“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
– Albert Einstein
I constantly meet amazing people, who want to do something fulfilling and be more creative in order to feel more balance and experience more personal & creative growth. We live in a time where we feel a natural urge to create.
When we’re having a deeper conversation about what they enjoy the most, they unconsciously start telling me their stories, totally excited in their talks about their obvious talents, their great ideas and how passionate they are about this or that activity. Of course I would ask, why they don’t just start expressing themselves openly. Most of the people are absolutely overwhelmed even of a thought to express themselves in public, although they would love to share themselves with the world.
It’s funny because if we suppress our talents and don’t express ourselves in a proper way, at a certain point it becomes a problem, because we kind of try to kill a natural part of ourselves.
Still, so many of us feel stuck when it comes to the self-expression. Toxic thoughts start to arise in our minds:
“Who am I to share my experiences /art in public?”
“There are already plenty of bloggers / singers / cooks / poets / dancers / etc in the world.”
“Who is interested in what I have to say?”
“Nobody will read it and I will just embarrass myself in public.”
“I will get fired from my job if they see who I am.”
“Damn, I don’t want to annoy my Facebook friends.”
“I’m not as good as all the professionals.”
“I have no idea where to start.”
And those are just a few thoughts out of an ocean of self-doubts in our creative heads. So most of us get stuck even before we start.
I was there.
I’ve been helping out my mom in the kitchen since I was a very little girl, I loved to cook and especially bake. I’ve been writing stories, poetry and songs since I’m 12. I’ve been performing on stage since I’m 15. Today I’m almost 28 and guess when I first time published an article of mine? In November 2015. Guess, when I first time published a video of myself singing? A few weeks ago. I was hiding all of my talents for 15 years, because I was scared of what people might think. When people were making complimenting me, I would make a stupid joke, that I’m “just an amateur” and I wouldn’t take myself seriously enough to accept a compliment.
When I first tagged my Facebook friends to share my first published article, my hands were shaking and I had a sweating attack and breathing troubles. Also writing this article makes me feel uncomfortable and I’m scared, that people will think that I brag. But my main point of today is: WHY ARE WE HIDING OUR AMAZING TALENTS? Talents are great, aren’t they?
Reason #1: Self-doubts (and low self-evaluation)
We tend to think, that we’re not good enough and give up before we even start. When I now look at my first article I wrote on my blog, my hair stands on end. But I’m totally dedicated and committed to my blog and I write at least one full article a week, every week, and I naturally became better in writing. I’m still scared, because english is not my mother tongue and I like to write about my personal experiences, instead of using objective topics. So I’m always asking myself: Will somebody resonate with my words? Did I share too much? Do I have grammar mistakes? And so on. The self-critsiscm and -doubts are always present and the only solution is just to act nevertheless. The first article/song/cake never will be satisfying and perfect and its ok. When we express ourselves in something what we love – we’ve already succeeded. Step by step we improve. When I had my first article-share and somebody wrote kind words about my article I started to cry. I cried for hours out of happiness, that my words helped somebody. It’s priceless.
Reason #2: Creative blockade
When we finally decide to start creating, we often feel stuck. Where are all of the amazing ideas suddenly gone? It’s a critical point, because here we could establish, that we aren’t talented and give up. PLEASE DON’T. Creativity will have it’s flow as soon as we let go all of the pressure we put on ourselves and just focus on our talent we want to share with the world. I had a huge blockade, when a journal rejected all of my articles and I started to think, how and what about I can write, so the audience would be satisfied. But I couldn’t write anything. My writings became worse and worse. Then I re-memberd who I am and what the point of my writing is and just started sharing my own thoughts again. And the right supportive people came very fast. It’s all about, what message we choose to put out into the world. It’s about what we have to share. We always resonate with real people and real vulnerable stories. So a creative flow only works if it flows from deep within. If we create from the inside out, we naturally attract the right support and audience to become even better.
Reason #3: Fears
If we want to be creative and start expressing ourselves – online or offline – there’s always a slight fear in the air of how the others will respond. For my, this fear is always there. When I write, I’m scared. When I go on stage, I’m scared. When I cook for my friends, I’m scared. I’m always a little bit scared or worried, but I just do it. Failures and mistakes are the best teachers anyway. I believe that slight fears will always be there. But which disappointment is stronger? The one of having tried and failed or the one of giving up before even trying? Clear answer…
Why are we often so shy, even embarrassed of our amazing talents? Why do we hide ourselves? Why are we scared to express ourselves in an extent we would like to? Why are we so scared of our own potential? Why can’t we just go and stand in front of a mirror and establish: “I am an amazing, talented person and I’m choosing to express myself in order to fulfill myself more. I’m choosing to express myself and by that I practically give others the “permission” to express themselves too.”
All of us know the situations: If one starts to dance silly at a party, somebody else follows. So is it in every real life situation. Every idea and talent will find validation, appreciation and will inspire others to be more of themselves and not to be scared of their own talents.
The biggest hurdle for all of us is to dive into our own potential and to see our own selves as incredibly beautiful and gifted personalities. Everybody has a story to tell and a talent to express. Everybody has a talent and would love to be appreciated for it. It’s human and it’s normal. Fear are also human and normal.
Yes, somebody creates something similar, but nobody shares it in a very unique way like you would do it. Everyone of us has a unique way of self-expression and it’s priceless. Self-expression fulfills. Self-expression gives others hope and faith in themselves. So by expressing our talents we have a win-win situation: we are super happy and are helping others at the same time.
Please, create! Please, create! When, if not now? The world needs more authentic creative expression, expression from deep within. The world needs your expression. Please, create … Please, EXPRESS YOURSELF, baby! <3
5 comments. Leave new
hmm the only question remains: where to see the vid with you singing, where to find your songs: )
Well, if you would like to connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, there are two quite fresh, real-life videos with me singing 😛
What do you think about it? :)))))
Hugs,
O.
so it’s kinda for friends only: ).. i would prefer to stay just a silent observer.
who knows, maybe one day you would become more public in things music or maybe even famous
google helped, as usual:) Terrific mood, stunning voice.. what should i say. Bring out your own stuff also, it is even more interesting
Thank you.