Gutter Thoughts 021
Gratitude is the Process: Stoic tools to help comic creators stay focused, consistent, and inspired (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of Gratitude is the Process—a 5-part series on how Stoic gratitude helps comic creators push through rejection, burnout, and creative blocks.
If you missed Part 1, you can catch up right here (it’s the mindset reset I wish I had when I started).
The Stoic Quote of the Week
“The raw material you’re missing, the opportunities..! What is any of this but training—training for your logos, in life observed, accurately, scientifically.
So keep at it, until it’s fully digested. As a strong stomach digests whatever it eats. As a blazing fire takes whatever you throw on it, and makes it light and flame.”
–Marcus Aurelius, Mediations 10.31
Have you ever wondered why some comic creators quit after their first rejection while others push through years of "no" to eventually break through?
I've been thinking about this question a lot lately. Because I've watched so many incredibly talented creators just... vanish. They start with this amazing energy, pouring their hearts into their work, and then they hit what Seth Godin calls "The Dip."
You know that place—where the initial excitement has worn off but success still feels impossibly far away.
For comic creators, The Dip is especially brutal. You spend months crafting what you think is the perfect pitch, submit it to publishers, and get those soul-crushing form rejections. You post your webcomic online and hear nothing but digital crickets.
Meanwhile, you're watching creators with half your talent somehow go viral while your masterpiece gets completely ignored.
The emotional toll just builds and builds—self-doubt, impostor syndrome, that constant voice asking if you're wasting your life chasing an impossible dream.
After diving deep into ancient Stoic philosophy and talking to comic creators who've actually survived this gauntlet: gratitude isn't just some feel-good concept. It's the most practical mental tool you can develop for this creative battlefield.
Today, I want to walk you through exactly how Stoic gratitude transforms The Dip from a creative death trap into your greatest advantage.
Because once you understand these five shifts, everything changes about how you navigate the tough times.
Let’s dive in together.
1. Gratitude completely reframes how you see rejection.
Look, I'm not going to pretend rejection doesn't hurt—it absolutely does. But here's where things get interesting.
When Marvel passes on your pitch or your webcomic gets zero engagement for the third week running, your brain automatically goes to that dark place. You find your self saying:
"I'm not good enough.”
“I'll never make it.
“Maybe I should just get a real job."
But Marcus Aurelius, who literally ran an empire while dealing with wars and plagues, taught us something revolutionary:
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."
Think about that for a second.
Every rejection is actually data wrapped in disappointment. Every "no" is a teacher showing up in your life, even when you didn't ask for the lesson.
When you practice gratitude for rejection you're not being delusional. You're being strategic.
That editor who rejected your superhero comic? Be grateful they saved you from spending two years developing something that wouldn't resonate with readers.
That harsh critique on your art style? Thank them for showing you exactly what to improve instead of letting you waste months going in the wrong direction.
Here’s what I actually started doing:
After every rejection, I write down one specific thing I'm grateful for about the experience. Sometimes it's the feedback, sometimes it's the practice I got pitching, sometimes it's simply the courage I showed by putting myself out there when most people never even try.
This one habit has completely changed how I approach setbacks, and it'll do the same for you.
2. Gratitude transforms that killer comparison trap into pure inspiration.
Social media makes avoiding comparison basically impossible, right?
You're scrolling Instagram and boom—you're staring at creators younger than you landing book deals, getting movie adaptations, building massive followings seemingly overnight.
That familiar sting hits, and suddenly you're either paralyzed by inadequacy or desperately trying to copy whatever's working for them.
But here's where Stoic gratitude works like magic:
When you see another creator's success, instead of asking "Why not me?" ask "What can I learn?"
Instead of feeling bitter, become genuinely curious.
Epictetus taught something profound: we don't suffer from events themselves, but from our judgments about those events.
I started practicing this when I noticed my social media scrolling was making me genuinely miserable.
Now when I see a creator I admire absolutely crushing it, I immediately think of three things I'm grateful for about their success:
The inspiration they're providing me.
The proof that what I want is actually possible.
The techniques I can study and adapt to my own style.
It's wild how this simple shift changes everything.
Other people's wins become your free masterclass instead of your personal torture session.
3. Gratitude anchors you to your actual progress instead of your imaginary problems.
The Dip has this sneaky way of making all your progress completely invisible.
You’ve been drawing consistently for two years, but you're still not where you want to be. You've written fifty pages of your graphic novel, but no one's reading them yet. You're definitely improving (your friends tell you so) but it feels like you're running on a treadmill because you're obsessed with that gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Marcus Aurelius kept a daily journal where he practiced gratitude for small wins, because he understood something crucial: progress compounds, but only if you actually acknowledge it.
For comic creators, this means celebrating every tiny victory along the way:
Completing a single page.
Learning a new shading technique.
Getting one genuine comment from a reader.
Or simply showing up to create when you absolutely didn't feel like it.
