from scattered to centered, and I believe it can do the same for you.

That worksheet got me in the right room, but it was discovering an article on Substack by

stepfanie tyler

(taste is the new intelligence from

wild bare thoughts

) that pointed me to my seat. Reading it was like listening to a song that you felt was written for you. It wasn't about value, growth, or money. It was about leaning into your unique taste even if it means avoiding the trends. It’s something that meant a lot to her, and it still set my heart on fire. It didn’t just rekindle my love for words—it revolutionized my entire approach to content. From trying to manufacture value for readers to realizing that pouring out your soul, with all the boundless "fluff," can draw people in.

It was in that moment I remembered the art that impacted me most was those which articulated emotions, feelings, and perspectives I hadn't quite experienced yet. You can't do that by taking worn-out paths.

Rather than valuing what I write, I reclaimed the value in my unique taste, perspective, and principles. I always knew I had a knack for noticing details others often don't appreciate. It's these fine lines between faith, culture, and philosophy that I want to share with the world. I want to explore everything from nature to machines, individuality to relationships, and inspire people to build a life they love instead of escaping it.

I want every article to be the roses that people stop and smell—words that slow down this spinning rock to appreciate just how beautiful life really is. Like a hallmark card that reads "the world is beautiful because you and your creations are in it."

So as of now, this newsletter is no longer "Go Beyond," "Kana's Codex," or "Creative Confessions."

It's now titled, "Called to Create."

It's a tip of the hat to those who believe they have something worth sharing. Not just because of the skill or talent they possess—but because of the purpose that fuels them. It's equal parts for you, but also a self-reminder of who I am at my core. I have always dreamed to change the world with what I create, and this is me reclaiming that dream—now through the lens of the Bible.

What to Expect

The creative journey is not linear. Our passions can overwhelm us and even those around us. I'm constantly rebranding because creatives are ever-evolving. What others might see as indecision, I'm embracing these constant changes as exploration. You can't find gold without getting a little dirty.

Only time will tell if I have struck gold.

So as a church leader, husband, and artist—I can't promise this newsletter will solve a specific problem. That puts me in a box I can't fit right now as I explore. But I can promise you authentic, real, and honest outpourings of the soul as I make sense of this pursuit of my own creative calling—amid the pressures of life.

I also cannot promise the frequency of these letters. Ideally, I send one a week, but my life is pretty demanding and I want to maintain quality over quantity.

Now, because I inspire creatives, I still plan on sharing many practicals and tools to help you achieve your own creative mission. I want to support the soulful misfits that aren't following the trends and metrics. Those leading the machine resistance to spark a new renaissance of nostalgic creators. They are the ones embracing the beauty that God has instilled in each of us flawed humans—a soul that AI could never replace.

If this isn't you, then do not hesitate to hit unsubscribe. No hard feelings, and I wish the best of luck to you. And for those who stay, I hope that means you are willing to contribute more. Reply more. Share more. It's not just perpetuating my content—it's being a part of the revolution.

I had to send this out before my next couple articles I just wrote. One of which brought tears to my eyes. That basically sums up the next chapter of our journey.

Lastly, this journey is not one-sided. I want to see you shine your light. So please share whatever it is you are working on, going through, or how my writing impacted you. I'm here to be your biggest fan.

See you soon,
Sean

p.s. I’m kinda done with Twitter and Threads for right now. They aren’t serving me as much as they used to. Follow me on Substack, Instagram, and YouTube.

Sean O'Kana |

Creative Confessions

X

Reply

Reply All

Delete

Mark as Read

Date:

June 18, 2025

From:

Sean O'Kana

To:

To Whom May Create

SUBJECT:

Announcement

this isn't a rebrand, but a re-alignment

Dear friend,

I need to address the elephant in the inbox. I've rebranded… again. Bear with me here, as this time it feels more like a re-alignment. It took a while to get here. This newsletter started out as a source of encouragement for disciples, evolving into a resource for leaders, then offering guidance for ambitious minds, to recently—a companion for the creative soul.

I can't thank you enough for letting me yank you in so many directions. I'm grateful that the foundation of this newsletter is so many of my friends and family who accept that I am like this in real life.

Thank you to all 180+ readers for your patience and support.

The show must go on.

