I’ve Been Hiding…
Most of you don’t know this, but for the past eight years I have been serving a certain type of client that was initially a surprise for me to discover. The last few weeks, I’ve been connecting the dots and noticing that most of the people who are drawn to my work and writing are pastors, professors, therapists, spiritual directors, and other caregivers at the intersection of art and faith. People who affirm the benefits of creativity and the imagination. People who have to be very intentional about not giving all of themselves away.
Recognizing who most of my clients are has been absolutely transformational in my own life.
I’ve started to build more support structures for myself so I can give my best to those who give their best. I am not a lone ranger. We all need care for our souls and creativity, and I’m honored to invest my time, energy, and money in regular spiritual direction, therapy, and pastoral oversight.
I’ve received so much clarity about where my gifts lie and why people who nourish others are drawn to my nourishing offerings.
And I love how creativity AND the soul are woven into every conversation and offering.
📚I’ve worked with pastors and therapists who want to write books.
🧑🎨I’ve worked with spiritual directors who paint.
👩🏫I’ve worked with college professors who want to transform the way higher ed functions.
✅And I’ve helped multi-passionate pastors break through creative resistance.
🥪I’ve helped sandwich generation caregivers with full-time jobs achieve their writing goals and meet book proposal deadlines.
👵I’ve helped seasoned therapists who thought it was too late to free their imagination overcome feelings of stuckness and self‑betrayal.
…and I haven’t told you that much about it.
But today I’ve decided that I am no longer going to hide my gifts. I am no longer going to hold back my power.
This is me fully declaring that this is who I am because I’m really good at what I do.
Here are some things I know to be true now:
✨Creativity is not a luxury; it is one of the ways the soul heals, listens, and tells the truth.
✨The world is hungry for grounded, imaginative leaders—and those leaders deserve spaces where they don’t have to lead.
✨You are allowed to be both deeply called to your people and deeply committed to your own restoration.
If:
> you saw yourself in any of the creative souls I’ve had the honor of supporting described above
> any of this speaks to you
> you’re curious about what it might look like to work together
🗣️Send me an email at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com — I would love to speak with you & chat about how I can also support you as you do your work, honor your creative soul, & make time to nourish yourself too instead of only nourishing everyone else.💥
💚Charlotte
Charlotte Donlon is a writer, spiritual director, and gatherer whose work centers on helping people explore themes of belonging through art, spiritual growth, and how to Flourish Anyway™, even when life is full, busy, or chaotic. Her work has woven together themes of belonging, art, and soul exploration for more than 25 years. With a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing (2015-2018) and a certificate in spiritual direction (2018-2020), Charlotte guides writers and other creative souls in fostering sanctuaries of acceptance and connection—her approach warmly welcomes people from all backgrounds, regardless of faith tradition or spiritual inclinations.
A Christian in the Episcopal church who believes the tenets of the Nicene Creed, Charlotte employs a universal framework of belonging and connection in her spiritual direction work that’s welcoming to all and fosters meaningful, soulful conversations.
In 2020, Broadleaf Books published Charlotte's first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. Her book, Spiritual Direction for Writers, is slated for release by Eerdmans in September 2026.
As the founder of several initiatives, including Flourish Anyway™, Thoughtful Books Etc.™, Belonging through Art™, Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Spiritual Direction for Belonging®, and Parenting with Art®, Charlotte has established herself as a thought leader and an authentic presence at the intersection of creativity and spirituality. Her essays have been featured in prominent publications such as The Washington Post, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, and The Millions, among others. A new essay about art conservation, Joan Mitchell, and mystery is forthcoming with Image.
For those interested in staying updated on Charlotte's latest work, news, and insights, subscribe here and visit Flourish Anyway™, Charlotte’s online hub for all of her writing, spiritual direction, small press, gatherings, and other offerings.