Moving forward with purpose

Photo: Sketa Oz Images

It is my belief that life is not about standing still. It is about moving forward with purpose.  It does not matter, what has occurred in one's life; one must just throw aside all losses, challenges and often painful memories and just start again.

That does not mean one is required to rush into some absurd new idea - just to cover the pain, block out the memories or to get so immersed in one's work that one forgets to live. 

It does not mean rushing towards something bigger, faster or more impressive to prove a point. Moving forward can be quiet, moving through thoughtful moments of reflection - so you can begin to find yourself, again.

Trust me - life can get so hard, confusing, challenging and indeed so very daunting when you have to start again and again.  And you think to yourself you are never going to leave, all your troubles behind. Anxiety kicks in and the world looks might bleak.  But you must make a start, for if you do not - you will forever remain where you lost your strength; faith in the world and then, the world just functions like Ground Hogs Day.

Sometimes, it is simply making the decision to change direction - being brave enough to toss out old ideas to begin again - to finally give oneself permission to become the person, we have been trying to find, all these years.

For me, purpose has never been separated from creativity. I have always believed that ideas are meant to move and... at some point in time...made real.  For why else do we dream?

They are meant to become stories, pictures, businesses, books, conversations and opportunities. An idea that remains locked inside us may be comforting, but an idea that gets stifled because of history, one's past and how life used to be - will put you through your paces and will play havoc, with your mind.  It will leave you void and in years to come, asking that horrid question.

"What if I had of tried harder?"

So, you must never let any of that baggage define what your life can look like, going forward.

This is one of the principles behind the work I do.

I strive every day, with massive mounds of cobwebs that I must shed.  And cobwebs do hang around a long time. So, my artistic world enables me to find myself, and in doing so, ideas sprout again.  It is like watering the garden, where you forgot you once planted seeds.  You just have to water them again and all sorts of ideas begin to bloom, again.

I do not want to build something simply for the sake of building a business. I want to create something that has meaning. Something with imagination at its heart, but also with purpose. Something that can connect people, encourage creativity, open doors and perhaps make someone feel that there is still something wonderful waiting for them, beyond the place where they currently stand.

This philosophy has shaped the way I see my life and yes, it gives me momentum to succeed.

We are often encouraged to measure progress by visible achievements. The new position. The bigger house. The successful launch. The number of people watching. The amount of money earned. Yet, some of the most important forms of progress cannot be measured so easily.

Learning to trust yourself again, is progress.  It might seem like snail's progress, but it is progress none-the-less.  Walking away from something that no longer belongs in your future, is also progress.

Starting something when you are frightened...is progress.

Allowing yourself to change your mind...is progress.

And continuing to believe in an idea, well after people have failed to see its worth, is one of the greatest acts of courage, one can make.

I have learned that moving forward does not mean, having all the answers.

In fact, waiting until everything is certain can become its own form of standing still. It becomes procrastination and fear of succeeding. Sometimes, the next step only becomes visible, after we take the first one.

Yes.  It is mega hard. I do not lie to you. But you must give life your best shot and believe in 'you', again.

For almost every creative on the planet, there is a form of hesitation.  And that hesitation, seeps into all aspects of your ability to create as an artist and in business. One is fearful of what others will say, and if it will be accepted.  Artists must resist the urge to listen to the outside world.   For it will impede your energy to create.

There will always be uncertainty in beginning again and in starting a new venture. There will always be another opinion, another obstacle, another reason to wait. But purpose gives us something stronger than certainty. It gives us direction.

I believe businesses should have a soul, just like people. They should reflect something of the people who create them. They should stand for something and live far beyond a transaction. For me, creativity, imagination, courage, opportunity and generosity are not separate ideas. They belong to the same landscape.

Perhaps that is why I am less interested in building something that simply looks successful and more interested in building something that feels alive.  We can give life to our ideas - let them 'become' a living, breathing entity all by themselves.  This is what gives one momentum - because one has created energy.

Energy lives in everything - yes, even in inanimate objects and ideas.  The world is full of energy and how you place that energy, who you give it to, how you give it greater depth and strength determines whether the energy will transform into something miraculous!

A creative life should have room for that evolution. One should be able to grow without abandoning who we are. One should be able to carry our past experiences with us, while still refusing to let them dictate our future.

There is a great deal of freedom in understanding that moving forward does not mean knowing exactly where you will end up.  That is the greatest curiosity and mystery for everyone.   

And it means choosing not to remain where you no longer belong or are appreciated, too.

It means continuing to create - despite the obstacles of life - despite the voices - despite the doubt.

Continuing to learn.
Continuing to dream.
Continuing to believe in 'self'.

And most importantly, continuing to move with purpose.
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Because perhaps the destination was never the most important part.
Perhaps the real achievement is becoming brave enough to keep going.

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