I was being pulled in numerous directions. Not solely because of my self-diagnosed ADHD, but primarily because I was wrestling with the tension between what was true to me and what would measure as successful by social media standards.

And as promised, here’s your Creative Clarity Worksheet. This is the tool that helped me find my authentic creative focus. It’s the same set of questions that moved me from scattered to centered, and I believe it can do the same for you.

That worksheet got me in the right room, but it was discovering an article on Substack by

stepfanie tyler

(taste is the new intelligence from

wild bare thoughts

) that pointed me to my seat. Reading it was like listening to a song that you felt was written for you. It wasn't about value, growth, or money. It was about leaning into your unique taste even if it means avoiding the trends. It’s something that meant a lot to her, and it still set my heart on fire. It didn’t just rekindle my love for words—it revolutionized my entire approach to content. From trying to manufacture value for readers to realizing that pouring out your soul, with all the boundless "fluff," can draw people in.

It was in that moment I remembered the art that impacted me most was those which articulated emotions, feelings, and perspectives I hadn't quite experienced yet. You can't do that by taking worn-out paths.

Rather than valuing what I write, I reclaimed the value in my unique taste, perspective, and principles. I always knew I had a knack for noticing details others often don't appreciate. It's these fine lines between faith, culture, and philosophy that I want to share with the world. I want to explore everything from nature to machines, individuality to relationships, and inspire people to build a life they love instead of escaping it.

I want every article to be the roses that people stop and smell—words that slow down this spinning rock to appreciate just how beautiful life really is. Like a hallmark card that reads "the world is beautiful because you and your creations are in it."

So as of now, this newsletter is no longer "Go Beyond," "Kana's Codex," or "Creative Confessions."

It's now titled, "Called to Create."

It's a tip of the hat to those who believe they have something worth sharing. Not just because of the skill or talent they possess—but because of the purpose that fuels them. It's equal parts for you, but also a self-reminder of who I am at my core. I have always dreamed to change the world with what I create, and this is me reclaiming that dream—now through the lens of the Bible.

What to Expect

The creative journey is not linear. Our passions can overwhelm us and even those around us. I'm constantly rebranding because creatives are ever-evolving. What others might see as indecision, I'm embracing these constant changes as exploration. You can't find gold without getting a little dirty.

Only time will tell if I have struck gold.

So as a church leader, husband, and artist—I can't promise this newsletter will solve a specific problem. That puts me in a box I can't fit right now as I explore. But I can promise you authentic, real, and honest outpourings of the soul as I make sense of this pursuit of my own creative calling—amid the pressures of life.

I also cannot promise the frequency of these letters. Ideally, I send one a week, but my life is pretty demanding and I want to maintain quality over quantity.

Now, because I inspire creatives, I still plan on sharing many practicals and tools to help you achieve your own creative mission. I want to support the soulful misfits that aren't following the trends and metrics. Those leading the machine resistance to spark a new renaissance of nostalgic creators. They are the ones embracing the beauty that God has instilled in each of us flawed humans—a soul that AI could never replace.

If this isn't you, then do not hesitate to hit unsubscribe. No hard feelings, and I wish the best of luck to you. And for those who stay, I hope that means you are willing to contribute more. Reply more. Share more. It's not just perpetuating my content—it's being a part of the revolution.

I had to send this out before my next couple articles I just wrote. One of which brought tears to my eyes. That basically sums up the next chapter of our journey.

Lastly, this journey is not one-sided. I want to see you shine your light. So please share whatever it is you are working on, going through, or how my writing impacted you. I'm here to be your biggest fan.

See you soon,
Sean

p.s. I’m kinda done with Twitter and Threads for right now. They aren’t serving me as much as they used to. Follow me on Substack, Instagram, and YouTube.

Sean O'Kana |

Creative Confessions

X

Reply

Reply All

Delete

Mark as Read

Date:

June 18, 2025

From:

Sean O'Kana

To:

To Whom May Create

SUBJECT:

Announcement

this isn't a rebrand, but a re-alignment

Dear friend,

I need to address the elephant in the inbox. I've rebranded… again. Bear with me here, as this time it feels more like a re-alignment. It took a while to get here. This newsletter started out as a source of encouragement for disciples, evolving into a resource for leaders, then offering guidance for ambitious minds, to recently—a companion for the creative soul.

