Sometimes the best way to get clarity is to acknowledge our biggest fears, by simply writing them down. For me, it usually sounds the same, a plain old “I will fail/it will never work”. It’s interesting that this simple exercise reveals not only that fears are always in the background, but also that the real barriers are a lot more powerful and well disguised than simple, recognizable fears. They are, for me, and for many of the people I’ve interviewed over the years - 1) tendency to stick with the socially desired path, the “culture” I’m part of; 2) lack of creativity, low balling my own dreams; 3) boredom and impatience. What’s the opposite of freedom, of being a hero? It’s becoming a victim waiting to be saved. What’s also interesting, is that when we fear taking the step toward something we desire deeply, we don’t recognize what’s truly in our best interest.

Lunch bowls dinner leftover- layered brown rice with fresh spinach, chick peas coconut curry, topped with avocado and sprinkles of hemp and flax seeds 

There are many smaller steps on the modern man’s hero’s journey but nevertheless is seems to break down into 3 distinct phases.

“Life is about loosening our grip. We hold on to things because we’re unsure. What will happen if I take this risk? If I make this choice? It’s in the letting go that we experience who we can be. Life is different, fascinating, curious, and magnificent”.

Things start to shift in our lives when we connect with our deeper selves, which is inherently an emotional connection rather than intellectual. When we set that deep intention and follow through (through inward practice of reflection, meditation, or prayer), we intuitively start breaking the rules we’ve been used to follow. We stop asking permission and start doing more of the simple things we enjoy, from writing in our journal, walking, to acknowledging our pain and suffering, and maybe changing our relationships or career.

Once we uncover and become aware of our set of beliefs we realize we’ve been trading ourselves unfairly. We do have determination, and all we wish for is without a doubt within our reach. It’s a matter of being curious about our own abilities and our own truth. When we’re kind and respectful with ourselves, we liberate ourselves, and the shy, naked truth will come out. Our truth, our consciousness, the energetic power within us has always been wanting to come out

So proud of my beloved @arranharv who’s always relentlessly pursued his artwork for its sake and never for any other reason. He’s always been a constant inspiration (as cheesy as that might sound), his passion for his artwork a reminder that the things we do without expecting external recognition are the very things that we keep doing, for no other reason other than the pure joy of exploration and self expression (some may call the latter “selfish” but we all need it in our lives).