Unfettered Potential: Unlocking Your Unique Path

I hold self-awareness in high esteem, believing that it should serve as the foundation of all our decisions and actions. I routinely remind my clients that authentic self-understanding springs from our readiness to be vulnerable with ourselves and to engage in deep self-questioning.

Recently, a woman complimented me for having ‘patience of a saint’, a comment that I found humorous. She went as far as to introduce me to someone else as an expert in self-development.

However, here’s the catch: I don’t see myself as an authority on self-development. I’m of the belief that self-improvement is an unending quest. Healing our past and coming to terms with who we are is a task that lasts a lifetime. This ever-ongoing journey is what makes personal growth so enriching. Stick with me, I promise this narrative has a purpose.

Fast-forward a few weeks, I found myself in a conversation with my brother about embracing a growth mindset. It’s a topic I often address with my “soul family” and clients, but this time, it was my brother who brought it up.

Alexander McQueen Fall 2013

In my life, I’ve consistently chosen to rise above societal expectations and define my own identity. As a black, gay man, society taught me to remain inconspicuous, to occupy as little space as possible, that’s how I would ensure my safety. I chose to defy this narrative. I aspired to transcend what I thought were my limitations and to live a life that was extraordinary. To a large extent, I’ve succeeded in doing so.

However, my brother felt my life was excessive, that I needed to ‘come back down to earth’. I elaborated on my viewpoint and my ambitions for my life. I crave a life filled with excitement and grandeur. I want to globe-trot, establish several businesses, and narrate stories that echo my core identity.

Regrettably, this proved too much for him. He proclaimed that my life perspective was incorrect, that very few people make a living from writing and I needed to ‘get my head out of the clouds’. He asserted that only a handful of people in the world ever become wealthy and that I was living in a fantasy world.

Now, let’s weave all of this together.

In that moment, it dawned upon me that I was conversing with someone who finds solace in not desiring more than his current and future experiences. This thought struck fear into my heart. I needed to step back and reflect on who I was talking to and why I got the response I did.

More importantly, I realized that the only perspective that carries weight in my life is my own.

Now, let’s connect all these threads. Remember, your life is a masterpiece of your own creation. Live your best life, sculpt it in a manner that brings joy to your heart. No barrier or individual can hamper your journey. Once you realize that the only limitation is you, no obstacle can stand in your path. Live boldly, with intention, and remember that the most worthwhile aspiration is to perpetually strive for personal growth. The path to self-improvement is the path to manifestation.