I can't thank you enough for letting me yank you in so many directions. I'm grateful that the foundation of this newsletter is so many of my friends and family who accept that I am like this in real life.

Thank you to all 180+ readers for your patience and support.

The show must go on.

I was being pulled in numerous directions. Not solely because of my self-diagnosed ADHD, but primarily because I was wrestling with the tension between what was true to me and what would measure as successful by social media standards.

And as promised, here’s your Creative Clarity Worksheet. This is the tool that helped me find my authentic creative focus. It’s the same set of questions that moved me from scattered to centered, and I believe it can do the same for you.

That worksheet got me in the right room, but it was discovering an article on Substack by

stepfanie tyler

(taste is the new intelligence from

wild bare thoughts

) that pointed me to my seat. Reading it was like listening to a song that you felt was written for you. It wasn't about value, growth, or money. It was about leaning into your unique taste even if it means avoiding the trends. It’s something that meant a lot to her, and it still set my heart on fire. It didn’t just rekindle my love for words—it revolutionized my entire approach to content. From trying to manufacture value for readers to realizing that pouring out your soul, with all the boundless "fluff," can draw people in.

It was in that moment I remembered the art that impacted me most was those which articulated emotions, feelings, and perspectives I hadn't quite experienced yet. You can't do that by taking worn-out paths.

Rather than valuing what I write, I reclaimed the value in my unique taste, perspective, and principles. I always knew I had a knack for noticing details others often don't appreciate. It's these fine lines between faith, culture, and philosophy that I want to share with the world. I want to explore everything from nature to machines, individuality to relationships, and inspire people to build a life they love instead of escaping it.

I want every article to be the roses that people stop and smell—words that slow down this spinning rock to appreciate just how beautiful life really is. Like a hallmark card that reads "the world is beautiful because you and your creations are in it."

So as of now, this newsletter is no longer "Go Beyond," "Kana's Codex," or "Creative Confessions."

It's now titled, "Called to Create."

It's a tip of the hat to those who believe they have something worth sharing. Not just because of the skill or talent they possess—but because of the purpose that fuels them. It's equal parts for you, but also a self-reminder of who I am at my core. I have always dreamed to change the world with what I create, and this is me reclaiming that dream—now through the lens of the Bible.

What to Expect

The creative journey is not linear. Our passions can overwhelm us and even those around us. I'm constantly rebranding because creatives are ever-evolving. What others might see as indecision, I'm embracing these constant changes as exploration. You can't find gold without getting a little dirty.

Only time will tell if I have struck gold.

So as a church leader, husband, and artist—I can't promise this newsletter will solve a specific problem. That puts me in a box I can't fit right now as I explore. But I can promise you authentic, real, and honest outpourings of the soul as I make sense of this pursuit of my own creative calling—amid the pressures of life.

I also cannot promise the frequency of these letters. Ideally, I send one a week, but my life is pretty demanding and I want to maintain quality over quantity.

Now, because I inspire creatives, I still plan on sharing many practicals and tools to help you achieve your own creative mission. I want to support the soulful misfits that aren't following the trends and metrics. Those leading the machine resistance to spark a new renaissance of nostalgic creators. They are the ones embracing the beauty that God has instilled in each of us flawed humans—a soul that AI could never replace.

If this isn't you, then do not hesitate to hit unsubscribe. No hard feelings, and I wish the best of luck to you. And for those who stay, I hope that means you are willing to contribute more. Reply more. Share more. It's not just perpetuating my content—it's being a part of the revolution.

I had to send this out before my next couple articles I just wrote. One of which brought tears to my eyes. That basically sums up the next chapter of our journey.

Lastly, this journey is not one-sided. I want to see you shine your light. So please share whatever it is you are working on, going through, or how my writing impacted you. I'm here to be your biggest fan.

See you soon,
Sean

p.s. I’m kinda done with Twitter and Threads for right now. They aren’t serving me as much as they used to. Follow me on Substack, Instagram, and YouTube.

