From Magic Circle Lawyer to The Royal College of Art: Pursuing Passions Without Burnout

What happens when a high-achieving lawyer walks away from billable hours… and into a painting studio?

In this episode, James Nepaulsingh shares his journey from working in high-pressure law to studying an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art, and what it really feels like to rebuild your identity when your entire sense of worth has been tied to productivity, achievement, and external validation.

We talk about success addiction, workaholism, the brutal vulnerability of making art, and why painting isn’t always “healing”, sometimes it’s straight-up torturous. James opens up about perfectionism, criticism, flow state, synesthesia, and the surprising emotional cost of becoming an artist after building a career in one of the most demanding industries in the world.

Timestamps 

0:00 – Intro

2:12 – Productivity identity + billable-hour PTSD

6:12 – Stigma in the art world: “lawyer with a hobby”

11:33 – RCA critiques, unlearning, and why painting feels torturous

14:33 – Family reactions + redefining identity

20:20 – Art as self-reflection (and what law suppresses)

23:34 – Burnout culture, overwork, and death in law

38:44 – Synesthesia, music, and how James experiences art

46:10 – Imperfection as rebellion against perfectionism

54:28 – Flow state, time distortion, and reduced anxiety

What We Cover

• Leaving a successful legal career to pursue art full-time

• Success addiction, overachiever patterns, and external validation

• Identity loss after stepping away from Big Law productivity

• Why painting can feel like therapy and emotional torture

• Synesthesia, sensory creativity, and hearing/seeing color

• Burnout culture in law firms and the cost of overwork

• Flow state, time distortion, and how creativity impacts anxiety

  
  

  Key Takeaways

  • Achievement can become an addiction, even when it looks like “success.”

  • Creativity isn’t always calming, sometimes it’s physically and emotionally brutal.

  • Productivity isn’t the same as purpose, and stepping away can feel destabilizing.

  • The artist's identity is built through struggle, not certainty.

  • Perfectionism can be unlearned by embracing imperfection on purpose.

  • Financial discipline creates freedom and options later in life.

  Flow state is real, and it can be one of the most powerful anti-anxiety tools.

  
  

  Connect With James

  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nepopublic/

  
  

  Connect With Me

  🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com

  📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele

  💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/

  ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter

  If this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s quietly burning out behind a “successful” career.