“Get out of your head and get into your heart. Think less, feel more.” ~Osho
It is so cliché to say that I hope to find myself.
But honestly, isn’t that what we all secretly seek? C’mon, don’t roll your eyes.
I want to know what makes me tick and brings me joy. Don’t we all want to find what pushes us, what motivates us, what makes us excited about life?
Becoming stagnant destroys my spirit, little by little. I purposely distance myself from any sluggishness or inactivity because liveliness and movement helps me to be kinder to myself and even those around me. Sometimes, I don’t know where the active path leads. I know when I become stagnant, I must take one step at a time and quickly move in a new direction.
I journal and through my writings and ramblings, I learn many things about myself. Here is my personal list of reminders for growth and “finding myself”.
1. Do something…anything really. It should be the opposite of what you are already doing.
2. Find something new to learn.
3. Plan an activity out of your comfort zone and maybe even get a little scared about your ability to be successful.
4.Trust in your deepest instincts. Don’t listen to the naysayers.
5. Spend quality time alone. (It is here that I am my most creative. I like to have time to work things out in my head and dream big.)
6. Play often. Do something fun, silly, or unexpected.
7. Pay attention. There are others around you to learn from, and there are beautiful details you shouldn’t miss.
When I get in a stagnant funk, I remind myself with this list that the funk is all in my head. It becomes clear to me that action is required. When I follow my guidelines, I ultimately grow and learn something important about myself and move one step closer to self-actualization.
My optimum goal is to reach my full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a grasp of the world.
“Let it take you to somewhere safe
When the wind comes down
You wonder where you’ve been
See the world outside
On a sunny day
Fly above the clouds
Where the wind blows you away
Find yourself now,
In the shade
When there’s nothing
You won’t know that it’s too late
Find yourself now
From everyone
When the times comes
You can fight the cheating comes
Don’t fight the feeling, just let it in
You know you need it like the sunlight on your skin
Try to let go, from the other side
Don’t lock your doors, but only do it right
Find yourself now,
In the shade
When there’s nothing
You won’t know that it’s too late
Find yourself now
From everyone
When the times comes
You can fight the cheating comes”
Jacco Gardner is a neo-psych/baroque pop artist from the Netherlands. Gardner creates a unique sound by combining the sounds of harpsichord, strings, flutes and other classical instruments with raw psychedelic effects. “Find Yourself”, is my first introduction to him, and I am smitten. He possesses a trippy, 60’s vibe with unusual instruments and soft vocals. It is from the album Hypnophobia (fear of sleep) and it is a breezy, relaxing, and calming set of tunes. The album is full of shiny and unique songs/instrumentals which root in vintage psychedelia.
Digging deeper into his story, I found the tour schedule and darn if he didn’t come to Atlanta on July 7th and I missed it. When I blog about musicians from across the pond, I rarely think they will make it to Atlanta. I must seek that out first from now on. If you happened to catch him, please let me know what you thought.
Soul searching, finding myself, and self-exploration are always foremost in my mind as I glide through my own personal journey. Music is also a huge part of my trek. Listening and writing about music, I learn about so many interesting people and am constantly inspired by their creativity and accomplishments. Jacco Gardner is one of the cool ones.
Finding and immersing myself into activities I love, moves me happily through time as I learn more about myself. I read recently that life should be mostly about love and gratitude. Love can change your perspective and gratitude helps attract more of what you want. Something important to think about as I lay my head down to sleep.