Sean O'Kana |

Creative Confessions

X

Reply

Reply All

Delete

Date:

June 18, 2025

From:

Sean O'Kana

To:

To Whom May Create

SUBJECT:

Announcement

this isn't a rebrand, but a re-alignment

Dear friend,

I need to address the elephant in the inbox. I've rebranded… again. Bear with me here, as this time it feels more like a re-alignment. It took a while to get here. This newsletter started out as a source of encouragement for disciples, evolving into a resource for leaders, then offering guidance for ambitious minds, to recently—a companion for the creative soul.

I can't thank you enough for letting me yank you in so many directions. I'm grateful that the foundation of this newsletter is so many of my friends and family who accept that I am like this in real life.

Thank you to all 180+ readers for your patience and support.

The show must go on.

I was being pulled in numerous directions. Not solely because of my self-diagnosed ADHD, but primarily because I was wrestling with the tension between what was true to me and what would measure as successful by social media standards.

And as promised, here’s your Creative Clarity Worksheet. This is the tool that helped me find my authentic creative focus. It’s the same set of questions that moved me from scattered to centered, and I believe it can do the same for you.

That worksheet got me in the right room, but it was discovering an article on Substack by

stepfanie tyler

(taste is the new intelligence from

wild bare thoughts

) that pointed me to my seat. Reading it was like listening to a song that you felt was written for you. It wasn't about value, growth, or money. It was about leaning into your unique taste even if it means avoiding the trends. It’s something that meant a lot to her, and it still set my heart on fire. It didn’t just rekindle my love for words—it revolutionized my entire approach to content. From trying to manufacture value for readers to realizing that pouring out your soul, with all the boundless "fluff," can draw people in.

It was in that moment I remembered the art that impacted me most was those which articulated emotions, feelings, and perspectives I hadn't quite experienced yet. You can't do that by taking worn-out paths.

Rather than valuing what I write, I reclaimed the value in my unique taste, perspective, and principles. I always knew I had a knack for noticing details others often don't appreciate. It's these fine lines between faith, culture, and philosophy that I want to share with the world. I want to explore everything from nature to machines, individuality to relationships, and inspire people to build a life they love instead of escaping it.

I want every article to be the roses that people stop and smell—words that slow down this spinning rock to appreciate just how beautiful life really is. Like a hallmark card that reads "the world is beautiful because you and your creations are in it."

So as of now, this newsletter is no longer "Go Beyond," "Kana's Codex," or "Creative Confessions."

It's now titled, "Called to Create."

It's a tip of the hat to those who believe they have something worth sharing. Not just because of the skill or talent they possess—but because of the purpose that fuels them. It's equal parts for you, but also a self-reminder of who I am at my core. I have always dreamed to change the world with what I create, and this is me reclaiming that dream—now through the lens of the Bible.

What to Expect

The creative journey is not linear. Our passions can overwhelm us and even those around us. I'm constantly rebranding because creatives are ever-evolving. What others might see as indecision, I'm embracing these constant changes as exploration. You can't find gold without getting a little dirty.

Only time will tell if I have struck gold.

So as a church leader, husband, and artist—I can't promise this newsletter will solve a specific problem. That puts me in a box I can't fit right now as I explore. But I can promise you authentic, real, and honest outpourings of the soul as I make sense of this pursuit of my own creative calling—amid the pressures of life.

I also cannot promise the frequency of these letters. Ideally, I send one a week, but my life is pretty demanding and I want to maintain quality over quantity.

Now, because I inspire creatives, I still plan on sharing many practicals and tools to help you achieve your own creative mission. I want to support the soulful misfits that aren't following the trends and metrics. Those leading the machine resistance to spark a new renaissance of nostalgic creators. They are the ones embracing the beauty that God has instilled in each of us flawed humans—a soul that AI could never replace.

If this isn't you, then do not hesitate to hit unsubscribe. No hard feelings, and I wish the best of luck to you. And for those who stay, I hope that means you are willing to contribute more. Reply more. Share more. It's not just perpetuating my content—it's being a part of the revolution.

I had to send this out before my next couple articles I just wrote. One of which brought tears to my eyes. That basically sums up the next chapter of our journey.

Lastly, this journey is not one-sided. I want to see you shine your light. So please share whatever it is you are working on, going through, or how my writing impacted you. I'm here to be your biggest fan.

See you soon,
Sean

p.s. I’m kinda done with Twitter and Threads for right now. They aren’t serving me as much as they used to. Follow me on Substack, Instagram, and YouTube.