Dear Liz,

I went back to work last year after seven years home with my kids. The job is an entry-level office admin job. I don’t seem to make my boss happy, and it’s incredibly draining.

I’ve built the company’s first database and launched a newsletter and a Facebook presence that are making a huge difference for us, but my boss picks and picks and I feel near tears at times, although our VP of Sales is thrilled with my contributions.

On top of that I’m very conflicted about my sculpting, something I’ve done on and off for years and am pursuing more seriously now. My boss has a huge problem hearing that I’m participating in a show or doing anything artistic.

I don’t even know how to think about sculpting, because I know I couldn’t earn a living from it. I’ve never worked so hard before for so little emotional or financial gain. I need ideas!

Thanks, Fran

Dear Fran,

You’ve been through a year of huge change. Your workplace has seen some big changes too, since you walked in the door. You’ve no doubt upset the applecart in some ways. Unless the previous office admin designed databases and email marketing programs, you’ve probably created some ripples in the energy field.

For instance, couldn’t we imagine a manager who could be put off watching a new-ish subordinate get more recognition from the VP of Sales than he or she is getting? That’s not very far-fetched.

You’ve had a year to come back into your career power. You are probably glowing at this point, which could well be freaking people out and causing the tension between you and your boss.

Day after day, Fran, I see tremendously talented and creative people operating in too-small boxes, where they soon begin to chafe. Other people chafe around them.

I can see why you might have decided to go for a fairly entry-level job as you re-entered the paid workforce, but the stuff you’re experiencing is very common when big people try to stuff themselves back in small boxes.

On to the sculpting. Good God girl, you’re exercising your creative side — that’s the best thing you can do! No wonder your mojo (we can say ‘moja’) is roaring back.

You’ve gotten your professional sea legs again, and the creative Fran is back in evidence too. Time for a bigger box, Fran! You don’t need a way to think about your art.

Just do it whenever you want or need to. Stupid labels like “It’s my hobby” or “It’s my creative outlet” insult art and artists. Sculpt as much as you can, and let the art find its own place in your time and attention map.

Don’t worry right now that it’s not a career path (life is long) or that you don’t see how it fits into the standard boxes called Job, Family, Chores, Exercise, etc. Sculpt away. I predict your upcoming year is going to be even more explosive than the past one, and a whole lot more fun.

Best, Liz