Reflecting on... Self-Expression

I will admit from the offset of this piece of writing that I have never been particularly adept at self expression; in fact blogging is possibly the boldest form of self-expression I have ever practiced. It is a very prolific way of getting my opinion out to the world and expressing it with eloquence, drama and descriptive flair. I can convey anything through writing… passion, anger, love, enlightenment… I choose this form of self-expression because it is understated and requires thought; a piece of writing can be re-written over and over, it takes time to get the words and the grammar right to express exactly the right thing. Every sentence says something specifically from my mind, my imagination, from me.

It started when I was a teenager, I started a diary… I’d found the emotional hurricane powered by hormones which was flooding my 14-year old self needed an outlet; I couldn’t sing or dance, I had no talent for drawing or painting; I thought writing would be the easiest way to release my emotional burden. For a long time I thought I was taking the easy way out by writing but over time I realised I was simply doing what felt natural. It was and still is my form of self-expression – the words give shape and colour to every emotional nuance; each comma, full stop and sentence adds texture and richness. Writing is how I declare my personality; it didn’t happen for me in a sense of style or an artistic flair, I wasn’t moved to channel my life through politics, law or music but I found a spiritual belief I am proud of and I found freedom in the written word.

To express yourself fully, however you choose to do it, you must feel a sense of purpose, a sense of self; something to believe in, something worth defending. Once you have that, you have something worthy of expressing and you can do that through whichever medium you choose. It could be dependant on the seasons: trees express themselves differently as the wheel turns; the tides change as the moon waxes as wanes – self-expression cannot be dictated to you, it comes from the self. Though outside influences may sway how you choose to showcase yourself, it must come from you. Do what feels natural, follow your heart and let your spiritual and emotional self be explored, nurtured and freed.

I have written about my personal form of self-expression here because that is what I know it to be and how I have learned that there are no rules or limits when it comes to being yourself. If you feel like you should have red hair, dye it; if you feel like you can’t breathe unless you are making music or art or writing then go with it. The Universe will never give you more than you can handle and however you choose to express that, my personal advice/experience says that as long as you are being true to yourself and can accept and love who you see in the mirror every day then be as wacky and wonderful as your imagination will allow.