Here’s my personal practice that’s been a game-changer:
At the end of each creative session, I write down three things I'm grateful for about the work I just did.
Maybe it's a panel composition that finally clicked, dialogue that made me laugh out loud, or just the fact that I drew for thirty minutes instead of doom-scrolling social media.
These micro-celebrations aren't just feel-good moments—they build the momentum that actually carries you through The Dip.
Believe it or not you're making more progress than you realize, but The Dip tricks you into only seeing what's missing.
4. Gratitude builds unshakeable resilience by giving you perspective.
When you're drowning in The Dip, it's so easy to feel like you're uniquely cursed.
Like you're the only creator struggling this hard. The only one facing constant rejection. The only one questioning whether you have what it takes.
But Stoic gratitude provides provides this reality check:
Every comic creator you admire has been exactly where you are right now. Here’s a few examples:
Jim Lee was rejected repeatedly when he first started. He kept every rejection letter, studied what wasn’t working, leveled up his skills, and eventually became one of the most successful comic artists of all time. Now? He’s the Chief Creative Officer at DC Comics.
Brian Michael Bendis spent years getting turned down before breaking through with Powers and eventually becoming one of the most influential writers at Marvel.
Even wildly successful creators still face The Dip with each new project—they just learned how to dance with it instead of fighting it. That’s what makes them successful.
Stoic gratitude reminds you that struggle isn't personal. It's universal.
You're not broken or behind schedule.
You're joining an ancient tradition of creators who pushed through difficulty to make something meaningful.
Be grateful for the struggle itself, because it's proof you're attempting something worthwhile rather than settling for safe mediocrity.
Whenever I'm tempted to quit, I remind myself:
The difficulty isn't a obstacle in my way. It’s the fuel for the fire to keep me going.
It's what separates people who talk about creating from people who actually create.
Every obstacle you face is building the exact skills and resilience you'll need when your breakthrough finally comes.
5. Gratitude completely transforms your relationship with time (and this might be the most important one).
The Dip feels eternal when you're in it.
You want success now, recognition now, financial freedom now.
Every day that passes without a major breakthrough feels like proof that you're falling behind some invisible timeline.
But here's what I've learned:
Impatience kills more creative dreams than lack of talent ever could.
Comic creation is fundamentally a long game, and rushing it will destroy you faster than any external obstacle.
Stoic gratitude teaches you to be thankful for the journey itself, not just the destination you're hoping to reach.
Every hour you spend creating is an hour you're becoming the person capable of achieving your goals.
Every page you draw is building skills you'll desperately need when opportunity finally knocks.
Every story you write is developing that unique voice that will eventually resonate with exactly the right readers.
The ancient Stoics understood something we've forgotten:
We can't control outcomes, but we can absolutely control our effort and attitude. So remember:
Be grateful for the ability to create at all.
Be grateful for living in an era where you can share your work with the world instantly.
Be grateful for the time you have to develop your craft instead of rushing toward some arbitrary finish line.
This perspective shift changes everything about how you show up to your work.
Instead of feeling like you're waiting for your life to begin, you realize your life is happening right now in The Dip, in the struggle, in the daily practice of becoming who you're meant to be.
The Dip isn't a punishment you have to endure. It's a privilege that's shaping you into a real creator.
And Stoic gratitude?
It's the tool that transforms that forge from a place of suffering into a place of growth.
Start practicing this today.
Your future self will absolutely thank you for it.
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:
Cartoonist Spark: Jesse Hamm
Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into black and white cartooning—and I keep coming back to the work of Jesse Hamm.
I first stumbled upon his posts last year while exploring X (formerly Twitter). Unfortunately, Hamm passed away in 2021. I didn’t know much about him when he was still with us, but what I discovered was that he was a goldmine of insight. Most importantly he loved comics.
Jesse was a wealth of knowledge. To this day, I find myself returning to his X feed and diving into his PDFs whenever I need guidance. Even in his absence, his work continues to inspire cartoonists like me.
Video Game Spark: Absolum
Video games are art—no question. And this piece of art looks sick.
The trailer is absolutely gorgeous, and the game looks just as good. It’s a rogue-lite, side-scrolling beat-’em-up from the brilliant team at Arc System Works. This one’s high on my must-play list.
Every time I watch the trailer, I feel like busting out my sketchbook and drawing some fantasy characters. That’s how you know it’s special.
YouTube Spark: 100 Years of History in 100 Films
KaptainKristian has become one of my favorite YouTubers when it comes to film and exploring them. He was one of the first creators who introduced me to the video essay format—and he does it so well. Diving into topics about film most people tend to overlook—like the food of the Lord of the Rings.
His latest piece, where he tells the history of humanity through film, is nothing short of brilliant. It’s creative, thoughtful, and a powerful reminder that stories matter. They shape how we see ourselves and the world around us.
Highly recommend giving it a watch.
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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