Integrating Theme Statements into an Established Workflow

Hey everyone, I'm Nina Kowalski, and I've been wrestling with a particular piece of advice I keep running into: using a theme statement to drive every single scene. My current process usually involves a concept, then character arcs and plot points, and the theme often firms up during the outlining and even early drafting stages.

I'm working on a psychological thriller right now, exploring themes of paranoia and trust. I've tried writing the theme statement first for a few scenes, but it feels a bit forced, like I'm reverse-engineering. For those of you with established workflows, how have you genuinely integrated this concept? Did you start with the theme, or did it emerge later for you? What practical steps do you take to confirm each scene truly serves your core theme, from initial concept to that final polish?