How Stepping Back Brought Me Forward
By: Haley Larson
Founder: Hala Sweets & Hala Happy
Hopkins, MN
What if your passion, once a source of joy, now feels like a burden? What if the thing you loved is now weighing you down?
Hi, I’m Haley, the creative behind Hala Sweets, where all the cake decorating magic happens. For the past five years, I’ve been crafting my little corner of the world with creativity, hoping to leave it a bit sweeter than I found it. But along the way, I faced something many creatives do…burnout. My body and mind were telling me that something needed to change.
But let’s rewind a bit! My creative journey started early. I grew up surrounded by creativity—my dad always dreaming up new ideas, and my mom, a creative force, bringing our costumes and birthday cakes to life. I still remember wandering the aisles of our local cake store, excitedly picking out sprinkles and decorations for our birthday cakes. Their passion for creating is contagious and stayed with me, inspiring me to take the leap into entrepreneurship a few years ago. I left my teaching position, moved back in with my parents, and launched Hala Sweets with my mom!
Business was booming, but the pace was wearing us down. Then, something unexpected forced me to stop. I began getting migraines 2-5 times a week. They turned every day into a struggle between my mind and body. It felt like my body was shouting, “You can’t keep going like this,” and my mind was constantly worrying about the future. I wasn’t feeling like myself.
I spent many workdays with an ice pack on my head, in terrible moods, trying to complete orders. As hard as it was, it forced me to slow down, pause, and ask myself—why am I doing this? Am I still happy?
I’ve learned that while finding your gift or passion is exciting and rewarding, knowing when to take a step back is just as important. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to pause. And it’s okay to change directions completely. Sometimes, your creativity needs room to breathe. When I slowed down, I rediscovered the joy of creating for fun—experimenting, playing, and simply enjoying the process. That pause gave me the clarity I needed to launch Hala Happy, a digital marketing company where I can be creative without draining my energy and have the freedom to prioritize my self-care.
My advice? Don’t let the process pass you by. Give yourself permission to slow down; you might be surprised by the clarity it brings.
And here’s the thing—
When you pull back, you create space. Space to rediscover what you love, to explore new passions, and to let your creativity breathe. It’s in that space that you can reconnect with the joy that got you started in the first place. So whether you’re kneading dough, sketching a new design, or trying something new, remember that your gift is meant to lift you up, not weigh you down. Sometimes, your best creations come from taking a step back and letting inspiration find its way back to you.
We’re all just figuring it out! Join me in the ups and downs @halahapppy and @halasweetsmn. I’ll be here to remind you that it’s okay to press pause.
Founder: Hala Sweets & Hala Happy
Hopkins, MN
What if your passion, once a source of joy, now feels like a burden? What if the thing you loved is now weighing you down?
Hi, I’m Haley, the creative behind Hala Sweets, where all the cake decorating magic happens. For the past five years, I’ve been crafting my little corner of the world with creativity, hoping to leave it a bit sweeter than I found it. But along the way, I faced something many creatives do…burnout. My body and mind were telling me that something needed to change.
But let’s rewind a bit! My creative journey started early. I grew up surrounded by creativity—my dad always dreaming up new ideas, and my mom, a creative force, bringing our costumes and birthday cakes to life. I still remember wandering the aisles of our local cake store, excitedly picking out sprinkles and decorations for our birthday cakes. Their passion for creating is contagious and stayed with me, inspiring me to take the leap into entrepreneurship a few years ago. I left my teaching position, moved back in with my parents, and launched Hala Sweets with my mom!
Business was booming, but the pace was wearing us down. Then, something unexpected forced me to stop. I began getting migraines 2-5 times a week. They turned every day into a struggle between my mind and body. It felt like my body was shouting, “You can’t keep going like this,” and my mind was constantly worrying about the future. I wasn’t feeling like myself.
I spent many workdays with an ice pack on my head, in terrible moods, trying to complete orders. As hard as it was, it forced me to slow down, pause, and ask myself—why am I doing this? Am I still happy?
I’ve learned that while finding your gift or passion is exciting and rewarding, knowing when to take a step back is just as important. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to pause. And it’s okay to change directions completely. Sometimes, your creativity needs room to breathe. When I slowed down, I rediscovered the joy of creating for fun—experimenting, playing, and simply enjoying the process. That pause gave me the clarity I needed to launch Hala Happy, a digital marketing company where I can be creative without draining my energy and have the freedom to prioritize my self-care.
My advice? Don’t let the process pass you by. Give yourself permission to slow down; you might be surprised by the clarity it brings.
And here’s the thing—
When you pull back, you create space. Space to rediscover what you love, to explore new passions, and to let your creativity breathe. It’s in that space that you can reconnect with the joy that got you started in the first place. So whether you’re kneading dough, sketching a new design, or trying something new, remember that your gift is meant to lift you up, not weigh you down. Sometimes, your best creations come from taking a step back and letting inspiration find its way back to you.
We’re all just figuring it out! Join me in the ups and downs @halahapppy and @halasweetsmn. I’ll be here to remind you that it’s okay to press pause.
