#009

At what point do you stop trying to improve on who you’re not and freely express who you naturally are?

There are so many books on my bookshelf on personal development — leadership, communication, management etc..

I find it interesting… but truly engaging? Do I want to be better at those things?

Maybe.

But there isn’t this driving force for me to become better. It doesn’t seem to be me, no matter how I might try.

It’s just, ‘interesting’.

I am an artist.

I create things to connect things.

Not by way of committee, or focus group, or approval processes.

Rather, through observation. And expression.

Inherently, it’s subjective. Those observations are from my own view point, as much as I might try to empathise with my ‘subjects’.

And some might not like it. But then those people probably aren’t to whom I’m trying to appeal.

Until now, I haven’t understood that.

The art of ‘influencing’ others is something I felt necessary — years in sales and leadership/management seemed to hint at that being essential.

And it is, to a degree. Though for me, what I’m learning now, is that perhaps I care less about influencing others as I do about expressing myself.

They’ll like it. Or they won’t. And both of these are okay.

What’s important to me is getting that weight off my chest (and shoulder, as I discovered this past week); what’s important is expressing myself in the way that comes naturally.

And not questioning that because I’m unsure if that’s the best way to influence others.

As I write this, part of me still questions how this fits into the ‘modern world’. But that’s the what and the how.

And perhaps that’s where I get stuck? On the what and the how.

Though I was always more of a why person, anyway.

So perhaps that’s all I need to remember.

And when that is top of mind, the what and the how will naturally become evident?